IHG Rewards Club’s Intercontinental Ambassador is a premium program extension that comes with a $200 annual fee but is it really worthwhile at the moment to pay for such a membership?
Last year IHG launched a sweetener campaign in July that offered members who sign up or renew the Ambassador-membership a free night certificate that was extended until December 31, 2020 – these incentives are no longer there.
The purchase and renewal options shifted back and forth many times in recent years with members reporting different offers they were able to select in order to renew Ambassador.
You can access and sign up or renew InterContinental Ambassador here.
Last year IHG has extended members Ambassador memberships for six months under their Covid-19 extension policy but these extensions will soon come to their end and members have to decide if it’s worth it to shell out a $200 fee just to keep the membership going.
In the past members have been able to renew their Ambassador status for years by choosing one of the options that have changed few times. The previous option to renew for $150 in cash has now been withdrawn, as was the premium membership option with 10% award rebate that has been unavailable since early Spring of 2020.
Likewise expired has also the promotion that members receive a free night for purchasing or renewing their membership that was available until December 31, 2020. Since then no new incentive has been introduced.
I had a look what is currently on offer as my membership expires in less than three months time as well and these are the options IHG is offering me right now:
So all that’s left at this point is:
- Annual fee of $200 in cash + 15,000 Points as one time deposit
- 40,000 points in lieu of a cash payment deducted from the member account (no points kickback)
The 15,000 points one receives as a kickback when using the cash option are worth ~ $80.
This is a hard choice, either option if fine with me as I could just as well use 40k points but don’t see the point of doing that as I frequently stay at the Intercontinental Seoul where a night currently costs 40k as well. I rather use my balance for award stays there.
As we’ve received the question of what members are supposed to do right now many times during the past year I can only say that I’m not going to renew my own membership under these circumstances.
I will wait until my travel makes it essential to be Ambassador beyond May 2021 and if this means letting the membership lapse a few months in between then so be it. The only advantage at hotels is when staying at Intercontinental properties, for the remaining brands it makes absolutely no difference if you’re Ambassador or a regular Platinum/Spire member.
Main benefits for Ambassadors aside from IC stay benefits are:
- Instant Platinum Status with IHG Rewards Club
- Access the the ambassador service via email to resolve IHG Club/Reservation related issues
- Buy One Get One (Second Night Free) Voucher for a weekend stay at Intercontinental/Kimpton
Purchasing the Ambassador membership extension of IHG Rewards Club has always been a no brainer for me especially since the f&b credit was introduced. The weekend voucher which (depending on the property) is sometimes also valid for Club Rooms and Suites has always more than paid for the annual fee.
The benefits are very fair considering you don’t even need to spend any nights at IHG hotels and can get Platinum outright.
However: This creates a real loyalty problem for the chain as it leads to frustrated members who do spend time and money at IHG hotels but don’t get any preferential treatment over a one off guest who just paid for Ambassador. IHG Rewards Club lacks benefits other competitors do provide to their top tier members such as Free Breakfast, Club lounge access, Space available & guaranteed suite upgrades as well as guaranteed 4 PM late check-outs.
While I’m a big fan of the Ambassador Program as it stands given that it’s pretty much cost neutral for me I don’t see any reason whatsoever to build a loyalty strategy on IHG given their lack of recognition for high volume revenue based stays.
Conclusion
The last time I’ve renewed my membership I selected the option with the 10% Award rebate at the same $200 price. Now the 10% rebate is gone and the price is still $200, the $150 cash renewal is gone too.
If your membership is due to be renewed now but you don’t have any upcoming IHG travel then it doesn’t make any sense to renew or even purchase Ambassador at the moment. I’d leave it alone until I either have a stay at Intercontinental coming up or there is another incentive officer such as the free night which expired in December of last year.
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] KLM Los Angeles to Barcelona from $2,135](https://cdn2.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/xgaudi-g006b9bbad_1280-barcelona-120x86.jpg.pagespeed.ic.m6HnZ02i5E.jpg)
Dont forget about the option of extending it for 6 and 2 months, for free (once in a lifetime). I have just used the 6-month extension.
https://cariverga.com/ihg-ambassador-extension/
I am always surprised at the way articles about the IHG Rewards program are approached in a generally biased way on loyaltylobby.com (unlike the Marriott or Hyatt loyalty programs, for example).
