IHG and ANA announced a partnership in April (read more here), which wasn’t surprising, as ANA hotels in Japan are affiliated with and operate under various IHG brands (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn).
IHG and ANA have released more information, and the partnership appears far more beneficial for ANA Mileage Club members, unlike Marriott’s partnership with JAL, which also greatly benefits Bonvoy members (read more here).
You can access IHG’s and ANA’s page for the partnership here.
READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
IHG’s Tier Match for ANA Mileage Club Members:
What makes this match unique is that IHG deposits Elite Qualifying Nights into IHG One Rewards accounts for ANA Mileage Club members.
These bonus EQNs are also eligible for Milestone Rewards.
Note that your ANA Mileage Club account must be based in Japan, based on my quick reading of this partnership.
Bonus Elite Qualifying Night Credits (EQNs):
ANA Mileage Club member = 5 bonus EQNs
ANA Mileage Club Bronze = 10 bonus EQNs
ANA Mileage Club Platinum = 20 bonus EQNs
ANA Mileage Club Diamond = 38 bonus EQNs
ANA Mileage Club Diamond+ = 68 bonus EQNs
Note that these are deposited as Elite Qualifying Nights.
It is unclear from the chart above whether they deposit 38 EQNs for Diamond members and 68 for Diamond+, or 20 and 40, and then sign up for a bonus EQN offer for an additional 18 and 28 nights for staying 2 nights.
The page also states that IHG ANA hotel benefits end in March 2027 for AMC members, as they are replaced by the tier-match EQNs above.
Conclusion
You can get Japan Airlines status quite easily based on your Bonvoy tier through Marriott’s and JAL’s partnership, but IHG One Rewards elite members have nothing comparable with this ANA deal.
It is very lopsided toward ANA Mileage Club elite members, who can get a rather easy pathway to a meaningful IHG One Rewards tier (Diamond) and an Annual Lounge Pass at 40 nights.
But everyone should sign up for an ANA account, or move their existing one to Japan, to get at least 5 bonus EQNs next year.
Frequently asked questions:
How and when can I register for the Status Match?
The Status Match will launch in January 2027, after which time all members will be able to login to their ANA Mileage Club account to register for the IHG One Rewards Status Match. If you are not already an IHG One Rewards member, enrol today and book a stay in advance with IHG Hotels & Resorts. (https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/gb/en/enrollment/join?offerId=QR112)
Will I be eligible for the Status Match?
Yes, all AMC members residing in Japan will be eligible for the IHG One Rewards Status Match. If you are not an ANA Mileage Club or IHG One Rewards member, enrol in advance today!(https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/gb/en/enrollment/join?offerId=QR112)
*Please note that eligibility may be limited for ANA Mileage Club Normal Members residing outside Japan.
When will eligible hotel stays begin counting toward the nights requirement for higher Elite Status with IHG One Rewards?
Registration for the Status Match will launch in January 2027. You can earn towards higher Elite status before or after the launch, starting with eligible qualified stays at IHG checked out from January 1st, 2027 onwards. If you check-in for a stay during 2026 and check-out in 2027, all qualified nights for your eligible stay will be counted as Elite Qualifying Nights (EQNs) for achieving Elite status in 2027. Stays checked out before December 31, 2026 are not counted retroactively, because IHG One Rewards member EQNs balances are reset to zero every year on January 1st.
What IHG One Rewards Status benefits apply with this Status Match?
When an ANA Mileage Club (AMC) member registers for the Status Match, Bonus Elite Night Credits corresponding to their AMC status will be awarded in their IHG One Rewards account. Members with AMC Diamond or AMC Diamond + More status can unlock an even higher IHG Elite status by completing two qualifying stays on their own after successful registration.
*This applies to members with no prior eligible stay history during that calendar year.
For details regarding specific IHG One Rewards Elite status benefits—such as complimentary room upgrades, welcome amenity choice at check-in, and late check-out—as well as the applicable terms and conditions, please visit
the official IHG Hotels & Resorts website (https://www.ihg.com/onerewards/content/gb/en/home).
*Please note that eligibility may be limited for ANA Mileage Club Normal Members residing outside Japan.
What IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards will I receive with this Status Match?
