A LoyaltyLobby member dropped us an email he had received from IHG Rewards Club offering Royal Ambassador status for 2019 if he would spend an additional $1,000 by the end of the year and have at least one stay at Kimpton.
The email also indicates one possible change to Royal Ambassador benefits package that is pretty much the only unique selling point of RA in the first place compared to all other hotel loyalty programs – complimentary minibar beverages.
You can access IHG’s page for Ambassador program here.
READ MORE: IHG Rewards Club Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
- Minibar credit
Royal Ambassador members currently get complimentary minibar beverages for their personal use refreshed daily. The only exclusion are the InterContinental Alliance hotels in Las Vegas where members get $$$ credit that is valid per stay.
This email indicates that the benefit would be literally watered down to a credit that is perhaps per day or stay.
Conclusion
I have requested clarification from IHG about these possible changes to the program in 2019. It is quite late in the year to announce any changes that would take place in less than two months time.
The Royal Ambassador qualification criteria for this year was basically $10K in InterContinental spend only. IHG has not communicated if they use this for 2019 too.
The Kimpton stay requirement of this offer is bit weird too because Ambassador program benefits only apply to InterContinentals. Kimpton has their own Karma with Inner Circle status for those that have high number of stays with that IHG brand.
Personally, I am not sure what I will do with Royal Ambassador status next year. The list of InterContinental hotels that are on my to not visit-list is growing (minimal benefits even for Royal Ambassadors).
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