World Rugby Appoints IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner for 2027 Men’s World Cup

World Rugby has officially appointed IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, securing a critical hospitality infrastructure partner for the expanded global tournament.

Operating over 7,000 hotels globally and 60 nationwide in Australia, the hospitality group will provide essential accommodation for teams, officials, and travelling fans across the six-week event, underpinning the commercial logistics of the code’s marquee showcase.

IHG will host official tournament watch parties across its hotel venues and engage supporters at stadium fan festivals. The partnership also leverages the brand’s loyalty programme, offering its 160 million IHG One Rewards members exclusive experiences as ticket sales open to the public on October 1, 2026.

Commenting on the partnership, World Rugby chief revenue officer, Michel Poussau, said: “Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be the biggest edition of our tournament to date and a spectacular celebration of rugby, Australia and the fans who will travel from every corner of the world to be part of it.”

“Welcoming IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner is an important part of delivering that experience at the scale and standard this iconic event deserves.

“From the moment fans begin planning their journey, through to the 24 teams, match officials and guests arriving in Australia, the partnership with IHG will help take the Rugby World Cup experience to the next level.

“Together, we want to create a warm welcome and unforgettable moments across the tournament, from hotels and Host Cities to stadiums and Fan Festivals,” he said.

Highlighting the commercial return and enterprise value for property owners, CEO for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Kenneth Macpherson, added: “Our partnerships are about driving commercial value for our hotels and owners, and creating opportunities to delight guests.”

“Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will bring teams and fans from around the world to Australia, driving significant accommodation demand in the host market, while also giving IHG a powerful global platform to build awareness of our brands and hotels with millions of rugby fans internationally.

“As Official Hotel Partner, we have an opportunity not only to support that experience in Australia, but also to engage fans and IHG One Rewards members across key international markets before, during and beyond the tournament.

“With more than 160 million IHG One Rewards members globally, the partnership gives us another meaningful way to deepen loyalty, create distinctive experiences and introduce IHG to new audiences.

“That value extends well beyond the tournament itself, strengthening consideration and demand across our global hotel network and creating long-term value for our brands, hotels and owners,” Macpherson said.

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