One of the unmentioned key benefits of Ambassador (Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club, and the corresponding Rewards Club benefits, Dedicated check-in area, Complimentary premium internet, Complimentary mineral water) are obviously:
– Guaranteed extended 4pm check-out,
– Restaurants & bars credit of up to USD20 for every stay,
– Guaranteed one category room upgrade,
– Complimentary weekend night..
Also, comparing IHG’s Paltinum programs with Marriott or Accor doesn’t make sense, since the number of nights required to achieve this status is different. It is in fact necessary to compare the level of nights or similar expenses.
In addition, being Royal Ambassador for more than 15 years, I can measure the impressive quality of service I receive during my stays at InterContinental hotels:
– many of the properties continue to upgrade to suites while only booking the cheapest rate (in addition to club access, USD 50 minibar discount a day, guaranteed early check-in/late check-out),
– during the current period of the Covid crisis, I have no difficulty in canceling free of charge at the last minute when sanitary conditions prevented me from staying at an InterContinental hotel,
– I benefit from upgrades and special attention at other IHG brands hotels,
– the Royal Ambassador renewal is free when you have stayed more than 75 nights per year at InterContinental / Kimpton / Regent and now Six Senses properties,
– Royal Ambassador status has been renewed for a full year, regardless of the number of nights booked in 2020.
Also, with the integration of Kimpton, Regent and Six Senses into the program, it will be even more interesting to be Royal Ambassador.
Finally, it is worth remembering that the InterContinental hotels have implemented a major renovation program of the properties in North America (it remains to continue this effort for some of the properties in South America and the Middle East).
I ve been Royal since the creation of program till december 2019 and talking about upgrades well try to book basic room at IC park lane and see what you get???on my last year UC Barclay/Los Angeles downtown declined any upgrade and just fave 10.000 points when i have over a million sitting on my account.
Loyalty lobby is just saying the truth IHG reward have no incentive,spire is just rubbish no breakfast,no club,just 2pm check out ir 10am if available and they make you feel its charity.
Royal used to be ok when 8am check in was must and free minibar but there was no club access now with 200$ limited and 10am with only 2 categiries instead of executive room or suite AND YOU NEVER SURE IF YOU LL BE RE INVITED well competitors are far better,i am still spire ambassadir but will stay zero night for the years to come ,my free hold hilton from Amex is far better.
I am amazed Ihg members actually pay $200 and happy to get just suite upgrade. With the other programs you get the upgrade plus breakfast and lounge free with status. In a recent stay in Paris I got everything for free at Marriott while my friend at Ihg Was complaining why he had to pay $110 per day for breakfast 4 two and a small fortune for a light dinner which we got free at the club lounge:)
He finally realized it’s a no-brainer
1. If you requalify for Royal Ambassador status, you do not have to pay the USD 200.
2. We can definitely be very happy to be upgraded to One Bedroom Sea View suite at InterContinental Carlton Cannes, Royal Suite at InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, or Club duplex suite at InterContinental Bali
3. Spire Royal Ambassadors have club access at Regent and InterContinental hotels (or free breakfast when the property has no club lounge.)
I must say that I am very happy to have free club access at, for example, Club InterContinental / ANA Tokyo, with great food delivered by Pierre Gagnaire teams (who also manage the gastronomic restaurant). I also love love club lounge at Berlin, Jakarta, Seoul, Athens.
With all due respect, From all your posts here for IHG i wonder if you work for them ??
You seem to be one of the only people on the site iwho claims to gert get special treatment from them
Royal Ambassadors’ reviews tend to show that members are very happy with the program:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-ihg-rewards-club-intercontinental-ambassador/2031585-please-post-your-royal-ambassador-experiences-2021-a.html
I am writing you from superb InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel (upgraded from cheapest rate to Opera view junior suite).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3d175439087d11c16b3d172e1c79f5cc9a1fb0471b078266abcd55e449060fbd.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/46507017b52413e6f794f25f06f2c6312729a4b7538e9de814d8c6c6b76509a3.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c28534b501905ce1eba9259e2754c52c85f753d38dac8bcfd3703c739652956f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/350bd7ca2c6f5c5bbb34a967919db5889d50690927c8b3520ce26c4ce3285f28.jpg
So granted Royal Ambassador status has some value (although inferior to top status at Hyatt or Marriott ) where benefits are GUARANTEED . But so many negatives for any frequent traveller. Sorry but its a no brainer and I am convinced now you work for IHG to blog for them:)
1. I just read about it
“Royal Ambassador status is extended by invitation only to a small percentage of our InterContinental Ambassador members.”
