What happens to IHG One Rewards points when the owner dies
Contact IHG Hotels & Resorts to request a transfer of points after an account holder dies
IHG One Rewards Member Services
The request must be received within one year of the date of death per the Member Terms and Conditions. No specific processing timeline is published once documentation is submitted. The 12-month points-inactivity expiration is a separate deadline that can cause forfeiture before the one-year estate transfer window closes if the deceased member had no earn or redeem activity in the 12 months before death.
(General customer service)
IHG Hotels & Resorts provides a family transfer process for IHG One Rewards points after the account holder's death.
How to request a transfer
Here is the process for transferring IHG One Rewards points after the account holder dies:
- •Path A (executor or administrator): court documents showing authority, such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
- •Path B (sole beneficiary): a copy of the decedent's will and a copy of the death certificate.
Required Documents
- Court documents showing executor or administrator authority (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration), OR a copy of the decedent's will and a copy of the death certificate if the requester is the sole beneficiary
- IHG One Rewards account number(s) of each beneficiary receiving points
- Written instructions identifying the allocation among multiple beneficiaries, if applicable
Timeline
The request must be received within one year of the date of death per the Member Terms and Conditions. No specific processing timeline is published once documentation is submitted. The 12-month points-inactivity expiration is a separate deadline that can cause forfeiture before the one-year estate transfer window closes if the deceased member had no earn or redeem activity in the 12 months before death.
Frequently asked questions
The IHG One Rewards Member Terms and Conditions allow points to be transferred to the IHG account(s) of the member's beneficiary(ies) upon death. The standard per-point transfer fee is waived. The request must be received within one year of the date of death and must include either court documents showing executor or administrator authority, or a copy of the decedent's will and death certificate submitted by a sole beneficiary.
Yes, with proper documentation submitted within one year of death. The Terms and Conditions broadly prohibit transfers "upon death," but a specific exception permits estate transfers to the member's beneficiary(ies). The plural "beneficiary(ies)" in the Terms indicates points can be divided among multiple recipients with appropriate documentation.
Either court documents showing executor or administrator authority (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) or, if the requester is the sole beneficiary, a copy of the decedent's will and a copy of the death certificate. The executor must also provide the IHG One Rewards account number(s) of each beneficiary receiving points, and each beneficiary must have an active IHG One Rewards account before points can be transferred.
No. The Member Terms and Conditions state that the standard per-point transfer fee is waived for estate transfers. The $5 per 1,000 points fee that applies to living transfers between standard members does not apply to post-death transfers.
The Terms and Conditions require the transfer request to be received within one year of the date of death. Requests received after that window may be denied. Separately, a standard member's points can expire during estate administration if no qualifying activity has posted to the account in the preceding 12 months.
The recipient can use transferred points under the program's normal terms. Keeping the deceased account holder's account number and contact details on file simplifies this process for the executor or surviving family.
Sources
Data sourced from IHG Hotels & Resorts primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
IHG One Rewards Member Services
The request must be received within one year of the date of death per the Member Terms and Conditions. No specific processing timeline is published once documentation is submitted. The 12-month points-inactivity expiration is a separate deadline that can cause forfeiture before the one-year estate transfer window closes if the deceased member had no earn or redeem activity in the 12 months before death.
(General customer service)
