A Guide to IHG Food and Beverage Rewards

Picture this: you’re winding down after a long day of travel, enjoying a delicious meal at your hotel restaurant, and part of the bill is already covered thanks to your loyalty to IHG. This is the charm of IHG Food and Beverage Rewards—a practical and enjoyable benefit for members of the IHG One Rewards program. Introduced as part of the Milestone Rewards system, these credits let you offset dining costs during your stays, adding a little extra flavor to your hotel experience.

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about earning, choosing, and redeeming these rewards, plus some tips to get the most out of them.

Table of Contents

What Are IHG Food and Beverage Rewards?

IHG Food and Beverage Rewards are credits you can apply to food and drink purchases charged to your room at participating IHG hotels. Each reward is worth up to $20—or the equivalent in your local currency—and covers a range of options like restaurant meals, in-room dining, minibar items, and even related taxes and tips. They’re part of the Milestone Rewards program, a feature of IHG One Rewards that celebrates your loyalty with perks at various night stay milestones.

Think of these rewards as a thank-you for choosing IHG hotels again and again. Whether it’s a quick coffee or a full dinner, they’re a handy way to make your stays more enjoyable without dipping too deep into your wallet.

For more information, visit the official IHG website for details on Food & Beverage Rewards here.

How to Earn Food and Beverage Rewards?

Earning these rewards is straightforward and tied to how often you stay at IHG properties. The Milestone Rewards program starts after 20 nights in a calendar year, and you earn additional rewards every 10 nights thereafter, up to 100 nights. At each milestone, you get to pick from a few options, with Food and Beverage Rewards available every time.

Here’s how it works:

The rewards are issued based on your country of residence. For example, U.S. members get $20 credits, while those in the UK get £15, in the Eurozone €15, in Japan ¥2,000, and so on. If you’re in a country without a specific currency option, you’ll receive $20 rewards, converted to the hotel’s local currency when you redeem them.

Choosing and Redeeming Your Rewards

Once you hit a milestone, IHG sends you an email letting you know it’s time to choose your reward. You’ve got 90 days to make your pick—miss that window, and the opportunity slips away. To select, click the link in the email or log into your IHG account and head to the Milestone Rewards page.

Redeeming is just as easy, but it happens during your stay. Here’s the step-by-step:

1.Charge to your room: Make sure your food and drink purchases are billed to your room folio—whether it’s a restaurant tab, room service, or a minibar snack.

2.Open the IHG app or website: Go to your IHG One Rewards account, find the “Reward Wallet,” and select the Food and Beverage Reward you want to use.

3.Apply the reward: Follow the prompts to redeem it against your current stay’s charges. You’ll need to do this before checking out.

A few things to keep in mind: the charges need to be eligible (no third-party deliveries or vending machine snacks), and you can use as many rewards as you have available during a single stay. It’s a flexible perk that lets you enjoy a meal or two on IHG’s dime.

Maximizing the Value of Your Rewards

So, are Food and Beverage Rewards worth choosing over other milestone options? It depends on how you travel, but here’s a quick look at the value:

Two rewards at 20 or 30 nights: That’s $40 in dining credits, compared to 5,000 points (worth about $25 based on a common 0.5 cents per point valuation). If you enjoy hotel dining, the rewards often come out ahead.
Five rewards at 40 nights and beyond: This jumps to $100 per selection, making it a substantial perk for frequent guests.

If you stayed 100 nights and picked Food and Beverage Rewards every time, you could rack up $980 in credits—enough to cover some serious dining splurges. Compare that to points, which might not stretch as far for immediate use, or upgrades and lounge access, which depend on availability and your travel style.

Here are some tips to maximize them:

Save for a big meal: Use your rewards for a special dinner rather than small snacks to feel the full benefit.
Check with the hotel: Confirm which dining options can be charged to your room—some outlets might not qualify.
Stack them up: Redeem multiple rewards during one stay if you’ve got a hefty bill or a longer trip.

Important Considerations and Restrictions

Like any loyalty perk, there’s some fine print to navigate:

Expiry: Rewards are good for 12 months from the date you select them, so plan to use them within a year.
Non-transferable: They’re tied to your account and can’t be shared or used for someone else’s stay.
Brand limits: You can’t use them at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Iberostar Hotels, InterContinental Alliance Resorts, or IHG Army Hotels.
Eligible charges only: They work for room-billed expenses—not third-party services, gift shop items, or minibar taxes in some cases.
No change given: If your bill is less than $20, you lose the leftover value (e.g., a $15 meal uses the full $20 reward).

Also, you won’t earn IHG points on the amount covered by the reward, so factor that into your decision if points are a priority.

FAQ

1. What exactly are IHG Food and Beverage Rewards?

IHG Food and Beverage Rewards are credits worth up to $20 each (or the equivalent in your local currency) that you can use to offset food and drink purchases charged to your room at participating IHG hotels. They’re earned through the Milestone Rewards program as a perk for frequent stays.

2. How do I earn IHG Food and Beverage Rewards?

You earn these rewards by reaching night stay milestones in a calendar year—starting at 20 nights and then every 10 nights thereafter, up to 100 nights. At each milestone, you can choose Food and Beverage Rewards as one of your options.

3. How do I select Food and Beverage Rewards as my Milestone Reward?

After reaching a milestone, IHG will email you with a link to choose your reward. You can also log into your IHG account and select them from the Milestone Rewards page. Be sure to make your choice within 90 days, or you’ll lose the opportunity.

4. How do I redeem my Food and Beverage Rewards?

To redeem, charge your food and drink purchases to your room during your stay. Then, before checkout, open the IHG app or website, go to your Reward Wallet, and apply the reward to your bill. You must redeem it before leaving the hotel.

5. What is the value of each Food and Beverage Reward?

Each reward is worth up to $20 (or the local equivalent). If you’re staying outside your home country, the value is converted to the hotel’s local currency when you redeem it.

6. Do IHG Food and Beverage Rewards expire?

Yes, they expire 12 months after you select them, so be sure to use them within a year.

7. Can I use multiple Food and Beverage Rewards during a single stay?

Absolutely! There’s no limit to how many you can use per stay, as long as you have eligible charges on your bill.

8. Do I earn IHG points on the amount covered by the Food and Beverage Reward?

No, you won’t earn points on the portion of your bill covered by the reward.

9. Are IHG Food and Beverage Rewards worth choosing over other Milestone Rewards options?

It depends on your travel style. If you enjoy dining at hotels, the rewards often offer more immediate value than bonus points. For example, two rewards at 20 nights give you $40 in dining credits, while 5,000 points are worth about $25. However, if you prefer suite upgrades or lounge access (available at certain milestones), those might be better for you.

Final Thoughts

IHG Food and Beverage Rewards are a simple yet rewarding perk for anyone who stays at IHG hotels regularly. They turn your loyalty into real, usable benefits—whether it’s a quiet breakfast or a celebratory dinner. When picking your Milestone Rewards, think about how often you dine at hotels and weigh that against points or upgrades. For many, these credits offer a practical way to enhance every stay, making your IHG experience that much tastier.