The addition of lanthanides, or rare earth elements, as promoters to NiInAl/SiO2 methanol synthesis catalysts was investigated. The promoters studied are the light rare earth elements (La to Gd) and all but La and Ce were shown to improve methanol synthesis activity. A comparison of the synthesis method for introduction of Pr as a promoter found that addition during the deposition-precipitation synthesis of the catalyst is superior to incipient wetness impregnation introduction after synthesis. The heaviest lanthanides tested (Sm, Eu, Gd) showed the greatest improvement in methanol synthesis activity and selectivity, with a concomitant decrease of CO produced. The Gd-promoted catalyst showed the greatest increase in methanol synthesis activity at 0.51 mmol g(cat)(-1) h(-1) which is a 27% increase over the catalyst with no promoter. Examination of the basic characteristics of the catalysts by CO2 TPD and in situ FTIR revealed a negative correlation between basicity and methanol synthesis activity. FTIR methanol synthesis tests also revealed a larger proportion of the key intermediate, bidentate formate, with the addition of the Gd promoter. STEM micrographs and particle size distributions show that the incorporation of the Gd promoter results in smaller diameter metallic particles and higher resistance to sintering. EELS mapping revealed that the location of Ni and Gd correlates well with the metallic particles observed with STEM, and while the In is also found in these particles, small amounts are also observed to be dispersed outside of the particles.