Published on
September 19, 2025
IHG Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with Delta Air Lines to offer exciting benefits for small and midsized enterprise (SME) travelers. This new partnership aims to enhance the loyalty experience for business travelers, allowing them to earn rewards more quickly across both IHG and Delta platforms. By combining the strengths of IHG’s One Rewards program and Delta’s Business Traveler initiative, the collaboration provides a streamlined path to higher loyalty statuses for frequent travelers. SME members of Delta’s Business Traveler program can now fast-track to elite status with IHG, making their travel experiences more rewarding and cost-effective. This partnership represents IHG’s continued commitment to supporting SMEs by offering tailored perks, discounts and convenient benefits that simplify business travel. Together, IHG and Delta Air Lines are paving the way for a more integrated and rewarding loyalty program for business travelers.
Fast-Tracking Loyalty Benefits for Delta Business Travelers
As part of this collaboration, members of Delta Air Lines’ newly launched loyalty program for business travelers, the Delta Business Traveler program, will now be able to fast-track their way to an elevated status in IHG’s One Rewards loyalty program. The fast track will allow Delta Business Traveler members to obtain Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards by enrolling in IHG Business Edge. This program, which was introduced by IHG in 2018, is specifically designed to offer SMEs special discounts and additional perks tailored to business travel needs.
Accelerated Elite Status: A Boost for SME Travelers
This partnership is especially beneficial for Delta’s SME customers, as it offers them an accelerated pathway to higher loyalty levels with IHG, a major player in the hospitality industry. Delta Business Traveler members will receive a complimentary upgrade to Gold Elite status in IHG One Rewards after just two qualifying night stays at participating IHG hotels. In addition to this, after completing three more qualifying night stays, these members will be upgraded to Platinum Elite status. This contrasts with the typical requirement of 40 qualifying nights needed to achieve Platinum Elite status under standard conditions.
Strategic Importance of the IHG and Delta Partnership
For business travelers seeking the highest level of rewards across both airlines and hotels, this collaboration between IHG and Delta Air Lines is a game-changer. The benefits offered under the IHG Business Edge program are designed to cater specifically to SMEs, providing members with exclusive discounts and a range of valuable perks, including special offers and flexible booking options for their business trips.
An IHG spokesperson emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration, highlighting the company’s long-standing commitment to serving the SME travel sector. The spokesperson also noted that this partnership would allow IHG to extend its benefits to a broader audience, reinforcing the brand’s established reputation as a trusted partner for SME travelers. IHG’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Mark Sergot, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the collaboration, pointing out that the increased benefits and reach would have a significant positive impact on SME customers who often rely on both air travel and hotel stays for their business operations.
A Growing Trend in Airline-Hotel Loyalty Partnerships
This strategic tie-up between IHG and Delta Air Lines follows a similar collaboration earlier this year, in which IHG entered into a partnership with Singapore Airlines. Such initiatives reflect IHG’s broader commitment to meeting the needs of business travelers, offering them enhanced convenience and value when booking travel across multiple sectors. By aligning with major airlines like Delta, IHG continues to create strong synergies that benefit frequent travelers who are often in need of seamless, integrated loyalty programs.
The IHG Business Edge program, a key part of the company’s offering for SMEs, is built to simplify and enhance the travel experience for businesses by providing access to exclusive hotel discounts, flexible booking and a range of value-added perks. These benefits make it an ideal choice for small and midsized enterprises that prioritize efficiency and cost-effectiveness in their business travel.
IHG’s collaboration with Delta Air Lines strengthens its position as a trusted partner for SMEs in the business travel space and this fast-tracking system to elite status within IHG One Rewards represents a clear benefit for SME travelers. By combining the rewards from both IHG and Delta, business travelers can now enjoy a more streamlined and rewarding travel experience. The partnership also showcases how IHG continues to innovate and meet the evolving needs of its customers, solidifying its role as a key player in the competitive travel and hospitality industry.
In conclusion, the partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and Delta Air Lines presents a valuable opportunity for business travelers, especially those within the SME sector. With the promise of fast-tracked rewards and enhanced loyalty benefits, this collaboration is set to deliver long-term value for SMEs that rely on both air travel and hotel accommodations. For those looking to maximize their travel rewards, joining both IHG’s One Rewards and Delta’s Business Traveler program offers a unique and rewarding proposition.
Image Credit- Delta Air Lines