So you need to spend $200. to get Ambassador but regardless of your activity you are never sure if you will get the invitation to become Royal Ambassador.
A program killer for anyone .!!
2. No free breakfast for 2 so you can be out of pocket easily $100+ per day if you want breakfast
3. You officially get a 2 class room upgrade which often can be a corner or nice view room . NOT a suite. Hyatt and marriott offer you suites and you have a right to them. You can send nice pictures of a suite here but as others point out NO GUARANTEE. so why risk it?
4. lower status levels in IHG get you almost NOTHING in benefits while even Hilton Diamond with a credit card gives you free breakfast and lounge access and sometimes suites
I notice on these sites that most freq travellers believe IHG , Accor and Radisson compete intensiveley to be the WORST loyalty program. 🙂
“So granted Royal Ambassador status has some value (although inferior to top status at Hyatt or Marriott ) where benefits are GUARANTEED”
I must say I am not quite sure to understand your point.
Titanium status (75+ nights a year) at Marriott does NOT give upgrade guarantee : ”We’ll do our best to upgrade your room,?based on availability at check-in. Upgrades are subject to availability identified by each hotel and limited to your personal guest room.”
It is well known that Ritz-Carlton and design hotels can be very stingy about upgrades.
Furthermore, guaranteed early check-in is not a Marriott benefit.
Same story with Hyatt Globalist status (60+ nights), even if I always receive a very nice upgrade at my beloved Park Hyatt Milan.
Royal Ambassador benefits are on the contrary guaranteed for all qualifying stays.
Royal Ambassador member benefits include:
a. Guaranteed two category room upgrade at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and one category room upgrade at participating Regent Hotels & Resorts, based on room type purchased, will be assigned. Click here for more information.
b. Complimentary Club InterContinental or Regent Club lounge access.
i. Applicable only where the hotel has a dedicated Club InterContinental or Regent Club lounge.
ii. Valid for two people including the member, staying in the member’s room only.
iii. Where the hotel does not operate a dedicated Club InterContinental or Regent Club lounge, Royal Ambassador members will be given two complimentary full breakfasts in the main restaurant per day for the member and one registered guest staying in the member’s room.
iv. The Club InterContinental lounge access Benefits Guarantee is not applicable at hotels that do not operate a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge. More information on the Benefits Guarentee can be found here.
c. Free Night at an IHG Hotel.
i. The Royal Ambassador member will receive one Reward Night credited directly to the member’s account, within 8 weeks of obtaining Royal Ambassador status. The Reward Night credit is redeemable as a ‘Royal Ambassador Night’ when logged into the member’s account, applies to the room rate only, and is subject to Reward Night availability at an IHG hotel where the point amount required for a single redemption night is 70,000 IHG Rewards points or less. The Royal Ambassador Night is valid for 365 days from the date of deposit.
d. Guaranteed early check-in of 10 a.m. on day of arrival.
e. Guaranteed late check-out of 4 p.m. on day of departure.
f. Complimentary Weekend Night on the second night of a paid stay. Click here for more information
g. Minibar credit
i. Minibar credit of USD50 per night, cumulative up to a maximum of USD200 per stay, in all countries unless otherwise stated below.
ii. Minibar credit can be used toward minibar food and beverage only.
iii. In Mainland China (excluding Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan): Maximum RMB200 credit for the minibar per night, cumulative up to a maximum of RMB800 per stay.
h. In-room welcome amenity: choice of fruit or sweet or savory snack on day of arrival when selected in stay preferences prior to arrival. (Solely fruit provided at InterContinental Alliance Resorts).
i. Complimentary mineral water daily.
j. Complimentary highest Internet access will be provided in guest room only at select hotels where available for purchase.
k. Waived Amenity or Destination fees, where they would otherwise be charged
”Royal Ambassador status is extended by invitation only to a small percentage of our InterContinental Ambassador members.
So you need to spend $200. to get Ambassador but regardless of your activity you are never sure if you will get the invitation to become Royal Ambassador.
A program killer for anyone .!!”
The big difference with the Ambassador program is that only stays at InterContinental / Regent / Kimpton and now Six Senses hotels, when with Marrioty or Hyatt you can stay at cheapest brands / get status with credit cards.
It is well known that Royal Ambassador status is given if you stay 75+ nights at InterContinental / Regent / Kimpton and now Six Senses hotels.
