Expedia Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts Enter Preferred Partnership for Optimized Distribution

Rhea-AI Summary

Expedia Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts have partnered to enhance wholesale distribution via Expedia’s Optimized Distribution Preferred program. This collaboration aims to streamline IHG's rate management, reducing distribution costs while increasing revenue opportunities. The program addresses inefficiencies in the wholesale market, connecting hotels with B2B demand partners, including travel agents and operators. IHG’s Chief Commercial Officer highlighted the partnership’s potential for improved revenue management and cost savings, emphasizing added value for hotel owners.

Positive

• Partnership enhances IHG's wholesale distribution efficiency.
• Expedia's program expected to reduce costs and increase revenue for IHG.
• Provides better control over distribution channels for IHG.

Negative

• None.

Optimized Distribution program builds on its established success to remarket gross rates, enabling unprecedented visibility and control for IHG in powering its wholesale distribution

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Expedia Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts announced that Expedia Group is now a preferred redistributor of IHG Hotels & Resort properties’ wholesale rates through Expedia Group’s Optimized Distribution Preferred program.

The wholesale distribution market is inefficient and expensive. The complexity of maintaining disparate channels takes a significant chunk out of hotels’ bottom line. Expedia Group’s Optimized Distribution program resolves these challenges by creating a primary gateway solution for the hotelier and its B2B demand partners, ultimately reducing costs, generating incremental revenue for hotels, and providing accurate content and better rates to travelers.

IHG Hotels & Resorts joins a growing list of renowned hotel chains to partner with Expedia Group on its Optimized Distribution program on a preferred basis. The Optimized Distribution program, provided by Expedia Group, is redefining and expanding the scope and scale of wholesale distribution in the hotel industry. Expedia Group’s network expands the scope of the wholesale market, connecting hotels to B2B demand partners, including a range of third-party travel providers as well as tour operators and travel agents.

IHG will leverage Expedia Group’s industry-leading platform to consolidate and simplify its wholesale distribution.

“We are thrilled to join Expedia Group’s Optimized Distribution Program,” said George Turner, Chief Commercial & Technology Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “This arrangement will enable us to more seamlessly manage our wholesale distribution by providing cost savings, better control over our channel mix and enhancements to our revenue management strategy, ultimately driving additional value for our owners and hotels.”

“We’re here to build great products, and facilitate connections between travelers and our partners by using the power of our platform. That is why we are so pleased to have IHG join the success of the Optimised Distribution program. We are looking forward to helping IHG leverage this solution to fuel their growth and power more travel,” concludes Ariane Gorin, President, Expedia for Business, Expedia Group.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of four pillars: Expedia Services, focused on the group’s platform and technical strategy; Expedia Marketplace, centered on product and technology offerings across the organization; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes: Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, CarRentals.com™, and Expedia Cruises™.

About IHG^®

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
• Premium: voco Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
• Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels
• Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 325,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220228005588/en/

Expedia Group

Jennifer Cole

Director Lodging, Industry Relations, Global

jencole@expediagroup.com

Source: Expedia Group

FAQ

What is the Optimized Distribution Preferred program by Expedia?

The Optimized Distribution Preferred program by Expedia is designed to streamline wholesale distribution for hotel partners like IHG, enabling better rate management and cost efficiency.

How will the partnership between Expedia and IHG affect hotel distribution?

The partnership will enhance IHG's wholesale distribution by reducing costs, providing better control over channels, and increasing revenue opportunities through improved connections with B2B demand partners.

When was the partnership between Expedia and IHG announced?

The partnership between Expedia Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts was announced on the same day as the press release, with no specific date mentioned.

What benefits does IHG expect from partnering with Expedia Group?

IHG expects to achieve cost savings, improved control over distribution channels, and enhancements to its revenue management strategy through the partnership with Expedia.

Which companies are involved in the press release?

The press release involves Expedia Group (NASDAQ-NMS:EXPE) and IHG Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:IHG).