Photo courtesy of Uber
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has teamed up with popular ride-hailing service Uber in an effort to simplify ground transportation for its loyalty program members.
Beginning this December, IHG Rewards Club members can request an Uber ride through the IHG app on their smart phone. This is possible through Uber API, which launched in August 2014 and allows other apps to pass key information along to the Uber app.
However next year, members will also have the ability to set Uber "Ride Reminders" ahead of their stay through reservation emails.
This feature, which will be available to IHG Rewards Club members in early 2016, will automatically notify guests on the day of travel so they can easily request a ride to their hotel.
In the meantime, members who are new to Uber can sign up with promo code "IHG" to receive $20 off of their first ride. What's more, members signing up for Uber will also earn 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points for their account. Those points can eventually be redeemed for a future stay at any one of IHG's more than 4,900 properties around the globe.
"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," said IHG's vice president of digital, loyalty and partner marketing for the Americas Lara Hernandez in a statement. "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."
Uber's head of travel, entertainment and venue partnerships Jonathan DiOrio echoed Hernandez's sentiments, stating that "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."
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