IHG Hotels & Resorts Expands MLS Partnerships, Enhances Fan Experiences
More Choice, More Rewards and More Experiences for IHG One Rewards Members
(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts strengthens its ties with Major League Soccer (MLS) by announcing new partnerships with four prominent clubs: Atlanta United, D.C. United, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and New York City Football Club (NYCFC), while continuing its role as the Official Hotel and Hotel Loyalty Program Partner of MLS for the third consecutive year. Through these partnerships, IHG One Rewards members gain access to exclusive experiences and perks, including VIP tickets, sideline access, player appearances, and behind-the-scenes tours, enhancing their connection to their favorite teams and players. With the IHG One Rewards Access platform, members can seamlessly redeem points for ultimate fan packages, further enriching their soccer journey while enjoying IHG’s diverse portfolio of hotels worldwide.
(PRESS RELEASE) Atlanta, GA, 2024-Feb-26 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is excited to announce its new partnerships with four standout Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs as the Official Partner – Atlanta United, D.C. United, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and New York City Football Club (NYCFC). These new partners give IHG One Rewards members greater choice, all-access experiences and more ways to see their favorite clubs and players compete. In addition, IHG is continuing its role as the Official Hotel and Hotel Loyalty Program Partner of MLS for its third year.
With notable brands like iconic InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and boldly stylish Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to tried-and-true Holiday Inn Express, IHG provides soccer fans with exceptional hospitality while getting them closer to all the action on the pitch. With the IHG One Rewards Access platform, members can score tickets to some of the hottest matches of the season.
Select redemption packages will include, but not limited to, perks such as the following:
- VIP tickets for you and your friends to watch your favorite teams compete
- Exclusive pre-match sideline access
- Opportunity to practice your penalty kicks post-match
- Appearances and signed merchandise by your favorite star players
- Behind-the-scenes stadium tours
Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Global Guest Experience, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Last year was an incredibly exciting year for the League, and we’re continuing to see soccer become increasingly more popular in the U.S. We’re thrilled to add new clubs to our growing list of experience partnerships and offer more ways for our IHG One Rewards members to connect to their passions as they travel.”
Jennfier Cramer, Executive Vice President, Partnership Marketing, Major League Soccer, said: “During this unparalleled period of growth and opportunity for Major League Soccer, our league is incredibly proud to continue our work with IHG Hotels & Resorts and add our teams Atlanta United, D.C. United, LAFC and NYCFC to IHG’s roster of official partners. IHG One Rewards Access delivers one-of-a-kind experiences, and MLS and our teams are excited to collaborate with IHG on providing opportunities for members that bring them even closer to our game and moments they will never forget.”
In addition to redeeming or bidding points on ultimate fan packages, loyalty members can use their points via the IHG One Rewards mobile app where they have access to the company’s growing portfolio of more than 6,000 hotels across 19 global brands – all in the palm of their hand.
To learn how to redeem points for MLS packages, please visit auctions.ihg.com, and to learn more about IHG One Rewards, visit IHGOneRewards.com. To download the mobile app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.
About IHG
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,300 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 2,000 in the development pipeline.
- Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
- Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
- Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels
- Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
- Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.
Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.
For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 29th season in 2024 – features 30 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including a new expansion team in San Diego that will debut in 2025. All MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches can be watched through MLS Season Pass, available on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com. MLS Season Pass features the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit mlssoccer.com. For more information about the Apple TV app, visit apple.com/apple-tv-app.
About ATL United
Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.
About D.C. United
One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.
D.C. United have called the District home for the last 27 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round and is home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group.
The Black-and-Red train at the Inova Performance Complex, a state-of-the-art training facility and performance center located in Leesburg, Va. The 40,000 square foot 30-acre training facility, that opened in 2021, features four outdoor practice fields, and a training center equipped with a weight room and recovery facilities.
The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013). For more information and club updates, please visit http://www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @dcunited.
About Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)
The 2022 MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Football Club has represented the greater Los Angeles area in Major League Soccer since 2018. The two-time Supporters Shield Champions, LAFC is dedicated to building a world-class soccer club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. LAFC’s ownership group is comprised of local leaders and innovators of industry with intellectual capital, financial prowess, operations expertise and success in the fields of entertainment, sports, technology and media. LAFC is invested in the world’s game and Los Angeles, constructing and developing the 22,000 seat BMO Stadium and a top-flight training center on the campus of Cal State Los Angeles.
About New York City Football Club (NYCFC)
New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is an American professional soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eastern Conference of the League. It was announced as the League’s 20th franchise on May 21, 2013 and is the first and only MLS club located within the five boroughs of New York City. NYCFC kicked off its inaugural MLS season in March 2015 and is majority owned by City Football Group (CFG). In 2021, NYCFC won MLS Cup in the Club’s first ever appearance, becoming the first professional sports franchise based in New York to win a championship in a decade. In 2022, NYCFC added to its trophy cabinet by winning the Campeones Cup, the annual clash between the champions of MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.
NYCFC’s affiliate team, NYCFC II, plays in MLS NEXT Pro, a professional soccer league that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT, the youth academies associated with MLS, through to MLS, the top U.S. domestic league. NYCFC II plays their home matches in Belson Stadium at St. John’s University in Queens, NY.
NYCFC’s Academy currently features teams from the U-12 to U-18 age groups and became the first Academy in the country to win back-to-back national titles at the U-19 level. NYCFC proudly supports City in the Community (CITC) foundation to use the power of soccer to uplift communities. One of the programs, New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI), is a first-of-its-kind public-private community partnership to open 50 mini-soccer pitches in NYC neighborhoods in five years. In 2021, NYCSI opened its 50th pitch and committed to install 26 more mini-pitches across NYC in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ which will be hosted across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Source: IHG
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