At launch, registered AMC Platinum members and above will earn Milestone Rewards based on the number of Elite Night Credits deposited in their IHG One Rewards account, corresponding to their AMC status. Milestone Rewards are earned every 10 nights, beginning at 20 nights through 100 nights. Each Milestone Reward provides the member a choice of benefit, which may include IHG One Rewards Bonus Points, Food & Beverage Rewards, Confirmable Suite Upgrade, or Annual Lounge Membership for use at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Members have 90 days to select a benefit on the IHG website or IHG App, otherwise, the benefit is forfeited.
For details and conditions of specific IHG One Rewards member benefits, please refer to the official IHG Hotels & Resorts website (https://www.ihg.com/onerewards/content/gb/en/home).
Which booking channels count toward the stays required for this Status Offer?
Elite Qualifying Nights (EQNs) can only be earned on direct bookings made through the official IHG website, official IHG app or LINE MiniApp, including Paid stays and Reward Night stays using points. Stays booked via OTAs (such as Jalan, Expedia, etc.) and travel agencies do not earn EQNs.
Through which booking channels will I receive IHG One Rewards Status benefits on my stay?
IHG One Rewards status benefits can be enjoyed only on direct hotel bookings made through the official IHG website, official IHG app or LINE MiniApp, including Paid stays and Reward Night stays using points. Stays booked via OTAs (such as Jalan, Expedia, etc.) do not receive IHG One Rewards Status benefits.
How is this Status Match different from others in Japan?
This Status Match not only provides matching Elite status in IHG One Rewards, but also Bonus Elite Night Credits (ENCs) count towards Milestone Rewards for AMC members. Depending on your eligibility, Milestone Rewards provide a choice of Bonus Points, Food & Beverage Rewards, Confirmable Suite Upgrade, and Annual Lounge Membership for use at IHG Hotels & Resorts. All ANA Mileage Club members in Japan who registered will receive complimentary Bonus Elite Night Credits in IHG One Rewards.
*Please note that eligibility may be limited for ANA Mileage Club Normal Members residing outside Japan.
How will I be able to exchange my ANA Miles for IHG One Rewards Points?
To exchange your ANA Miles for IHG One Rewards points, you will need to hold both an ANA Mileage Club account and an IHG One Rewards account.
If you are not yet a member, please sign up for IHG One Rewards in advance. (https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/gb/en/enrollment/join?offerId=QR112)
How many ANA Miles will I be able to convert to IHG One Rewards Points?
Details regarding the rate of conversion will be announced upon the official release of the service.
What are the eligibility conditions for earning both ANA Miles and IHG One Rewards Points on flights?
This offer is eligible for members of both IHG One Rewards and AMC who reside outside Japan both at the time of registration and at the end of the month following their flight. Double Dip accrual (earning of both ANA Miles and IHG One Rewards points) is eligible only when purchasing ANA international flights (operated solely by ANA) through direct sales channels such as ANA Website (overseas website)*, and for flight itinararies originating outside of Japan. Flight itinararies originating in Japan, codeshare flights, and tickets purchased through OTAs or travel agencies are strictly excluded.
【Eligible Itinerary Examples】
LHR(London)→HND(Haneda)
LAX(Los Angeles)→NRT(Narita)→SIN(Singapore)**
**Valid only when all flight sectors are booked together under a single reservation/ticket.
✓ Eligible: Booked as a single combined itinerary (LAX→NRT→SIN)
✗ Not Eligible: Booked separately as individual tickets（LAX→NRT, NRT→SIN）
【Ineligible Itinerary Examples】
HND(Haneda)→LHR(London)
HNL(Honolulu)→NRT(Narita)※In cases where a Japan resident purchases a one-way ticket only
* Purchases made on the ANA website with the country/region set to ‘Japan’ (Japan site) are not eligible. Please check your current country/region setting via the menu at the top of the page.
* Award tickets are not eligible; fares in booking class S or higher are eligible for point accrual.
What is happening to the existing benefits at IHG Hotels & Resorts for ANA Mileage Club members?
Alongside the launch of new AMC member benefits at IHG Hotels & Resorts, existing member benefits at IHG ANA hotels will be sequentially discontinued, starting from March 2027. These include complimentary breakfast and welcome drink benefits, discounted stay rates for AMC members and AMC Card members, and Food & Beverage discounts.