Garner by IHG is encouraging travellers to slow down and capture meaningful moments with the launch of a new analogue travel campaign that combines nostalgic photography with personal storytelling. Throughout August, guests staying at selected Garner hotels across Germany can borrow complimentary instax™ cameras and instant film to document their journeys and create their own travel diaries.
The initiative follows a campaign featuring German actors Lea van Acken, Gizem Emre and Ben Felipe, who each revisited places that have shaped their lives. Using instant cameras, the trio documented childhood landmarks, favourite neighbourhoods and meaningful relationships, highlighting how travel memories can leave a lasting impact long after a journey ends.
Free instax Cameras Available at Four Garner Hotels
Throughout August, guests staying at four participating Garner by IHG hotels can borrow complimentary instax™ cameras and film during their stay. The participating properties are:
- Garner Hotel Cologne – Engelbertz
- Garner Hotel Augsburg Nord
- Garner Hotel Mannheim City
- Garner Hotel Berlin – Mitte
The hotel group says the initiative is designed to encourage guests to explore destinations at their own pace while creating personal keepsakes through analogue photography. Guests will also have the opportunity to share their travel diaries on social media for a chance to win a future stay at a Garner hotel of their choice in Germany.
Travel Memories Beyond the Destination
According to Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director Northern Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, the campaign reflects the idea that travel is defined as much by memories and personal connections as by the destinations themselves.
“Travel is about so much more than the places we visit – it’s about the memories we make, the people we meet and the moments that stay with us long after we’ve returned home,” Maxeiner said.
He added that offering guests the opportunity to borrow instax cameras is intended to make travel more personal while encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with the places they explore.
Three Personal Travel Stories
As part of the campaign, actress Lea van Acken returned to Berlin, a city she says has played a defining role in both her personal life and acting career. Starting her journey at Garner Hotel Berlin – Charlottenburg, she reflected on the role hotels have played throughout years of travelling for film productions, describing them as places where new chapters often begin.
Actress and entrepreneur Gizem Emre chose to rediscover her hometown of Berlin during a staycation at Garner Hotel Berlin – Ku’Damm. Exploring familiar streets with an analogue camera, she said the slower pace of instant photography encouraged her to appreciate the city in a new way while reconnecting with places that make her feel at home.
Actor and musician Ben Felipe travelled with his brother, using Garner Hotel Augsburg – Nord as a base while revisiting locations connected to family trips and childhood memories. The journey, he said, served as a reminder that travel is not always about discovering somewhere new, but also about reconnecting with the people and experiences that have shaped our lives.
The campaign reflects Garner by IHG’s focus on simple, comfortable travel experiences while embracing the growing appeal of analogue photography and memory-driven travel.
