Virgin Australia has teamed up with AccorHotels to allow members of its Velocity frequent flyers programme to earn Velocity Points at 2,800 hotels through AccorHotels’ Le Club loyalty scheme.

Travellers will earn Le Club points by staying at AccorHotels properties – which include Sofitel, Novotel, M Gallery, Pullman, Adagio, Mercure, Grand Mercure, The Sebel and Ibis. They will be able to convert the Le Club points into Velocity points from September 30.

Any existing Le Club points will also be valid to be transferred over to Velocity accounts, along with all new points earned after September 30.

The conversion rate between Le Club and Velocity points will mimic the current system Accor has in place with Qantas. The conversion offers guests a 1:1 rate, with a minimum transfer of 4,000 points at a time.

With the new partnership, Virgin Australia becomes the only Australian airline to offer members of its loyalty program the ability to earn points through each of the ‘Big Four’ hotel brands. As well as Accor, Virgin Australia offers points conversion through the HiltonHhonors, IHG Rewards Club and Starwood SPG loyalty schemes.

“Loyalty counts and it is an integral feature of our obsessive approach to guest recognition, said AccorHotel’s COO Simon McGrath. “As our hotel network continues to rapidly expand, so too do the benefits of being part of our award-winning loyalty program Le Club AccorHotels.” www.virginaustralia.com