I totally agree. Spire is worthless. I frequently stay at IC’s in Asia and it doesn’t make a difference that I am Spire. I am also Hilton Diamond and the difference is incredible! Hilton Diamond makes IHG Spire look absolutely worthless. Its too bad that I prefer IC over Hilton, but I stay at Hiltons when it makes sense to do so.
IHG Rewards and Ambassador programs are different, the latter being for the luxury division only (InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent and now Six Senses).
Royal Ambassador status is based on expenses/qualifying nights specifically for these brands.
So there is no reason to expect the same benefits when being Spire or Royal Ambassador (even if some properties, like InterContinental Buenos Aires, may give club access and suite upgrades for Spire members).
If you ”frequently stay” at Asian InterContinental hotels, why not being Ambassador?
Further more, I definitely prefer InterContinental / Regent / Kimpton / Six Senses hotels, especially in Asia, over Hilton hotels.
I am very surprised that you did not received any upgrade at InterContinental The Barclay / Los Angeles Downtown and London Park Lane.
It does not correspond to my experience and Royal Ambassador experiences described on Flyertalk :
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-ihg-rewards-club-intercontinental-ambassador/1887835-kimpton-hotels-secret-password-experience-thread-2019-onward.html
Unless you have booked on points (but Terms and Conditions are clear about that: Royal Ambassador benefits do not apply on points, even if some properties still apply them).
Absolutely no upgrade and was told at check in will be offered 10.000 points as terms&conditions of ambassador.
These were paid stay.
London Park lane is the worst they used to have
Classic /deluxe/superior/executive room they start adding
London classic/londin deluxe/london superior/london executive just to get away with upgrade.
The only decent hitel is Le Grand Hotel Paris and tge manager Mr Laure is a real gentleman,always got suite and club access even before its was Royal benefit.
It is really a shame that you did not receive Royal Ambassador benefits, and you should definitely complain about that.
I agree with you, Christophe Laure is a great General Manager, and always receive superb treatment when I book a room for my parents visiting me in Paris.
IHG Platinum requires 40 nights and Spire 75 nights to achieve naturally without having anything to show for in terms of hard benefits. The ONE category upgrade for an Ambassador member staying at IC’s really can’t be called a “key benefit” considering most hotels game these categories without shame.
IHG Rewards and Ambassador programs are different, the latter being for the luxury division only (InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent and now Six Senses).
Royal Ambassador status is based on expenses/qualifying nights specifically for these brands.
So there is no reason to expect the same benefits when being Spire or Royal Ambassador (even if some properties, like InterContinental Buenos Aires, may give club access and suite upgrades for Spire members).
Furthermore, when reading reviews for Ambassador status, people seem to be quite happy about it:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-ihg-rewards-club-intercontinental-ambassador/2031592-please-post-your-ambassador-experiences-2021-a.html
But of course a loyalty program is supposed to give benefits to loyal customers of the brand.
So you cannot expect the same treatment for Ambassador members, who basically have just spent USD 200 / 40,000 points and Spire Royal Ambassador members who have stayed 75+ nights at Regent / InterContinental / Kimpton hotels a year.
Nicolas
I’m not sure why you keep banging on about Royal Ambassador status. Yes, we KNOW you have it, and we are very pleased for you.
But it’s not something within the grasp of most folk in this discussion: you’ll need to spend way in excess of $10K a year to be invited to become RA: or have an address in China 🙂
And each year you’ll live in fear of being downgraded because nobody knows how they decide to renew memberships.
The basic Ambassador programme is somewhere between meh and hopeless.
It’s a great benefit to IHG (the management company), which gets the $200 a pop – for very little cost. The hotels can nothing, but are left to make it up to the guest, and they do it grudgingly with low level incentives.
The closest the Ambassador guest comes to something of tangible value is IF you are staying at an IC in china then you get a breakfast for ONE guest – but even then only on the FIRST NIGHT of your stay. And you can forget completely any idea you might be invited to use the Club lounge. And you likely don’t get any benefit at all if you are paying with points.
Compare and contrast with Hilton Diamond: breakfast at just about ANY hotel in the Hilton family, plus Executive Lounge where these exist. And you get these benefits on award stays as well.
Icing on the cake for Hilton Honors members has been the extremely generous and transparent response to Covid, with FULL flexibility on stays and status extended through 2021.
The IHG response has been slow, complicated and mean spirited.
