InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - How to Earn RA

First of all hello to everyone. I have been a long time lurker on Flyertalk due to some infrequent business travel but I have recently accepted a position in Salvador, Brasil that will have me traveling frequently in Brasil and Argentina.

My question is this: I recently (1-2 months ago) purchased Ambassador status becuase I know I will be staying at the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires quite frequently. I didn't know at the time that quite frequently meant 45 out of the last 60 days, with another 3 week stay beginning on Sunday. I am sure over the next few months I will easily reach at least 100 qualifying nights at the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires. Is it possible to earn RA status before the end of my Ambassador year? I would very much like to take advantage of the benefits as I will be spending a lot of time in that specific IC

I have searched the forum and can't find the right combination of search terms to located my answer if it exists.

I will post my review of the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires in another thread as I wasn't able to find much information when searching.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Hello and welcome, you might like to check out the following thread, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-priority-club-inter-continental-ambassador/1255173-new-ra-qualifying-criteria-based-ic-nights-july-2011-a.html
Here current RAs speculate the qualifying requirements, the official line is 'the top 1% of ambassador guests. The general feeling at the moment seems to translate into about 60 nights in 3 or more ICs but check out the thread for more recent discussion.

First of all hello to everyone. I have been a long time lurker on Flyertalk due to some infrequent business travel but I have recently accepted a position in Salvador, Brasil that will have me traveling frequently in Brasil and Argentina.

My question is this: I recently (1-2 months ago) purchased Ambassador status becuase I know I will be staying at the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires quite frequently. I didn't know at the time that quite frequently meant 45 out of the last 60 days, with another 3 week stay beginning on Sunday. I am sure over the next few months I will easily reach at least 100 qualifying nights at the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires. Is it possible to earn RA status before the end of my Ambassador year? I would very much like to take advantage of the benefits as I will be spending a lot of time in that specific IC

I have searched the forum and can't find the right combination of search terms to located my answer if it exists.

I will post my review of the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires in another thread as I wasn't able to find much information when searching.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

If you only stay at 1 IC, I do not believe that you would qualify for RA status. Since you will be staying there quite a bit, you may want to negotiate for additional benefits directly with the hotel as a frequent guest of theirs.

mxm135 :)

brasiljeff, Welcome to Flyertalk and this forum....

I don't know how strict the three-properties rule is, but it's probably worth the gamble if you can just do two additional short stays at different ICs somewhere along the line.

I don't know how strict the three-properties rule is, but it's probably worth the gamble if you can just do two additional short stays at different ICs somewhere along the line.

I agree, about the stays at other properties. Find a way to get others 2-3 locations in the mix. Also, you can buy/trade for RA status from several different forums, but the free route is always the best.

Once you get your RA status, you also will have another to "trade" which will compensate for the 2-3 single nights at other locations.

If ICH only sees stays at 1 location, they know it’s an anomaly for work and probably won’t continue for subsequent years. They are looking for people who hop around, as this is usually a more repeatable clientele for the chain. OK, that is my speculation.

I agree, about the stays at other properties. Find a way to get others 2-3 locations in the mix. Also, you can buy/trade for RA status from several different forums, but the free route is always the best.

Once you get your RA status, you also will have another to "trade" which will compensate for the 2-3 single nights at other locations.

If ICH only sees stays at 1 location, they know it’s an anomaly for work and probably won’t continue for subsequent years. They are looking for people who hop around, as this is usually a more repeatable clientele for the chain. OK, that is my speculation.

Welcome to FlyerTalk! Also, welcome brasiljeff!

Welcome to Flyertalk, brasiljeff and shawntobbi.



I will post my review of the IC Nordelta - Buenos Aires in another thread as I wasn't able to find much information when searching.



I am looking forward to learn about your experiences. Just in case you have not yet noticed, we have a subforum for stay reports: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-priority-club-inter-continental-ambassador-426/

FLYGVA
co-moderator IHG Forum

shawntobi,

Welcome to Flyertalk and this forum.

mxm135 :)

Thank you all for your feedback. Although this is the only IC on my company's approved hotel list in Argentina and Brasil, I should be able to swing a night in other ICs in Argentina and Brasil.

Once I accomplish the 3 different IC stays added to my more than likely 80+ IC qualifying nights should I request a review of my account for RA status or do I have to wait for my Ambassador year to end?

Safe travels!

Thank you all for your feedback. Although this is the only IC on my company's approved hotel list in Argentina and Brasil, I should be able to swing a night in other ICs in Argentina and Brasil.

Once I accomplish the 3 different IC stays added to my more than likely 80+ IC qualifying nights should I request a review of my account for RA status or do I have to wait for my Ambassador year to end?

Safe travels!

IHG does a review on a monthly basis using to upgrade Ambassador members to RA status during the Ambassador membership year.

Status is 'By Invitation Only' and there is no right of entitlement when you reach a specific number of nights or stays.

There is no harm in calling but there is also no guarantee that they will grant you RA status, especially with a record where almost all your nights are at a single IC. The one night at 2 more ICs may not be enough to sway their decision.

mxm135 :)

You must stay at least 3 different IC~~~

Thank you all for your feedback. Although this is the only IC on my company's approved hotel list in Argentina and Brasil, I should be able to swing a night in other ICs in Argentina and Brasil.

Once I accomplish the 3 different IC stays added to my more than likely 80+ IC qualifying nights should I request a review of my account for RA status or do I have to wait for my Ambassador year to end?

Safe travels!

I sent an email after i had reached 50 nights (48 in one IC property and 1 night at two other) and they gave me a temporary upgrade to RA until the end of my Ambassador year end. I have since stayed a total of over 100 nights in IC properties and have received my RA pack for the next year as my year end is August.