If you’re a frequent traveler, you may be familiar with the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), a global hospitality company that operates a variety of hotel brands around the world, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn. One of the benefits of being a member of the IHG One Rewards is the opportunity to earn Diamond Elite status, which offers a range of perks and benefits at IHG hotels.

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour hotel in Sydney, Australia. I utilized two free night certificates from IHG credit cards, one paid night, and 5 reward nights for a total of an 8 night stay. I was upgraded to a suite for the entire stay and was able to utilize the free breakfast benefit as well.

What is IHG Diamond Elite Status?

IHG Diamond Elite status is the highest tier of membership in the IHG One Rewards, the loyalty program for IHG hotels. To achieve Diamond status, you must stay a certain number of nights or earn a certain number of points in a calendar year. The exact requirements may vary depending on your region and the rate at which you earn points, but generally you will need to stay 70 nights or earn 120,000 points in a year to qualify for Diamond status.

What Are the Benefits of IHG Diamond Elite Status?

As a Diamond member of the IHG Rewards Club, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits and perks at IHG hotels around the world. Some of the benefits you can expect as an IHG Diamond member include:

Room upgrades: As a Diamond Elite member, you’ll receive priority room upgrades, subject to availability. This means you may be able to upgrade to a higher room category or a suite at no extra cost. During my stay at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour as a Diamond Elite member, I was upgraded to a suite for my entire 8 night stay.

Late checkout: Diamond Elite members are typically allowed to check out as late as 2:00 PM, subject to availability. This can be a great perk if you have a late flight or want to relax a little longer before heading out.

Priority check-in and check-out: Diamond Elite members receive priority check-in and check-out at IHG hotels, which means you’ll be able to get your room keys and start your stay more quickly.

Complimentary breakfast: Diamond Elite members are often entitled to complimentary breakfast at IHG hotels, either in the hotel’s restaurant or as part of a room service delivery. I had free breakfast my entire stay at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour.

Elite rollover nights: If you earn more nights than you need to maintain your Diamond Elite status, you can rollover the excess nights towards the next year’s requirements. This can be a great way to ensure you maintain your status even if you don’t travel as frequently in a given year.

How to Achieve IHG Diamond Elite Status

There are a few different ways you can achieve Diamond Elite status with IHG. The most common method is by staying a certain number of nights at IHG hotels in a calendar year. The exact number of nights required may vary depending on your region and the rate at which you earn points, but generally you will need to stay 70 nights in a year to qualify for Diamond status. Reward nights count towards the 70.

Alternatively, you can achieve Diamond Elite status by earning a certain number of points in a calendar year. Again, the exact number of points required may vary, but generally you will need to earn 120,000 points in a year to qualify for Diamond Elite status. You can earn points by staying at IHG hotels, as well as by using IHG’s credit card or participating in other promotions or offers.

Lastly, it can be earned spending over $40,000 on the IHG Premier Card or IHG Premier Card per year.

I did the backdoor method, where I purchased Ambassador status for $200 which extended my Diamond Elite status for an additional year after utilizing an online (now expired) promotion for Diamond Elite status for 2 months.

Overall, I was very happy with the Diamond Elite upgrades that came with the highest status in IHG One Rewards.