IHG Friends and Family Rate Discontinued: What You Need to Know About IHG One Pass

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Table of Contents[Hide][Show]

What Happened to the Friends and Family Rate?
Enter IHG One Pass: The Replacement Program
The Big Difference: A 30-Night Annual Cap
How IHG One Pass Works
Who Can Access IHG One Pass?
Is This Better or Worse Than Before?
What Are Your Alternatives?
Final Thoughts
More Great Content for IHG Rewards Fans

If you’ve been using the IHG Friends and Family rate to score discounts at Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Kimpton, or any of IHG’s 6,800+ properties worldwide, I have some news that might disappoint you.

The Friends and Family rate program officially ended on December 31, 2025, and has been replaced by a new program, IHG One Pass, which comes with significant restrictions.

What Happened to the Friends and Family Rate?

IHG confirmed that the Friends & Family Rate was retired as booking links were disabled after December 31, 2025. If you had existing reservations under the old rate before that date, good news – those reservations will still be honored. But you can’t book any new stays using the old Friends and Family rate anymore.

The Friends and Family rate had been quietly popular for years, especially because it often came in below standard member rates, extended stay discounts, and even advance purchase rates. It offered solid flexibility, earned IHG One Rewards points, and qualified for elite night credits (though not for bonus promotions). The rate typically saved guests 15-30% off the best available rate, and with a maximum stay of 7 nights and up to 5 rooms per booking, it was genuinely useful for both quick getaways and longer trips.

Enter IHG One Pass: The Replacement Program

IHG rolled out IHG One Pass as the replacement program, framing the change as part of a broader refresh of employee benefits. The new program is designed to let IHG employees “explore IHG’s 6,800+ properties around the world and share competitive discounts and travel perks with those they care about most.”

Sounds good in theory, right? But here’s where things get complicated.

The Big Difference: A 30-Night Annual Cap

The most significant change with IHG One Pass is the introduction of strict annual limits. Friends share 50 nights combined per calendar year using the IHG One Pass Friends rate. For employees themselves using the colleague rate, there’s also a 30-night cap.

This is a huge departure from the old Friends and Family rate, which had no annual night limits. If you were fortunate enough to have a connection to an IHG employee and made frequent use of the rate, you’re definitely feeling the pinch now.

How IHG One Pass Works

Here’s what we know about the new program structure:

Booking Details:

You can book up to 180 days in advance
Up to 2 rooms per night, with stays limited to 7 nights maximum
Rates are bookable through the IHG One Rewards app or on IHG.com
Look for IHG One Pass rates in the rate preference dropdown menu

Flexibility Tips:

If IHG One Pass rates aren’t available for your entire stay, you can book another rate type for additional nights and connect the reservations at check-in
Search popular destinations during various seasons or different days of the week when availability might be better

Responsible Use Requirements: The program comes with expectations that pass holders will use it responsibly – meaning you need to be present for the entire stay, follow the program limits, and treat hotels and staff with respect. Breaking these rules could jeopardize access to the benefit.

Who Can Access IHG One Pass?

This is where things get stricter. The IHG One Pass program is specifically for IHG employees (colleagues) and the people they choose to share it with. Unlike the old Friends and Family rate, which was somewhat controversially accessible to anyone who could find a booking link online, IHG One Pass appears to be more tightly controlled.

You’ll need to be designated as a friend or family member by an actual IHG employee to access the Friends rate tier.

Is This Better or Worse Than Before?

Let’s be honest: for most people, this is a downgrade. The 30-night cap represents a real reduction in flexibility, especially if you were someone who traveled frequently and relied on these discounted rates.

Early reactions have been mixed, with the biggest concern being the 30-night annual cap that applies to both the employee and any friends or family members using the benefit.

IHG hasn’t released detailed public information about how the actual discount rates compare to the old Friends and Family rates, so it’s unclear whether you’ll save more or less on each individual booking. If the discounts are similar to what we saw before (that 15-30% range), the program could still offer good value – you just won’t be able to use it as often.

Some individual hotel properties reportedly complained about the old Friends and Family rate, which may have contributed to IHG’s decision to add these restrictions.

What Are Your Alternatives?

If you were relying heavily on the Friends and Family rate, here are some other IHG discount options to consider:

IHG One Rewards Member Rates – Free to join, and member rates often beat public rates
Advance Purchase Rates – Book early for non-refundable discounts
Extended Stay Rates – Better per-night rates for longer bookings
Corporate Codes – If you have access through your employer
Promotional Rates – IHG frequently runs limited-time promotions worth watching

Final Thoughts

The IHG Friends & Family Rate has been a longstanding perk for associates and their guests, but the benefit is officially being phased out in favor of the IHG One Pass program. While legacy bookings will be honored through their stay dates, new bookings under the old framework will end after 2025.

If you are an IHG employee or guest, acquaint yourself with the new One Pass rules as they roll out. If you’re not eligible, IHG One Rewards and other public rate strategies still provide dependable ways to save on future stays.