IHG has completely updated its employee and friends-and-family discount system. The new program, called IHG One Pass, replaces the older IVEDI setup. The biggest and best change? Guests can now earn elite status credits on these discounted stays.
If a friend or family member at IHG shares this benefit with you, you need to know exactly how it works. Misunderstanding the rules can lead to unexpected charges or account penalties.
This guide breaks down the rate types, the upgraded benefits, and the strict booking rules you need to follow.
How the Beneficiary System Works
The One Pass program uses a specific allocation system. Every eligible IHG employee can share their discount with two categories of people:
- One Partner: This spot can go to a spouse, family member, or a close friend. There are no strict relationship rules for this slot.
- Five Friends: These five spots are for any other friends or extended family members.
Once an employee adds someone to these lists, the roster is locked. If they remove a person, they cannot add a replacement until the next calendar year.
Also, keep in mind that Six Senses and Iberostar properties do not participate in the One Pass program right now.
The Three Pricing Tiers
Your exact discount depends on whether the employee lists you as their “Partner” or as one of their “Friends.” Here is a look at the three rate categories.
1. IHG One Pass Rate (Exclusive to the Partner)
This is the deepest discount available. It is reserved only for the employee and their single designated Partner. Instead of a standard percentage off, this rate is fixed based on the hotel’s average daily rate (ADR).
Here is the pricing chart detailing the fixed rates based on the hotel’s ADR:
| Tier | ADR Range | One Pass Rate | Estimated Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $69.99 or less | $39 | Up to 44% |
| 2 | $70 – $109.99 | $49 | 30% – 55% |
| 3 | $110 – $124.99 | $59 | 46% – 53% |
| 4 | $125 – $149.99 | $69 | 45% – 54% |
| 5 | $150 – $199.99 | $79 | 47% – 61% |
| 6 | $200 – $249.99 | $89 | 56% – 64% |
| 7 | $250 – $299.99 | $99 | 60% – 67% |
| 8 | $300+ | 65% off Best Flex Rate | 65% |
Important Quota Rule: The employee and the Partner share a combined limit of 30 nights per calendar year for this rate. This is a shared pool. For example, if the employee uses 20 nights for their own trips, you will only have 10 nights left to use.
Because prices can fluctuate by a few dollars from the official chart, always rely on the final price shown on the checkout page.
2. IHG One Pass Flex Rate (The Fallback Option)
If a hotel has sold out of its fixed-price rooms, the system will offer the One Pass Flexible Rate. This acts as a backup option for the employee and the Partner.
This rate gives you a 35% to 50% discount off the standard Best Flexible Rate. The best part about this rate is that there is no annual night limit. You can book it as often as you like, making it great for frequent trips or visits to high-demand cities.
3. IHG One Pass Friends Rate
This rate is specifically for the five people occupying the “Friends” slots. It offers a 30% to 45% discount off the Best Flexible Rate.
Similar to the Partner setup, the five friends share a combined pool of 50 nights per calendar year. Note that the Friends Rate does not include the 50% dining discount that the Partner tier gets.
Upgraded Benefits: Points, Nights, and Dining
The best upgrade from the old system is that One Pass stays now function like normal, paid bookings when it comes to loyalty rewards.
Earning Elite Status
All One Pass rates now earn IHG One Rewards points and count as elite qualifying nights. This means your discounted stays will help you move up the status tiers and unlock Milestone Rewards.
Most hotels will also honor your existing elite benefits, like free room upgrades at check-in or welcome amenities. If you have earned an Annual Lounge Membership through Milestone Rewards, you can use it on a One Pass stay. However, a few select properties may be strict about offering elite perks on employee rates, so your experience might vary slightly by location.
The 50% Dining Discount
Employees and Partners staying on the One Pass or Flexible Rate get a 50% discount at participating hotel restaurants. This discount works for groups of up to eight people dining together, which is amazing for family vacations.
You can even stack this 50% discount with the Food & Beverage Reward vouchers you earn through the Milestone program.
Here is how to make sure the discount works smoothly:
- Charge to the Room: Restaurant staff usually cannot apply this specific discount at your table. Always charge the meal to your room. The front desk will apply the 50% discount to your final bill when you check out.
- Exclusions: The discount does not apply to room service, minibars, takeout orders, or lobby convenience stores. Always ask the front desk for a list of participating restaurants when you arrive.
Booking Rules and Quota Strategies
IHG is strict about how and when you can book these rates. Planning ahead will help you get the most out of your allowance.
The Booking Date Strategy
Your annual night quota is deducted based on the date you click “book,” not the date you actually stay at the hotel. Your quota resets on January 1st every year.
This creates a helpful strategy: If you have unused nights in November or December, you can book a trip for the following summer. Those nights will count against the current year’s expiring limit, leaving your new allowance untouched for future plans.
Room and Stay Limits
You can book stays up to 180 days in advance. For popular resorts, set a calendar reminder to check availability right at the 180-day mark.
Each stay is capped at seven consecutive nights. You can book up to two rooms per stay, but both rooms will pull from your annual limit. Also, you cannot stay more than 14 nights at the exact same hotel within a single calendar year.
If you run out of One Pass nights for a long trip, you can book the remaining days at the standard rate. Just ask the front desk to link your reservations so you do not have to move rooms.
Finally, One Pass rates cannot be combined with Confirmable Suite Upgrades (CSU).
Strict Check-In and Conduct Policies
Because this is a corporate benefit, IHG maintains strict security and conduct rules to protect its employees.
You must check in personally and stay for the entire duration of the booking. The front desk will ask for your physical, government-issued ID. The name on the ID must match the booking name perfectly. If you cannot produce the right ID, the hotel will cancel your One Pass benefits and charge you the full walk-in rate for the whole stay.
Warning on Reselling: Never buy a One Pass slot from someone online. IHG actively monitors for benefit reselling. Creating multiple IHG accounts to get around the 50-night or 30-night limits is also forbidden and will get your account closed.
You are also expected to follow a code of conduct. You must use a valid credit card to guarantee the room and pay any no-show fees if you miss your trip. If you have a complaint about the hotel, do not post negative reviews online; share your feedback privately with the employee who gave you the benefit.
Severe violations, like property damage, unauthorized parties, or mistreating hotel staff, will result in immediate disqualification and a formal report to the sponsoring employee’s manager.
How to Book
The employee must set this up first. They need to log into IHG’s internal system (Merlin), link their IHG One Rewards account, and manually type your name and IHG member number into their beneficiary list.
Tip for New Employees: If the employee does not have an active Merlin ID yet, they must ask their department manager to activate their profile through the internal “Loyalty Connect” system first.
Once you are on their list, the booking process is simple. Log into your own IHG app or the desktop site. Open the “Rate Preference” dropdown menu in the search bar and select the One Pass rate. The system will automatically show you the discounted pricing, or the fallback Flexible rate if the fixed-price rooms are sold out.