Air India and IHG Hotels Unlock New Global Travel Rewards as Maharaja Club Members Gain More Benefits

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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September 4, 2026 3:17 PM

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Air India, India’s prominent international airline, has entered into a strategic partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hospitality group, to provide enhanced loyalty benefits for travellers. The collaboration allows members of Air India’s Maharaja Club to collect reward points during stays at IHG properties worldwide, while IHG One Rewards members can convert their accumulated points into Maharaja Points for future travel benefits.

The partnership connects IHG Hotels & Resorts’ extensive global presence, featuring more than 7,100 hotels across over 100 countries, with Air India’s expanding international network covering destinations across India and five continents. The initiative aims to create a more rewarding travel experience by offering greater flexibility, wider earning opportunities and additional value throughout the customer journey.

Air India loyalty members can earn Maharaja Points through IHG stays

Under the new arrangement, Maharaja Club members can earn points whenever they stay at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts properties around the world. Travellers will receive 2 Maharaja Points for every US$1 spent at most IHG hotels, allowing frequent guests to accelerate their rewards while travelling for business or leisure.

For stays at selected brands including Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels, members will earn 1 Maharaja Point for every US$1 spent. This gives travellers more opportunities to build their loyalty balance across different types of accommodation experiences.

IHG One Rewards members gain new redemption flexibility

The agreement also introduces a points exchange option for IHG One Rewards members. Eligible members can transfer their IHG One Rewards Points into Maharaja Points, providing another way to use their loyalty rewards for future journeys.

Members can exchange 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points for 200 Maharaja Points, with the same minimum transfer requirement applying to each transaction. The option gives travellers additional control over how they manage their loyalty balances across hotel stays and airline travel.

The partnership strengthens both loyalty programmes by combining airline and hospitality rewards, allowing members to gain more benefits from their overall travel activity rather than limiting rewards to individual sectors.

Expanded travel benefits through a global loyalty network

The collaboration supports IHG One Rewards’ continued focus on providing flexible options for its growing membership base while expanding the range of benefits available to Air India’s Maharaja Club members.

By adding IHG Hotels & Resorts to its partner ecosystem, Air India is creating more opportunities for members to earn Maharaja Points beyond flight bookings. The partnership reflects the growing importance of connected loyalty programmes, where travellers increasingly expect seamless rewards across flights, hotels and other parts of their journeys.

The new agreement is expected to strengthen engagement among frequent travellers by offering more ways to earn and redeem rewards while accessing a wider global network of accommodation choices.

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. By connecting IHG One Rewards with Maharaja Club, we are giving our members more choice and flexibility in how they use their rewards, while strengthening the reach and relevance of IHG One Rewards in India. This partnership further supports our ambition to grow our loyalty base and drive preference for our hotels as we continue to expand our portfolio across the country.”

Award-winning IHG One Rewards is one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with a growing base of over 160 million members, globally.

Sunil Suresh, Head of Marketing, Loyalty and E-commerce, 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 and making it easier for members to benefit from their loyalty across a broader range of travel experiences. As we continue to grow the Maharaja Club ecosystem, our vision is to make Maharaja Points an increasingly relevant part of our members’ travel and lifestyle journeys, with more opportunities to earn and redeem them across categories, markets and moments that matter most to our customers.”

Special launch promotion for Maharaja Club members

To celebrate the beginning of the partnership, Maharaja Club members will receive an exclusive opportunity to collect triple Maharaja Points on eligible hotel stays made between 15 September and 31 December 2026. The offer comes with no blackout dates during the promotional window, allowing members greater flexibility when planning their stays. To access the benefits, members must complete the required registration process before participating.

The collaboration highlights IHG’s continued focus on expanding its presence in India and supporting its long-term growth ambitions in one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. The partnership strengthens IHG’s loyalty ecosystem while offering travellers more ways to earn rewards and enjoy enhanced benefits throughout their journeys.

IHG currently operates 53 hotels across seven brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express. The company is also preparing for further expansion, with a strong development pipeline of 110 additional hotels expected to open across the country over the next three to five years.

Air India has also expanded Maharaja Club’s partnership network significantly, reaching more than 100 brand partnerships between financial years 2023 and 2026. The loyalty programme continues to evolve into a more modern, global and lifestyle-focused platform, connecting members with benefits across multiple sectors. During FY2026, Maharaja Club members recorded more than 4.2 million transactions through partner brands covering travel, hospitality, lifestyle and everyday spending categories.