IHG® One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts
VS
Radisson Rewards

IHG® One Rewards vs Radisson Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score IHG® One Rewards and Radisson Rewards on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.

Verdict

IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers, while Radisson Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning, and skip Radisson Rewards if Occasional hotel guests.

Overall rating

IHG® One Rewards Radisson Rewards
Overall rating 3.2 / 5 2.8 / 5
Earning 3.0 / 5 3.0 / 5
Redemption 3.0 / 5 3.0 / 5
Network 4.0 / 5 3.0 / 5
Ease of use 3.0 / 5 3.0 / 5
Expiry 3.0 / 5 2.0 / 5

Earning structure

IHG® One Rewards Members earn 10 base points per USD spent at most IHG brands. Extended-stay brands (Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) earn 5 points/USD. Elite tier members receive bonus points: Silver +20%, Gold +40%, Platinum +60%, Diamond +100%. Saudi users do not have access to IHG-branded credit cards - the IHG Premier and Traveler cards from Chase are US-only. Members can also earn points through Hertz car rentals (1,500 bonus + 125-500 points/day), OpenTable dining reservations, and point purchases.
Radisson Rewards Members earn Radisson Rewards points on every paid stay at participating Radisson Hotel Group properties globally. Earn rates vary by tier: Club (entry, default) earns 9 points per USD spent on eligible room charges (excluding taxes and fees); Premium earns 27 points per USD; VIP earns 36 points per USD. Points also accrue on hotel incidentals charged to the room at participating properties. Members can also earn through Radisson promotional offers and the unique Discount Booster (2026) which trades fewer points for a higher instant discount (up to 20%) on the stay. Points can be purchased (up to 250,000 per year) but purchased points don't count toward elite status qualification. There are no Radisson Rewards credit cards available - co-brand cards were discontinued globally.

Redemption structure

IHG® One Rewards Points redeem for hotel stays at 6,300+ IHG properties in 100+ countries. Variable point pricing applies (no published award chart since 2018) - redemption costs shift based on cash rates. Members can also use Points + Cash flexibility, transfer to 30+ airline partners (typically poor 5:1 or 10:1 ratios), redeem for gift cards, merchandise, or Hertz car rentals. Platinum and Diamond Elite members get exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts. IHG dropped fixed award charts in favor of variable dynamic pricing, making redemption costs less predictable than competitors.
Radisson Rewards Points redeem for award nights at any Radisson Hotel Group property worldwide. Standard room award nights start from 9,000 points, or 5,000 points with the Points + Cash option for partial payment. There are no blackout dates on standard room redemptions. Uniquely, members still receive elite benefits (room upgrades and late checkout) when booking with points — unlike some hotel chains. Award pricing is increasingly dynamic since 2022, though some sweet spots remain on the award chart. Members can also redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel experiences, and donations to charity. Limited airline and travel partner transfer options exist but generally offer poor value due to the compressed point value (~0.25 cents USD per point industry valuation).

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

IHG® One Rewards Radisson Rewards
Number of partners 0 0
Partners
Number of tiers 5 3
Top tier Diamond Elite VIP
First-tier qualification 20,000 points 3 stays
Point expiry 12 months inactivity (reset on earn) 24 months inactivity (reset on earn)
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