30 November 2015

IHG and Uber Team Up To Simplify On-Demand Travel For IHG Rewards Club Members

Ride Reminders, loyalty points and discounted rides among benefits for guests


ATLANTA – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, and Uber, announced today a new collaboration designed to make it easier and more rewarding for guests to get to and from their hotels. From this week, anyone who is traveling within the U.S. and signs up as a new Uber rider can earn 2,000 IHG® Rewards Club points[1] and $20 off their first ride with Uber.  Now, travelers can conveniently request a ride from the award-winning IHG® App through the Uber API and in early 2016, they will be able to set Uber “Ride Reminders.”

Lara Hernandez, Vice President, Digital, Loyalty and Partner Marketing, The Americas, IHG said, “IHG Rewards Club is constantly evolving, based on member and consumer insights, to ensure we are delivering the most innovative, relevant and rewarding experiences for our guests. Our strategic relationship with Uber coupled with our digitally-driven innovations already in market, allow our guests to have a seamless experience throughout their travel journey.”

Guests can enjoy the benefits of this new partnership by following these simple steps:

  • Update the  IHG App or download it  here.
  • Book a stay at an IHG hotel anywhere in the U.S.
  • To get to your destination, select the Uber button in the IHG App to request a ride.
  • Guests will be directed to the  Uber App where the hotel’s address will be pre-populated. If the Uber App is not installed on the guest’s mobile device, they will be directed to an app install link.
  • New Uber riders will receive $20 off their first ride and a digital voucher code from Uber via email to deposit 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points into their member account. Points can be redeemed toward a future stay at any of the more than 4,900 IHG hotels in the world.

Jonathan DiOrio, Head of Travel, Entertainment and Venue Partnerships, Uber, added, “Both Uber and IHG are focused on combining travel with technology to provide a better experience for users. We are excited to offer Uber’s rapidly growing service to the millions of IHG Rewards Club members traveling throughout the U.S. each year.”

IHG Rewards Club continues to make earning and redeeming points simple and rewarding for members. IHG’s 2015 Trends Report showed that consumers are looking for more than an effortless transaction with their chosen brands.  They want a rewarding relationship built on trust and respond best to efforts focused on building real brand loyalty over a sustained period of time.

[1] IHG Rewards Club points will be issued by Uber via email four to six weeks after the first Uber ride

Ends

About IHG®

IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & ResortsKimpton® Hotels & RestaurantsHUALUXE Hotels and ResortsCrowne Plaza® Hotels & ResortsHotel Indigo®EVEN® HotelsHoliday Inn® Hotels & ResortsHoliday Inn Express®Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 4,900 hotels and 727,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with more than 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with more than 90 million members worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihgwww.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc.