Air India and IHG Hotels & Resorts have announced a new loyalty partnership linking the airline's Maharaja Club programme with IHG One Rewards, allowing members to earn and exchange rewards across both platforms, the companies said in a joint statement.

Under the tie-up, Maharaja Club members will earn 2 Maharaja Points for every US$1 spent at most IHG hotels and resorts, and 1 Maharaja Point per US$1 at Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels. IHG One Rewards members will be able to convert their points into Maharaja Points at a rate of 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points for 200 Maharaja Points, with a minimum exchange threshold of 1,000 IHG points.

The partnership brings together IHG's global portfolio of more than 7,100 hotels in over 100 countries with Air India's network spanning India and five continents.

Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: "India continues to be one of IHG's most important growth markets, and we are focused on expanding our presence while building deeper and more meaningful engagement with our guests. Our partnership with Air India brings together two leading travel brands and creates greater value for members across their journeys."

He added that connecting IHG One Rewards with Maharaja Club would give members "more choice and flexibility in how they use their rewards, while strengthening the reach and relevance of IHG One Rewards in India."

Sunil Suresh, Head of Marketing, Loyalty and E-commerce at Air India, said: "Maharaja Club is evolving alongside Air India's transformation, with a strong emphasis on creating richer experiences for our members beyond the flight itself. By partnering with IHG Hotels & Resorts, we are extending the programme's reach into another important part of the travel journey."

To mark the launch, Maharaja Club members will be able to earn triple Maharaja Points on qualifying IHG stays between September 15 and December 31, 2026, with no blackout dates during the period, though registration is required to access the offer.

IHG currently operates 53 hotels across seven brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express, with a further 110 hotels in its India pipeline over the next three to five years.

According to Air India, Maharaja Club has added more than 100 partner brands to its network between FY2023 and FY2026, with members completing more than 4.2 million transactions across partner brands in FY2026 alone. IHG One Rewards is one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, with more than 160 million members globally.

Source: PR