Under a first-of-its-kind agreement, IHG will sit alongside DHL and Tissot in EPCR’s second sponsorship Tier underneath Title Partner Heineken, receiving a comprehensive rights package designed to drive EPCR’s global fanbase to IHG’s exciting portfolio of brands and re-designed loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards. Fans will experience IHG via in-stadium, LED activations, social and digital-savvy campaigns, and more.

The partnership will allow IHG One Rewards members to redeem tickets and in-game experiences using rewards points, starting ahead of the EPCR Finals in Marseille on 27 and 28 May.

EPCR’s Commercial and Marketing Director, François Vergnol, said: “We are absolutely delighted to enter into this partnership with IHG, who become EPCR’s first-ever Official Hotels Partner. It is significant that we are expanding our portfolio of partners with this new category.

“With more and more people wanting to travel, we are welcoming travelling fans back to our matches from our quarter-finals this weekend through to our Finals weekend in Marseille at the end of May.

“Rugby fans love travelling to support their club in our European competitions and for the culmination of this season through to the beginning of next season and beyond, IHG’s extensive range of accommodation ensures there is something for everyone.”

Heather Balsley, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Senior Vice President of Loyalty & Partnerships, said: “IHG and EPCR have a shared mission of bringing people together – making them a perfect partner. We look forward to giving IHG One Rewards members and rugby fans around the world access to outstanding experiences that celebrate the sport of rugby.”

IHG has a growing portfolio of 17 brands with nearly 6,000 hotels in over 100 countries, including one of the largest Luxury & Lifestyle collections in the world.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About IHG Hotels & Resorts
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 17 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 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

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 325,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About EPCR
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the organiser of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. EPCR’s mission is to create outstanding rugby experiences for all key stakeholders, including leagues, clubs, players, match officials, unions, fans, broadcast and commercial partners, communities and the media.

Established in 2014 with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPCR has the following members: Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), PRO Rugby Championship DAC (URC), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments feature clubs which have qualified on merit from their respective domestic leagues – Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the TOP 14 and the United Rugby Championship.