IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced a loyalty benefit that allows IHG One Rewards members to earn points on eligible group stays paid through a master bill, a company spokesperson shared with BTN.
The group loyalty benefit currently is available at nearly 3,000 properties worldwide with plans to expand, according to IHG.
Under the new offering, members attending conferences, business meetings and other eligible group events can earn a flat number of qualifying points per night based on the hotel brand and region, even when their stays are paid for centrally. Eligible stays also count toward Elite Status and Milestone Rewards and qualify for promotions and Elite Tier Bonus Points. Members also receive on-property benefits associated with their loyalty tier.
IHG SVP of loyalty & partnerships Paul Proctor in a statement said IHG was "the first major hotel company to introduce an automated solution that recognizes and rewards group stays in this way."
To receive credit, guests must add their IHG One Rewards membership number to their reservation before checkout. The number can be provided through the group's rooming list, at check-in or at any point before checkout, according to the company.
The benefit applies to eligible master-billed stays regardless of whether the group block is managed directly through the hotel or via a third-party provider, as long as the stay meets IHG's booking and eligibility requirements.
IHG said the benefit is designed to provide greater value to attendees while creating an additional incentive to book within a designated group block.
Eligible meeting planners and other bookers can continue to earn points separately through IHG Business Rewards. Qualifying points and nights earned by attendees are credited directly to their individual loyalty accounts—companies paying the master bill do not receive visibility into those earnings, according to IHG.
Corporates also have the option to exclude group stays from loyalty earnings. Meeting planners can notify the hotel when arranging a group stay that attendees should not receive qualifying points or nights, allowing organizations to align the benefit with their own corporate travel policies.