IHG partners with PAYBACK to expand rewards for German travellers

Germany

Guests can now earn PAYBACK points across more than 7,000 hotels worldwide

IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its loyalty offering in Germany through a new partnership with PAYBACK. The collaboration gives more than 35 million PAYBACK members the opportunity to earn rewards when staying at IHG properties worldwide, adding a new dimension to hotel loyalty in one of Europe’s key travel markets.

Linking travel rewards with everyday benefits

The partnership integrates IHG’s loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, into PAYBACK’s widely used ecosystem. German members can now choose how they collect points when booking stays: either through IHG One Rewards or as PAYBACK points. The selection can be made via the IHG One Rewards app or on IHG’s website.

This added flexibility extends the value of hotel stays beyond traditional travel benefits. PAYBACK points earned at IHG hotels can be redeemed across a broad network of retail, grocery and lifestyle partners, embedding travel rewards into everyday consumption.

Strategic focus on the German market

For IHG, the collaboration underlines the importance of Germany as a core market. By connecting with one of the country’s most established loyalty platforms, the group aims to strengthen engagement with German travellers and offer more personalised incentives.

Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director Northern Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with PAYBACK, one of Germany’s most trusted loyalty programmes. It strengthens the importance of the German market to IHG and enables us to engage German travellers in a more relevant and personalised way. Beyond traditional travel rewards, the collaboration delivers added value for guests, boosts visibility for our owners, and highlights the strength of IHG’s masterbrand in building high-value, market-centric partnerships that drive growth.”

Expanding reach and customer engagement

From PAYBACK’s perspective, the agreement adds a global hospitality partner to its network of around 700 brands. The integration opens up new opportunities for customer acquisition and targeted marketing.

Dominik Dommick, Managing Director at PAYBACK, commented: “With IHG Hotels & Resorts, we are gaining a strong global partner with many popular brands that perfectly complement our travel offerings. At the same time, we’re demonstrating just how powerful our platform is. With PAYBACK, we bring a total of 700 strong brands together under one roof and offer more than 35 million customers the right offer, at the right time, through the right channel – now also to guests at IHG’s hotel brands such as InterContinental, Kimpton, Holiday Inn and Garner. This enables efficient new customer acquisition, strong engagement of existing guests, and additional booking incentives through personalized campaigns.”

Growth continues in Germany

IHG currently operates 190 hotels in Germany and has a further 52 properties in development. The partnership with PAYBACK is expected to support this expansion by increasing brand visibility and strengthening customer loyalty in a competitive market environment.