Air India and IHG Hotels & Resorts have announced a new partnership that will allow Maharaja Club members to earn Maharaja Points when staying at IHG hotels and resorts worldwide.

Under the partnership, Maharaja Club members will earn 2 Maharaja Points for every US$1 spent at most participating IHG Hotels & Resorts properties. Stays at Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels will earn 1 Maharaja Point for every US$1 spent.

The partnership also gives members the option to convert their IHG One Rewards Points into Maharaja Points. Members can exchange 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points for 200 Maharaja Points, with a minimum exchange threshold of 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points.

The collaboration expands the earning opportunities available to members beyond airline spending while connecting two major travel loyalty programmes.

Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “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 provides members with greater choice and flexibility while supporting IHG's plans to grow its loyalty base and hotel portfolio in India.

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.” He added that the partnership extends Maharaja Club's reach across another important part of the travel journey.

Special Launch Offer

To mark the launch, Maharaja Club members will be eligible to earn 3x Maharaja Points on qualifying stays between 15 September and 31 December 2026.

The offer comes with no blackout dates, although members must register for the promotion to participate.

IHG One Rewards currently has a global membership base of more than 160 million members, making it one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes.

In India, IHG currently operates 53 hotels across seven brands, with a pipeline of 110 hotels expected to open over the next three to five years. Its Indian portfolio includes brands such as Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express.

Air India has also expanded the Maharaja Club partner ecosystem, having added more than 100 brands between FY2023 and FY2026. During FY2026, Maharaja Club members completed more than 4.2 million transactions across partner categories including travel, hospitality, lifestyle and everyday spending.

The partnership marks another step in the evolution of Maharaja Club as Air India expands its loyalty programme beyond air travel, while giving travellers additional opportunities to earn and use rewards across their wider travel journeys.

Key Partnership Benefits:

• Most IHG Hotels & Resorts: 2 Maharaja Points per US$1 spent
• Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels: 1 Maharaja Point per US$1 spent
• IHG One Rewards conversion: 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points = 200 Maharaja Points
• Launch offer: 3x Maharaja Points on qualifying stays
• Offer period: 15 September – 31 December 2026
• Blackout dates: None
• Registration: Required to participate in the launch promotion