The British & Irish Lions, alongside Rugby Australia, have confirmed IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) as the official hotel partner of this year’s Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour.
As an Official Partner, IHG will be present on and off the pitch, including activations inside the Lion’s Den and Wallabies fan zones in the three Test cities.
IHG is the parent of 19 hotel brands and is a major global sports partner with Formula 1. The names most familiar to us in Ireland would be Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.
“A Lions Tour places many demands on players and staff, so it’s crucial that the touring party has a base that feels comfortable, allowing them to focus on matters on the pitch,” said Ben Calveley, CEO of the Lions.
“With record-breaking numbers of Lions fans set to travel this summer, we know that our loyal supporters will also feel welcomed across IHG’s portfolio of hotels.”
“Everyone at The British & Irish Lions is also committed to making a positive impact on the communities that we will visit in Australia. I’m pleased to say that this is also an ethos shared with IHG and Rugby Australia.”
The first Test is on Saturday, 19th July, at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the second Test on Saturday, 26th July.
The final Test will be played on Saturday, 2nd August, in front of over 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park.
“We’re thrilled to be able to extend Rugby Australia’s long-standing partnership with IHG into this year’s highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia,” added Phil Waugh, CEO of Rugby Australia.
“IHG hotels provide a perfect home away from home for our teams in gold, allowing them to focus fully on their preparation and challenges on the field.”
“The Lions Tour is renowned for transcending borders to unite nations in celebration of sporting history, excellence, and performance,” said Matt Tripolone, IHG Hotels & Resorts Managing Director, Australasia & Pacific.
“The buzz is already palpable, and we are incredibly proud to be chosen as the Official Hotel Partner, providing a welcoming home base for teams and fans alike while being able to connect our IHG One Rewards members with unmissable experiences.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members: Qatar Airways Named as Title Sponsor of Lions Tour to Australia
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
It’s getting closer, with the sponsors and coaching setups named and ready to go post-Guinness Six Nations. It will be interesting to see if IHG Brands in Ireland will be involved with the Pre-Tour Test match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20th.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Lions Squad will be named at the O2 Arena in London on May 8th.
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