Published: 9 August 2018 - 3:48 a.m.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has launched a programme designed to enhance the corporate travel experience for small and midsize enterprises (SMEs).
Around 1,500 companies have already signed up as members of IHG Business Edge, hoping to benefit from a program designed to streamline the negotiation process, reward loyalty, and consolidate data, content and booking into one easily accessible customer portal.
IHG Business Edge has been in development for the past year, and was built based on the insights of 2,100 global SME customers, and then piloted with 300 companies across 17 countries.
Companies with less than 250 employees and up to $50 million in revenue, and that spend at least $5,000 with IHG annually, are welcome to join the IHG Business Edge community.
This will give them discounted rates at participating hotels across IHG’s portfolio of more than 5,400 properties across 15 brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
Participating travellers also enjoy the benefits of IHG Rewards Club Gold Elite status after completing their first stay. Through the customer portal, the corporate administrator can monitor essential travel data including hotel spend, room nights, average daily rate, savings and IHG Rewards Club participation over the previous 12 months.
With future enhancements, the portal will also serve as the gateway to the IHG Business Edge community where administrators can access a content center with business tools, articles for continuing education and a forum to connect with fellow SME travel administrators. To qualify as an IHG Business Edge member, travel administrators can apply at businessedge.ihg.com.