A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a question regarding the InterContinental Royal Ambassador renewals for 2022?
Readers are encouraged to send us questions, comments, or opinions by email, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll try to cover them here several times a week.
You can access IHG’s page for Royal Ambassador status here.
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Here’s the email from the reader:
Im very concerned about loosing my RA status I have since 2011.
I believe most of RA guests haven’t been able to travel as the used to do since the pandemic began.
I’ve personally experienced dramatic lockdowns in Israel as well as my main European destinations closed their borders to foreign travellers.
IHG closed many hotels during Covid period and reopened part of them later, in a much lower level of service.
The main point is that the club lounge which was the most important benefit for RA is now very limited in terms of service whereas in many other hotels they are not even operated.
IHG renewed all RA status but its been way worse than we used to have before.
Even the service in the very few hotels where decided to open the club lounge was much limited: no more buffet breakfasts, lack of staff, opening just at 1200 etc..
For all the above mentioned, my experience was totally different and a great disappointment for me as RA.
I’d appreciate comments from RA guests to my review.
I’m totally convinced that IHG must extend our status for 2022, otherwise it might be very unfair and loyal to us.
InterContinental Royal Ambassador is an invitation-only status for IHG Rewards members who have joined and paid for the Ambassador program
Way back, the Royal Ambassador required a very significant revenue contribution. IHG then started to extend the status for Ambassador program members who had had 60+ nights with all of their hotels, non-IC hotels counted too, as long as at least three different InterContinental hotels were thrown in.
Royal Ambassador members were also given a referral voucher to invite someone to the same level (and those who were referred got another referral on their welcome kit).
IHG became concerned about the program, discontinued referrals altogether, and instituted a revenue requirement (north of $10K) that had to come exclusively for stays at InterContinental hotels.
IHG then started to count revenue at first Kimpton, then Regent, and most recently at Six Senses hotels towards Royal Ambassador status.
Royal Ambassador program downgrades:
- Guaranteed 8 AM check-in became 10 AM
- Complimentary minibar beverages (you could empty the minibar daily) turned to a maximum F&B for the duration of the stay
- Guaranteed suite upgrades turned to a maximum two-category upgrade from the booked room or one category upgrade from a booked suite
- InterContinental hotels have expanded the list of suites that are excluded from upgrades
- A free weekend night voucher could be applied to all paid rates. Now you need to book the best flexible one and the second night is hardly “free”
- Welcome gift gone
- Guaranteed upgrade and early check-in are no longer guaranteed – the hotel can instead give a member 10,000 points
Here are positives:
- Expanded from just InterContinental to include Kimpton, Regent, and Six Senses hotels
- Royal Ambassador members are eligible for Club access
- Free award night yearly
Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott all offer lifetime status for members that reach a particular milestone of $200,000 in spend (Hyatt) to 1,000 nights (Hilton). IHG doesn’t offer anything, and the qualification requirement (spend) to Royal Ambassador tier can fluctuate from year to year.
Conclusion
If I had put the nights that I spent with IHG and InterContinental towards Hilton and Hyatt, I would already have a lifetime with both. But, instead, IHG downgraded my status from Royal Ambassador even on a year when I spent $10K+ with the InterContinental brand alone.
I believe that we have come to the point where Royal Ambassador members should evaluate if the program is the right fit for them. The benefits previously with guaranteed suite upgrades and complimentary minibars were great, but the program has become watered down lately (literally).
There are some InterContinental hotels that I like. However, there were more and more that I didn’t want to stay and decided that I don’t spend money at hotels, regardless of the program, that don’t provide good service.
We may soon be in a situation where less than 10 nights at Six Senses or Regents might get you a Royal Ambassador invitation while spending 100+ nights with the InterContinental won’t.
The revenue contribution to get Royal Ambassador status extended this year has to be very low, or IHG may extend them for another year.
I’ve been an RA since before there was an RA status (the old Six Continents Club Ambassador program).
Sadly your assessment rings true. The lack of transparency about qualification is a perpetual issue; every year one has to worry about losing status. At least it would be nice if in September they told you if you’re off track for renewal and gave you a target number of nights/dollars to renew.
Last year we pretty much expected to be renewed for 2021; however, this year is less obvious. I’ve been staying an increasing number of times, but certainly fewer nights than usual. So let’s hope they either have a lower threshold or extend it.
I’m in the IC Boston presently and they have emptied the minibar, as have a number of other hotels, and I have to select items from the “pantry” downstairs, capped at $50/day, $200/stay. The wonderful Club here is closed (as it is in Miami, Chicago, NY and many others) and they’re replacing the Club benefit with a $50 F&B credit/$200 cap. There are two of us and this doesn’t even cover a breakfast (and doesn’t apply to alcohol, taxes or tips), much less the evening snacks/drinks. COVID is no longer a valid excuse; the hotel is fairly full. It’s just the management being cheap now. I feel for them because they did suffer a lot, but now it’s us who suffer.