If you get suckered into Ambassador by the infamous “free night”, you can do well if you would anyway be staying at he flexible rate you are forced into, in a suite or club room at one of the top ICs. But most of the time you’ll be lucky if you nett more than a $50 benefit.
So, Ambassador is fine if you see a clear befit for your $200. But if you have 15 or 30 hotel stays a year, keep the $200 and aim for Gold or Diamond with Hilton.
I believe I learned this here: I status matched to Spire a few years ago with IHG. So I renew Ambassador(which I never stay at or use the 2 4 1 weekend night benefit) before my Spire status expiration, to keep my Spire status alive. Only benefit with Spire over Plat is I rarely have to ask for best upgrade.
I too, renew my Ambassador membership each year to maintain my Spire Elite status. I stay in enough IHG hotels to make it worth it (but not enough stays to maintain Spire).
I’ve noticed that they extend my Spire status as well by being Ambassador. not sure why but that’s my main motivation. my status expires March 1, I may let it lapse and rejoin before the end of the year.
I seldom use IHG anymore. I have an upcoming stay in May however, but not worth paying $200 for ambassador level. I have no idea the next time I will ever step foot in a IHG property.
I made this decision years ago. If I have an important IC stay that the free night and upgrades would be nice, I join Ambassador. But otherwise, it is just a waste of money.
While booking a stay via the Intercontinental website (not the IHG site) for the Bangkok IC I was reminded that my Ambassador membership would soon be expiring and that by renewing then (in Jan) I would get 10% rebate on award stays. I have not received any documentation of this from IHG and failed to print the screen. Anyway, keeping my Ambassador membership stops my 900K points from all expiring, I have been taking most of my stays to Hilton due to superior Diamond benefits.
Is there somewhere on the app or the website I can actually see when/date my current Ambassador membership expires? I renewed in Sep 2020 so I assume end of Sep 2021 but would like to see it on the screen given all the extensions/modifications because of covid.
Bottom left side of the app: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalboz/50961339246/
I’ve spent 29 nights using points only between March 2020 and this month at non-IC IHG properties and have been upgraded to suites at every property without asking. My .02 as a paid Platinum Ambassador. So for me it’s been worth the $7 per night for a suite upgrade. I have until 7-1-21 to use my Buy One Get One (Second Night Free) Voucher which is no longer a voucher. I’ll probably use the 1-off free extension this year.
As a mere platinum ambassador with less than 10 IHG stays per year, I rarely get suites, except at one particular HI (and even there I got it as a platinum non-ambassador). The room upgrades are often barely even noticeable.
Also, I’ve really struggled to get even $30-$50 value out of the free weekend night certificate. I am often paying a higher rate on the first night to save money on the second night.
If you are a royal ambassador and/or already planning to stay a lot of nights at expensive IC’s, then it seems like a good deal, though.
Which hotels do you typically stay at? Keep in mind Ambassador means nothing outside IC properties and even there the official upgrade is only one category.
I have Platinum Ambassador and I have always been upgraded regardless whether I’m staying at HIE, HI or IC. At Chiang Mai HI I was upgraded (twice) to the best River Ping suite, more than two categories, due to PA status. Very easy to get value from the $200 annual fee. What’s disappointing is that breakfast is never included however, the $20 restaurant credit that comes with PA offsets cost. Worth it for me.
HG Rewards and Ambassador programs are different, the latter being for the luxury division only (InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent and now Six Senses).
Royal Ambassador status is based on expenses/qualifying nights specifically for these brands.
So there is no reason to expect the same benefits when being Platinum or Royal Ambassador (even if some properties, like InterContinental Buenos Aires, may give club access and suite upgrades for Spire members).
Furthermore, would you really consider than being loyal to a hotel brand means staying less ”than 10 IHG stays per year”, and therefore be surprised to ”rarely get suites”?
I’m in the same boat, John. My membership expires March first and I do plan to renew because I don’t think the 15,000 point rebate is available once you let your membership lapse. Do you have any data points on that?
I have to say that last month I really got some great benefits of being a Royal Ambassador. In Athens I was given a 160Euro credit for my stay to be used in bar/restaurant or room service, as the minbar was not available on top I was given a very good premium suite. I paid less than 400 Euro for a 4 night stay dinner every night and free breakfast. As I rarely use the minibar when I stay I thought this was fantastic value. The hotel staff really went out of there way to make my stay very special and all for less than 400Euros. I was traveling by myself but I actually was offered Breakfast for 2. I find that there are some really great benefits to RA membership.