Saudi Arabia: Holiday Inn, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, is bringing competitive gaming into the hotel experience with a new F1 25 racing competition across four properties in Saudi Arabia. The initiative builds on the brand’s Level Up Your Stay experience and its partnership with EStars, inviting hotel guests and gaming enthusiasts to test their racing skills and compete for prizes.
The competition takes place inside Holiday Inn’s Elite Gaming Pods, where participants can play F1 25, the Formula 1 racing simulation game from EA Sports, and attempt to set the fastest lap around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The experience combines virtual motorsport with social gaming, giving visitors another way to spend their time during a hotel stay.
Running until 17 October 2026, the competition features mini-tournament moments and multiple opportunities to win prizes. The top three overall winners are scheduled to be announced on 19 October, with rewards including IHG One Rewards points and EStars merchandise.
Holiday Inn Brings F1 25 Racing to Saudi Arabia
The F1 25 competition expands Holiday Inn’s Level Up Your Stay experience by introducing a motorsport challenge to its gaming facilities. Rather than limiting the gaming pods to casual play, the initiative gives participants a chance to compete against other players and aim for a place on the leaderboard.
The challenge centres on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, bringing a recognisable Saudi Arabian motorsport setting into the virtual racing experience. Players can test their driving skills, work towards their fastest lap and take part in the competition at participating Holiday Inn hotels.
To enter, participants must visit an available Elite Gaming Pod and scan the QR code displayed at the station to register. They can then take on the F1 25 challenge and attempt to record a competitive lap time.
The format is designed to make participation straightforward for hotel guests and gaming fans. By combining accessible registration with a familiar racing game, Holiday Inn is adding an interactive activity to its hotel offering.
The competition also reflects the growing role of gaming in entertainment experiences beyond dedicated gaming venues. Hotels can provide shared spaces where guests meet, compete and enjoy activities alongside the more traditional elements of a stay.
Four Holiday Inn Hotels Host the Gaming Competition
The F1 25 racing challenge is available at four participating Holiday Inn properties across Saudi Arabia. Each hotel features Elite Gaming Pods developed through the brand’s partnership with EStars.
The participating properties are:
- Holiday Inn Riyadh Business District by IHG: Located in Riyadh’s business district, this property provides access to the gaming experience for guests staying in the capital.
- Holiday Inn Riyadh Al Malaz by IHG: Another participating Riyadh hotel, offering guests and visitors the opportunity to take part in the virtual racing challenge.
- Holiday Inn Jeddah Corniche by IHG: Located in Jeddah, the hotel brings the competition close to the city associated with the virtual circuit featured in the game.
- Holiday Inn & Suites Al Khobar by IHG: The Al Khobar property extends the gaming initiative to guests on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast.
Together, the four hotels give participants different locations in which to experience the competition. The gaming pods are scheduled to remain available at the participating properties until December 2026, extending the gaming facilities beyond the competition’s October closing date.
Guests planning to participate should check directly with their chosen hotel for current access arrangements and any applicable participation requirements.
IHG One Rewards Points and EStars Prizes
The competition offers a prize pool combining gaming merchandise with rewards connected to IHG Hotels & Resorts’ loyalty programme.
EStars gifts include T-shirts, caps, branded power banks and mobile phone accessories. These prizes add a gaming-related element to the competition, while IHG One Rewards points provide winners with options linked to future travel and hotel stays.
IHG One Rewards members can redeem points for Reward Nights across the group’s global portfolio of thousands of hotels. Members can also use Points + Cash, which combines points with a cash payment when booking an eligible stay.
The programme also offers curated experiences and other rewards. Members can access exclusive member rates and may earn Milestone Rewards as they progress through the programme, subject to the programme’s applicable terms and conditions.
For winners, the flexibility of points-based rewards means the prize can contribute towards a future hotel stay or another eligible redemption. The value and availability of individual rewards will depend on the relevant programme terms and booking conditions.
The combination of merchandise and loyalty points connects the competition with both gaming culture and travel. While EStars prizes appeal to participants interested in gaming accessories, IHG One Rewards points offer a potential benefit for those planning future trips.
Inside the Holiday Inn x EStars Elite Gaming Pods
The F1 25 challenge forms part of Holiday Inn’s wider partnership with EStars, which introduced Elite Gaming Pods at the four participating hotels. Each property has two pods designed to provide guests with a dedicated space for gaming and social interaction.
The facilities include MSI gaming PCs, next-generation consoles, curved monitors, premium accessories and ergonomic seating. Complimentary access to popular games such as Fortnite, Rocket League and Overwatch is also available.
These features create a setting for different types of players, from guests interested in casual gaming to those who enjoy competitive challenges. The F1 25 competition adds a specific goal to the experience by encouraging players to improve their lap times and compare their performance with other participants.
The pods are also intended to function as social spaces. Families, friends and fellow gaming enthusiasts can spend time together, enjoy shared activities and connect through games during their hotel stay.
For hotels, facilities of this kind offer another way to shape the guest experience beyond accommodation, dining and conventional leisure amenities. They provide an activity that can appeal to different age groups and interests while giving guests a dedicated place to play.
The partnership with EStars supports Holiday Inn’s effort to incorporate gaming into its hospitality offering, making interactive entertainment part of the wider stay experience.
Competition Dates and Participation Requirements
The F1 25 racing competition runs until 17 October 2026, with the top three overall winners scheduled to be announced on 19 October 2026. Mini-tournament moments throughout the competition provide additional opportunities for players to take part and compete for prizes.
Participants can register by scanning the QR code displayed at one of the Elite Gaming Pods in the participating hotels. They can then play F1 25 and attempt to set the fastest lap around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
There is an important requirement for younger participants. Anyone under the age of 18 must link a parent’s or guardian’s IHG One Rewards account, or have a parent or guardian register on their behalf, to claim an IHG One Rewards prize.
Participants should review the applicable competition rules and confirm the registration requirements before taking part, particularly where loyalty programme eligibility or age restrictions apply.
Although the racing competition ends in October, the gaming pods are scheduled to remain available at the participating hotels until December 2026. This allows guests to continue using the facilities after the leaderboard challenge concludes.
Gaming Adds a New Dimension to the Hotel Stay
Holiday Inn’s F1 25 competition brings together hotel hospitality, virtual motorsport and social gaming across four Saudi Arabian properties. Through the Elite Gaming Pods and its partnership with EStars, the brand is introducing an interactive experience that gives guests more ways to connect and spend time together.
The initiative also links gaming with travel through IHG One Rewards points, which eligible winners can use towards future redemptions under the loyalty programme’s terms. EStars merchandise adds another incentive for participants competing for the fastest lap.
With the competition taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, the experience reaches guests in several key Saudi destinations. The continued availability of the gaming pods until December 2026 further extends the initiative beyond the competition period.
For Holiday Inn, the F1 25 challenge represents another way to make a hotel stay more engaging, combining familiar gaming titles, dedicated facilities and rewards in an experience designed for guests, families and gaming enthusiasts.
