Garner by IHG is encouraging travellers to slow down and capture meaningful moments with a new campaign that offers complimentary instax™ cameras to guests staying at selected hotels in Germany throughout August. The initiative follows the launch of a travel campaign featuring actors Lea van Acken, Gizem Emre, and Ben Felipe, who revisited places that have shaped their lives.
Guests staying between 1 and 31 August 2026 at four participating Garner Hotels in Germany will be able to borrow an instax™ camera and film free of charge during their stay. They will also have the opportunity to share their analogue travel diaries on social media for a chance to win a stay at a Garner hotel of their choice in Germany.
The campaign celebrates the memories that make travel meaningful, shifting the focus from ticking off destinations to reconnecting with people, places and experiences that leave a lasting impression. Garner says the project reflects the brand’s characterful approach to hospitality while encouraging travellers to explore at their own pace.
To launch the campaign, actors Lea van Acken, Gizem Emre, and Ben Felipe each embarked on a personal journey back to locations that have played an important role in their lives. Beginning their trips from Garner hotels across Germany, they documented their experiences using analogue photography to capture spontaneous moments and personal memories.
Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director Northern Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “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. Through the personal stories of Lea, Gizem and Ben, we’re celebrating the experiences that shape us and reminding travellers that some of the most meaningful moments happen when we take the time to truly connect with a destination.
“At Garner, we’re focused on making travel easy, comfortable and full of character, and by offering guests the opportunity to capture their own travel diary with an instax™ camera, we’re encouraging them to create lasting memories of their journey in a fun and meaningful way.”
Actress Lea van Acken based her journey at Garner Hotel Berlin Charlottenburg, revisiting a city that has influenced both her personal life and acting career. Reflecting on the role hotels have played throughout her work, she said: “Before Berlin became my home, hotel rooms were the starting point for almost everything: productions, events and first appearances. They were the place where I prepared myself to step into a new role, a new story or a new chapter.
“Returning to that feeling with an analogue camera in hand, brought back so many memories. Between styling, learning lines and preparing for the day ahead, the room became that familiar space once again – somewhere between arriving and becoming. Capturing those moments reminded me how many important memories begin long before you reach your destination.”
Actress and entrepreneur Gizem Emre rediscovered her hometown during a staycation at Garner Hotel Berlin Ku’Damm. She revisited familiar streets in Charlottenburg and Mitte, using the slower pace of analogue photography to experience the city differently.
She said: “When I’m filming, I often live in a hotel for weeks at a time. After a long day on set, the things that matter most to me are the ones that make me feel comfortable quickly: a relaxed atmosphere, a warm team and a place where I can simply switch off.
“For the staycation, I revisited some of my favourite spots in Charlottenburg and Mitte. With an analogue camera in hand, you automatically take more time and look more closely. It was a lovely opportunity to experience Berlin consciously again. For me, home isn’t only a particular place – above all, it’s the feeling of being at ease and having arrived.”
Actor and musician Ben Felipe travelled with his brother from Garner Hotel Augsburg Nord, revisiting places connected to family memories and childhood journeys to Spain. The trip combined reflection with the opportunity to create new memories together.
Ben said: “My earliest travel memories are with my brother. Growing up, many of our journeys centered around visiting family in Spain, and those trips created moments that have stayed with us ever since. Traveling with him always feels special.
“As I’m currently away a lot for filming, on this trip we had the chance to slow down for a while, share old and new stories, bring back nearly forgotten memories and reflect on how much all of those experiences have shaped us. Looking back while creating new memories was a powerful reminder that travel isn’t always about discovering somewhere new, sometimes it’s about reconnecting with the people, places and moments that matter most.”
The complimentary instax™ cameras will be available at Garner Hotel Cologne Engelbertz, Garner Hotel Augsburg Nord, Garner Hotel Mannheim City, and Garner Hotel Berlin Mitte throughout August 2026. The campaign aims to inspire guests to document their journeys in a more personal way while embracing the nostalgia and creativity of analogue photography.