The lack of a Lifetime status is also a serious oversight. Woulda coulda shoulda been loyal to another chain. But I know two people who are early in their frequent traveling who turned down IC and focused on Bonvoy in one case, Hyatt in the other, specifically to earn lifetime status, so iHG is definitely losing some potential loyal members.
I am not an RA but I am now fed up with lack of service and profiteering being masked as Covid protection. Hotels closing lounges, restricting offering, not cleaning rooms etc while theatres, cinemas, stadia, shopping centres are packed!
And don’t get me started on banks and people swinging the lead working from home. Enough already! Vaccinate, vaccine passports and if you don’t want to play your part in society stay home, away from hotels, shops, theatres and hotels! I respect your choice but your choices must not stop me from living my life with some minor adjustments now
Boston IC is horrific re benefits!
“there are two of us and this doesn’t even cover a breakfast”
Maybe you made a confusion with Hilton Diamond status in the US properties:
“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.”
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/us/en/ambassador/terms-conditions#smith
I ve been over a decade Royal and once downgraded despite +$12000 spent at IC ;i felt like i was a hostage,trying to keep my Royal years after years,frankly i am happy i am not Royal anymore,i went to explore countries i wouldnt and stayed at properties far better than IHG from St Lucia Viceroy to Santorini luxury collection and Dubai the Adress,IHG program is a joke and feel really sorry those still chasing status there;i am ambassador spire but wouldnt care for any extension or renewal,my week end voucher will go unused this year as my corporate rate save me more money than the so called second night free.
From more than $12000 spent a year to zero thats thecresult of IHG secretive ever changing criterias guest end up leaving .
I fully understand that you wish not to stay at InterContinental hotels regularly, but you cannot fault InterContinental for not giving you the highest status if you do so.
In addition, if Santorini is a destination of your choice, you can take advantage of the new Royal Ambassador benefits at Mr. & Mrs. Smith properties (Smith Extra, complimentary room upgrade):
Aenaon Villas
Astra Suites
Avaton Resort & Spa
Chromata
Iconic Santorini
Kapari Natural Resort
Perivolas
Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa
Santorini Heights
The Vasilicos
I d rather book Santorini with my Amex fine hotels and resorts it comes with guaranteed 4pm check out/noon check in /upgrade and credit for food or spa with welcome amenity.
Amex Platinum fine hotels and resorts or Virtuoso are indeed very good solutions for those who are not loyal to specific brands and still want to get some benefits.
In 2020 I stayed only 36 IC nights and was renewed as RA this will land on about 65 I think. The points have become worth so much less with the dynamic pricing and every second seems to be trying to sell me points. I have not used my comp night yet as it is so hard to use where I wish. Paris has not had a night available in 3 months. Last week in Vienna the minibar was near empty and there was no food there. I enquired and “Covid” was raised, there was no compensation offered for that. Vienna is one of my favourites and the club was operating at full service which is excellent. This year several IC have gone out of there way to help compensate the challenges Athens was on that was terrific. Some others such as Sydney just seemed to exploit it turning their club lounge into a public bar. I feel that if I am not renewed it will not concern me as much as it once would have.
“Last week in Vienna the minibar was near empty and there was no food there. I enquired and “Covid” was raised, there was no compensation offered for that. Vienna is one of my favourites and the club was operating at full service which is excellent. ”
I am not quite sure to understand: if the club lounge was operating, you have access to food and drinks at the lounge.
Yes you do have access to food in the lounge. The lounge closes at 10pm and if I wanted some chocolate or lollies the minibar had none. There was no offered compensation for this a small thing but it should be raised as a RA benefit is the 60 euro allowance.
Oh, I understand now: you too are a Manner Neapolitaner addict 😂
Yes I love those wafers, jelly beans and Milch Riegel.
“Im very concerned about loosing my RA status I have since 2011.
I’d appreciate comments from RA guests to my review.
I’m totally convinced that IHG must extend our status for 2022, otherwise it might be very unfair and loyal to us.”
At this point, the only thing we know is that both the nights for 2021 and 2020 may count for status (the reason why I already have 107 qualifying nights today at InterContinental hotels), and that the levels required to reach the Elite levels have been reduced.
But today nothing has been officially said about the renewal for next year.
While Hilton has already announced the extension of statuses, other companies are obviously waiting to see how the situation will evolve, and perhaps want to limit strategies such as: why stay at Hilton hotels if my status is renewed now?
