IHG Hotels & Resorts will host watch parties in all seven host cities and accommodate teams, officials and travelling fans after being named Official Hotel Partner of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
The tournament runs from 1 October to 13 November next year. World Rugby describes it as the largest edition to date, with 24 teams playing 52 matches across Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Townsville and Newcastle. The final will be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
the All Blacks pool schedule creates a natural three city itinerary. The side opens against Chile at Perth Stadium on 2 October, meets Australia at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 9 October and closes pool play against Hong Kong China at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne on 15 October. New Zealand Rugby expects a large contingent of Kiwi supporters to travel for the Sydney match, which will be played at a venue holding 82,000.
Under the partnership, IHG will run watch parties at its hotels in each host city and more widely across Australia, and will be present at stadiums and Fan Festivals throughout the six week tournament. It also plans to use its IHG One Rewards programme, which it says has more than 160 million members worldwide, to give members access to tournament experiences. Details of those experiences, and whether they will be bookable through the travel trade, have not yet been released.
The appointment adds to a rugby portfolio that IHG says goes back more than two decades. It includes Rugby Australia, a partnership recently extended until 2028, as well as SANZAAR, Six Nations Rugby and the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2025. With 52 matches packed into six weeks, advisors with clients planning to follow the All Blacks between cities should expect strong competition for accommodation during match weeks.