IHG One Pass: The New Employee & Friends Discount Program (2026 Guide)
IHG One Pass replaced the old Friends & Family Rate in 2026. Here's how it works: employee rates, Plus One benefits, Friends discounts of 30-45%, annual limits, and how to book.
Table of Contents
IHG One Pass is the program that replaced the old Friends & Family Rate at the end of 2025. It gives IHG employees discounted stays, lets them designate one Plus One who gets the same rate, and allows them to share a separate Friends rate (30–45% off) with additional contacts. Unlike the old F&F Rate, One Pass requires a direct connection to an IHG employee — the open-access link is gone. Here's how it works.
What Is IHG One Pass?
IHG One Pass is the modernized replacement for the old IHG Friends & Family Rate, officially launching in full effect from January 2026. The key difference: the old program operated via public links that anyone could use. One Pass eliminates open links entirely and replaces them with a controlled, account-linked dashboard. Every discount reservation must now be tied to a verified connection with an actual IHG employee. For the full history of what changed and why, see our breakdown of the IHG Friends & Family Rate discontinuation.
The new framework introduces a highly structured ecosystem divided into specific tiers, completely redefining employee and associate travel across thousands of global IHG properties.
Who Is Eligible?
IHG has divided the program into three distinct eligibility tiers. Each carries unique privileges, booking limits, and strict prerequisites.
Role | Who Qualifies | Rate Access | Annual Limit |
IHG Employee | Current IHG employees | One Pass Rate (fixed price) + One Pass Flexible Rate | 30 nights/year (shared with Plus One) |
Plus One | One person designated by the employee (anyone — no relation required) | One Pass Rate + One Pass Flexible Rate (same as employee) | Shares employee's 30-night pool |
Friends | Multiple contacts added by the employee | One Pass Friends Rate (30–45% off) | 50 nights/year shared across all Friends on the employee's account |
The Unique Status of the "Plus One"
The most notable addition to the 2026 program is the Plus One role. An employee can designate absolutely anyone as their Plus One — be it a spouse, a sibling, or a close friend. This designated individual receives access to the exact same deeply discounted, fixed-price corporate rates as the employee, even when traveling completely alone.
However, this privilege comes with a major catch: the 30-night annual limit is strictly pooled between the employee and their Plus One. Furthermore, if an employee removes their designated Plus One, a replacement cannot be added until the following calendar year.
One Pass Rate vs Friends Rate: What's the Difference?
Understanding the distinction between the core employee rates and the One Pass Friends Rate is critical — the pricing logic and savings differ dramatically between them.
1. One Pass Rate & One Pass Flexible Rate (Employees & Plus Ones)
The standard One Pass Rate does not use a percentage-off model. Instead, it uses a fixed-price matrix determined by the property tier and its historical average rates. Luxury brands yield disproportionately deep discounts. For example, a luxury property that normally retails for $400 per night might carry a fixed One Pass Rate of $120 — saving the traveler $280 per night.
The One Pass Flexible Rate offers a slightly higher price point than the fixed rate but with more forgiving cancellation terms. Both employees and Plus Ones also receive a 50% discount on food and beverage at participating hotel-managed outlets during their stay.
2. One Pass Friends Rate (Friends)
If you are registered as a Friend rather than the Plus One, you access the One Pass Friends Rate. This operates on a percentage discount of 30% to 45% off the property's Best Flexible Rate.
To illustrate: if a Hotel Indigo has a standard flexible room at $200 per night, a registered Friend at 40% off would pay $120. While this does not match the rock-bottom fixed pricing for employees, it still represents a substantial saving over any public promotion or corporate code on the open market. Note that the 50% dining discount does not extend to the Friends tier.
If you are looking into industry-specific professional rates rather than personal connections, see our guide on the IHG Travel Agent Rates — a completely separate program for accredited travel professionals.
How to Book (Step-by-Step)
Securing these exclusive rates requires coordination between the employee and the traveler. There is no generic link to click — the entire process runs through official channels.
Employee logs into their internal corporate benefits dashboard.
Employee manually inputs the traveler's legal name and email, designating them as Plus One or adding them to their Friends list.
The system sends an automated digital invitation to the traveler's email address.
The traveler clicks the link and logs into their IHG One Rewards account to bind the employee pass to their profile.
Once linked, the traveler visits ihg.com or opens the IHG One Rewards App. The One Pass Rate or One Pass Friends Rate will automatically appear in the rate selection during a standard hotel search.
Select the room and complete checkout using a credit card matching the traveler's legal name.
Warning: Avoid Third-Party Access Sales
Due to the money-saving potential of these discounts, an illicit secondary market has emerged. Platforms such as EliteStatus.run and VipHotelFlights actively sell IHG One Pass access to the general public, advertising "25-night or 50-night corporate discount packages" for an upfront fee.
Do not use these services. Purchasing access explicitly violates IHG's Terms of Service. IHG's compliance teams actively audit employee accounts for unusual linking activity. If caught:
Your upcoming reservations will be canceled without refund.
You may be walked out at check-in or charged full rack rates retroactively.
Your IHG One Rewards account will be permanently banned, with all points and status forfeited.
The only legitimate way to access One Pass rates is through an authentic personal connection with a real IHG employee.
Key Restrictions
Excluded Brands: Six Senses hotels and Iberostar properties do not participate in the program.
Room Limit: Maximum of 2 rooms per stay.
Maximum Stay Length: 7 consecutive nights per reservation.
Leisure Travel Only: Strictly for personal recreational travel — business use is prohibited.
No Mid-Year Plus One Replacement: Once a Plus One is removed, a new designation can only be made from the following calendar year.
Shared Night Caps: The 30-night annual allotment is shared collectively between the employee and their Plus One, not granted individually.
Frequently asked Questions
What replaced the IHG Friends & Family Rate?
The IHG One Pass program completely replaced the legacy Friends & Family Rate at the end of 2025. The old system relied on a public link that anyone could use. The 2026 framework eliminates open links entirely — every discount reservation must be tied to a verified employee connection. For the full history, see our IHG Friends & Family Rate discontinuation guide.
What is IHG One Pass Plus One and who can be designated?
The Plus One is a highly privileged tier within the program. An employee can designate exactly one person — anyone, with no family relation requirement — to receive the same fixed corporate rates as the employee, including the ability to travel independently. However, their stays count against the employee's 30-night annual cap, and if removed, the slot cannot be re-assigned until the following calendar year.
Do IHG One Pass stays earn IHG One Rewards points?
Yes. Stays booked under the One Pass Friends Rate are eligible to earn IHG One Rewards points and qualifying nights toward elite status. This was also a feature of the old Friends & Family Rate and has been carried over into the new program. Note that One Pass stays are generally not eligible for additional promotional bonus points — standard base earning applies.
Can I book IHG One Pass rates without knowing an IHG employee?
No. The system requires a closed-loop digital invitation where a real employee must manually enter your details into their corporate dashboard to link your accounts. Any platform claiming to sell you access without a personal employee connection is operating illegally, violates IHG's policy, and risks getting your reservations canceled and your loyalty account permanently banned.
Is IHG One Pass available at all IHG properties worldwide?
The program covers thousands of global hotels including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, and Hotel Indigo — but not everywhere. Six Senses and Iberostar properties are excluded. Individual hotels can also restrict inventory or block specific dates during peak demand periods. For context on how this compares to other IHG discount options, see our IHG Friends & Family Rate discontinuation guide.
Friends and Family Travel is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) or any of its subsidiaries. All program details are based on publicly available information and may change — always verify current terms at ihg.com before booking.
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