We are used to reading on LoyaltyLobby the same comments from people who “spent USD 10k+” at InterContinental hotels “, but who strangely do not see their status renewed (InterContinental would be decidedly very unfair in its ability to recognize its very best customers).
Still, the Royal Ambassador program is certainly one of the most exceptional ones for luxury hotels in terms of benefits.
It is effectively different from other programs at Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt or Accor, as it only applies to stays at IHG’s luxury hotels (Six Senses / Regent / InterContinental / Kimpton). It is in fact not possible to benefit from it by staying at lower-end hotels (it is in this respect similar to the former The Ritz-Carlton Rewards program). Some may regret it, but that is the Royal Ambassador policy.
Regarding renewal, it is left to the discretion of the Ambassador program, as is Four Seasons Elite, Four Seasons ’invitation-only guest recognition status (at Four Seasons hotels, there’s no registration required to be considered for this program- Four Seasons is good at tracking guests, so if the company wants to invite you, they’ll find a way to do so).
Finally, talking about a downgrade of the program is pleasant to say the least, while access to the club or breakfast is now guaranteed.
The guaranteed check-in is now at 10:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. (but I’ve never had any problem checking in earlier than 10:00 a.m., and never call for the Compensation Clinic if I could not 😁), and I love that benefit when I have flights landing early.
The minibar is limited to USD 50 per day, because some customers obviously thought that the minibar could be emptied simply because the T&C allowed it. But apart from being an alcoholic or only finding pleasure in pushing the system to its limits, especially when drinks are also available in the club lounge, it is unlikely that you will need to drink so much in your room.
In addition, snacks in the minibar that were previously excluded, are now included in the Royal Ambassador benefits.
Guaranteed upgrade is now two room’s category higher (it was previously guaranteed to Executive room or suite), but experience shows (just read the thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-ihg-rewards-intercontinental-ambassador/2031585-please-post-your-royal-ambassador-experiences-2021-at-3.html to be convinced) that the suites are generally offered.
Hertz President’s Circle status was furthermore recently added to the new Royal Ambassador benefits.
Finally, the possibility of benefiting now from the Royal Ambassador benefits at the other luxury hotels of the group constitutes a particularly attractive upgrade of the program:
– Regent (local ‘Signature Amenity’ benefit shall be offered, Royal Ambassador minibar credit, one category upgrade, club access),
– Six Senses (complimentary breakfast for two in the main restaurant per day, Signature Amenity of either a complimentary 50 minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or local experience once per stay, complimentary one category room upgrade, extended check-out of 4pm subject to availability, early check-in of 10 am subject to availability),
– Kimpton (Inner Circle status’ benefits),
– Mr & Mrs Smith (Smith Extras – additional gifts or services provided by the participating Mr & Mrs Smith properties -, complimentary room upgrade).
I just had by the way a fabulous stay this week-end at Château de Fonscolombe through the Mr. & Mrs. Smith partnership: exceptional attention, food and atmosphere. Simply love it. Nice upgrade, nice benefits.
And I will also certainly very much enjoy my next stay at Six Senses Ibiza.
Royal Ambassador: keep it up, and leave the disillusioned comments to the mourners and regulars at the Compensation Clinic.
I am a Top Tier Elite Member at practically every Hotel in the US, and most in Europe, Asia, Russia & Ukraine. I have been a Very Loyal IHG Member for over 25 years, and I agree with the “disillusioned comments” over the PR-like comments. The only Loyalty Program that is worse than IHG for luxury, in terms of being stingy with rewarding loyalty is Accor. Half of Accor’s properties, or more in the US, dont even participate in ALL Loyaty. However, I do still appreciate what Royal Ambassador offers, especially the Club Lounge Benefits, but I truly believe that Inner Circle is more inclusive. My main complaint is with the other Elite Levels of IHG (ie Spire), but if I strictly spoke of Royal Ambassador, I would also have to question the comparison made to Four Seasons. There is really no comparison, other than the fact that there are much more IHG High End Properties, but only Smith, Regent & some Kimpton & IC properties can even be placed in the same category as Four Seasons, Manadarin Oriental, and other smaller luxury chains. Personally, I travel 300+ nights/year, so obviously I live out of Hotels, so I have learned what to appreciate and what to complain about, but the One Factor that I take offense to is when Hotels use COVID to justify their dwindling benefits against Loyal Guests who stayed, despite the very real threats of being in Public during the past 2 years present. When I stayed at IC Miami for a week after my Surgery in September, 2020, I felt like I was the Only Guest in the High Rise Property (a favorite IC Hotel for 25+ years), and I was treated like “Royal”ty, as it should be for any and every loyal guest that stays loyal, DESPITE!
I am just making some comments, since I have been holding in so much, I just needed space for newer items I plan on holding in.