IHG vs. Marriott: Which Hotel Chain Offers More?

In IHG vs Marriott, Marriott has a total of 8000 hotels but IHG has only 6000. So Marriott is better in terms of hotel availability. The loyalty programs of both hotel chains are almost similar. You get 10 points for 1 USD you spend. In the case of redemption points, you get more diversity in IMarriott than in IHG. The costs of both brands are similar in various genres.

This is not it. There are also a lot of other factors that need further explanation on IHG vs Marriott. For that, stick with us!

IHG vs. Marriott: A Short Comparison

Now we have prepared a table of comparison factors which would make you choose easily. Let’s see-

Factor	IHG	Marriott
Brands & Global Presence	6000 hotels	8000 hotels, 30 unique brands
Lounge	Less expensive, Less upscale resorts	More expensive, More upscale resorts available
Breakfast Options	Need to purchase pay-per-view breakfast separately  Elite status is often offered complimentary breakfast  Some brands offer inclusive breakfasts like hot and cold breakfast	Some have pay per view breakfast option which is ordered as a package Elite status is given complimentary breakfast as the benefit of participating properties Brands like Courtyard and Residence also offer inclusive breakfast
Travel Rewards	Point system	Point System
Travel Rewards Credit Card	IHG One Premier Credit Card	Marriott Convoy Boundless credit card,
Points per USD spent from Credit Card	26	17
Elite Status	$20,000 expenditure required	$35,000 expenditure required
All-inclusive Resorts	Not a lot of resort properties	A wide range of resort properties
Amenities	fitness centers, restaurants, business facilities,	Fine dining, spa, special services, etc.
Redemption	Less Diverse	More Diverse
Cost	Similar Cost	Similar Cost

IGH vs. Marriott: Detailed Comparison

Now that we have seen the short comparison, it’s time to see a more detailed view of the whole matter. Let’s have a look-

Brands, Global Presence & Room Availability 

In terms of brands, Marriott has a bigger acquisition of hotels than IHG.

Marriott has eight thousand hotels & brands under its chain. On the contrary, IHG has almost six thousand brands under its name.

So we suggest that if you’re looking for a better chance of room availability, you should go to Marriott Hotels.

Marriott has a total of 30 unique brands under its name. The brands offer a variety of features. These brands go from the very premium Marriott hotels and resorts to the most sophisticated Ritz-Carlton. But not only that, they also offer brands like Sheraton which is known globally for its experiences.

To talk about IHG, they also has a wide variety of brands under them. You can have the most organized hotels like Holiday Inn and Holiday Express from IHG. But, it also offers upscale brands like InterContinental & Crowne Plaza. They also have specialized hotels designed for some valuable travelers.

Loyalty Program

Marriott Rewards and IHG Rewards Club both offer points systems, but Marriott provides more diverse redemption options, including airline partnerships. Both use a point-based reward system.

At both IHG Rewards Club & Marriott Convoy, you get 10 points for each 1 USD you spend at their properties.

Through these points, customers can claim a lot of benefits. However, Marriott Rewards has both points and a cash system. That means you can book hotels by combining both cash and points.

The other way to get points is by making a purchase at a hotel through a co-branded credit card. In addition to these, you can earn points by hosting meetings and events, dining programs, shopping with their partners, etc.

In the case of Marriott Bonvoy, the exception here however is, that you can purchase Marriott Bonvoy reward points at 1000 at 12.5 USD, which you can’t at IHG.

In addition to this, the Bonovy Rewards program is associated with American Express & Chase. So it means that you can turn these points into Marriott points.

In the case of redemption options, Marriott offers more diversity. You can utilize your points to a lot of airlines that are partners of Marriott. But in the case of IHG, you don’t have this facility. 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Credit card of IHG is the IHG One Premiere Credit Card. For Marriott, it’s the Marriott Convoy Boundless card. The Marriott Convoy Boundless Card offers more points in less bucks than the IHG.

IHG One Premiere credit card

You can get the platinum status by default if you hold the elite status. You can get fourteen thousand bonus points if you spend three thousand USD within three months.

On the same date of account opening every year you get a night reward. In addition to this, if you stay for 3+ nights, you get the 4th day stay for free!

You can have 26 points for every 1 USD you spend. You also get 5x points on all of your purchases related to food in restaurants, travel expenses, fuel, etc.

Marriott Convoy Boundless 

Alternatively, here you can get up to seventeen points for each 1 USD spent over seven thousand USD. You also get 3x points for the first six thousand USD on each 1 USD spent.

You can earn elite status once you spend a total of 35000 USD in 1 year. If you have the Bonvoy Boundless card, you will get a Silver Elite Status on each anniversary. This is almost similar to IHG. 

However, to earn the elite status of the IHG premiere card you need to spend 20,000 USD.

So if you are a heavy spender on hotels you should get the IHG One Rewards Premier card. But if you want to think economically, then the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card gives points cheaper.

Lounge Options

If we talk about lounges, you can get into IHG Executive Club lounges by staying 40 nights. On the contrary, you can get into the M Club Lounge by staying 50 nights. So the cost is higher in Marriott than IHG.

IHG-

Since the cost is higher, Mariott offers more extensive and luxurious lounges than IHG. However, keep in mind that the lounge options mostly vary and depend on you. You can get a clearer idea about Marriott from JW Marriott vs Marriott

Marriott-

Amenities 

Marriott offers more specialized amenities than IHG, such as fine dining, spa, and special services, while IHG offers more conventional amenities, such as fitness centers, restaurants, and business facilities.

Marriott’s amenities are more tailored to specific interests and needs, while IHG’s amenities are more general-purpose. This is just like the Courtyard and Fairfield comparison

All-inclusive Resorts

When it comes to resorts, Marriott is the clear winner. IHG does have resort properties. However, those are only available in some selected destinations.

But in the case of Marriott, it has a great number of resort properties under its name. Some of them are, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott, etc.

Cost 

The cost of both Marriott and IHG is almost similar. Both megachains have a wide variety of hotels at budget-friendly, mid-range, and luxurious hotels respectively.

The cost can vary depending on the location, room type(single or double), specific brand, or any reward points.

So, Which One is Better for You?

If loyalty programs are your concern, you can go with either. However, according to many, IHG loyalty programs cost 0.02 cents less than Marriott. For credit cards, Marriott is the winner. You get no-fee, mid-range, & a premium option. You also get to use American Express and Chase. But these are absent in Marriott.

In terms of lounge options, Marriott is costlier and offers a better experience. For resorts, Marriott is also better, whereas IHG offers almost no resorts.

For better hotel availability, you should go with Marriott. Otherwise, you get almost similar costs and amenities for both.

Since both mega hotel chains are winners in different segments,  it depends on which one you need. 

Conclusion

That’s it for today, travel enthusiasts. We have tried to outline every possible feature that one would require to compare IHG vs Marriott. Make sure to make your decision depending on what you need.

Best of luck!