IHG Rewards launched a much-awaited top-tier Spire Elite status back in 2015 (read more here) with a promise of new benefits that would soon be introduced but which never materialized (still waiting six years later) outside of the Greater China (read more here).
It seems to have come as a surprise to many when I mentioned on the recent InterContinental Ambassador renewal piece that buying or renewing the paid membership also renews your Spire Elite status. I thought that this was widely known.
You can access IHG’s page for buying or renewing Ambassador membership here.
Note that the Ambassador status itself comes with the Platinum-elite tier with IHG Rewards. If you, however, have Spire Elite status, it automatically extends it instead.
Spire Elite Benefits:
The main Spire Elite benefits over Platinum are 100% bonus on points + yearly 25,000 points gift + better upgrades.
Here are our two previous pieces about this issue:
IHG Rewards Club Spire Elite Status Extension When Buying Ambassador Membership
IHG Rewards Club Spire Elite Status Extensions For Ambassador Renewals Or Sign Ups
The current Ambassador buy or renew promotion:
IHG InterContinental Ambassador Sign Up & Renew Promotion Until July 31, 2021
Spire Elite Choice 2021 (like in previous years):
IHG Rewards Spire Elite Choice 2021: 25,000 Bonus Points Or Gift Platinum Status
Spire Elite enhanced Greater China benefits:
IHG Rewards Enhanced Spire Elite Greater China Benefits
Conclusion
You have to remember that IHG and Ambassador programs have never communicated that this Spire Elite renewal would be part of the program. It can be discontinued without any prior notice.
It has been going on for years, however. Probably the cheapest way to renew Spire Elite than paying for overpriced Bonus Points Packages.
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] AEROMEXICO Madrid to Sao Paulo from 898€](https://cdn3.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/xbuilding-ga29091764_1280-sao-paulo-120x86.jpg.pagespeed.ic.VQ8lWfmLI6.jpg)
It works for extending Spire Elite, but you don’t get the annual choice benefit that you’d get if you earned Spire organically. At least that’s how it’s been for me.
I’m probably going to drop ambassador after this year and let my Spire status die at the end of next year, however. Lack of free breakfast, no more point breaks, and massive points devaluation as well as fake ‘upgrade’ categories with the Ambassador make it a waste. Just going to focus on Marriott and Hilton from here on out
Wondering if you’ve been renewing AMB using points or cash, Bailey? I’ve renewed with cash and have usually got the choice benefit. Can’t say I always got it but pretty sure I did most times. Certainly got it a couple of months ago when IHG extended Ambassador for free due to covid, and I had nowhere near enough nights to retain Spire Elite. Quite understand your point about how IHG is mucking up the points scheme at the moment. I just hope it’ll settle down or I might consider moving to Hilton and a free breakfast courtesy of Amex Platinum.
Just checked and my options for renewal are: “Renew for USD200 and receive 15,000 IHG® Rewards Club points. Or renew with 40,000 points” If I got the choice benefit too that would be a result!
Bailey you may want to double check that you dont have the annual choice benefit. I have been extending spire for years by buying ambassador and was not receiving the choice benefit until last year. Log in to your account and double check under the spire benefits.
Checked and no dice. Have renewed via cash as well. I’m Spire through December 2022 and Ambassador through Feb 2022, but no option for a 2021 benefit selection
I agree with Bailey R below. The general trend is that all of the chains, in my opinion, are devaluation their loyal customers and constantly deleting benefits. I’m reviewing which one to focus on for the future.
I may buy Ambassador for the first time ever. The free weekend night plus the bonus promo night after one stay seems worth $200 to me. I had a Covid lockdown stir crazy staycation last year at the IC downtown Los Angeles and it was very nice. Surprised at the nice upgrade even as Spire. Had not been to an IC in about ten years.
After the recent SIGNIFICANT DEVALUATION, I wouldn’t understand anyone paying for any kind of elevated status. They will not be seeing my renewal this year!
Buy or use 40,000 points? Decisions….
Mind you I will probably just wait until later in the year – can’t see too much benefit in buying now.
Interesting to know this ,my ambassadir will expire end june and my spire end december so i will wait till end of year to renew my ambassador.
“Thanks for being an InterContinental® Ambassador member. Your membership is current”. And theres No option to choose renew 😉
Are you close to renewal? I think it needs to be less than three months’ time.
Maybe you’re right. Im not close to the renewal 🙂
Sorry, but is there a specific link for this to work? Because when I clicked on the link they emailed me (I’m a spire elite member since 2020, but haven’t been able to enjoy the benefits due to covid), it doesn’t mention any thing about extending my spire elite status…If purchasing or using points can extend my status, I will surely do that!!!! Thanks in advance.
OK, so I paid the $200 and became an ambassador…. checked my status, Elite Ambassador till July 1st, 2022, but Spire Elite expiration is still on 2021/12/31 🙁
is this still a the case? i don’t think i have a separate expiration for spire status and ambassador
Yup. I was totally fooled.
Still separate expiration dates.
What do you mean? They just extend the Spire Elite when it is due to expire at the end of the year.
Spire Elite or any other IHG elite tier is valid for a calendar year, while the Ambassador is valid for 12 months from the date you sign up and pay for the program.