By Kath
October 5 2010

The Rugby Football Union has signed a four year partnership deal with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

The non-exclusive partnership makes IHG an official hotel supplier to the RFU. The agreement builds on an existing relationship IHG had with the RFU for the Women’s Rugby World Cup being hosted in England in September 2010.

As part of the extended agreement, IHG has access to a rights and benefits package that includes match tickets, player imagery, and access to the stadium and conference facilities at the Home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium. In return, the partnership will see the RFU benefit from IHG’s global hotel brands which include; InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites. The two organisations will work closely on marketing activity utilising affinity schemes and each others’ marketing channels, providing preferential hotel deals and benefits to the Rugby Football Union’s supporters and rugby playing community.

Mike Greenup, vice president Brand Performance, UK&I at IHG said: “Having a global spread of well-known brands means we can cater for everyone and offer members of the RFU a hotel to suit their needs wherever they are in the world. Extending our partnership will allow us to work closely with the RFU and help make watching and playing rugby as accessible and affordable as possible across all levels of the game.”

Paul Vaughan, Business Operations Director, RFU said: “When we work with sponsorship partners we are ideally looking for long term deals where both parties can invest in mutually beneficial programmes and initiatives. This global partnership between England Rugby and IHG will deliver exactly that, providing us with excellent business building opportunities and joint promotional activity. It is pleasing to add another world class brand to our sponsorship portfolio.”

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com.