InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - RA Guaranteed Room Upgrade Change for 2012?

I decided to read my new 2012 RA membership booklet and noticed a change on the wording regarding the 'Guaranteed Room Upgrade' for RA members:

It now reads - Guaranteed room upgrade | Enjoy an immediate upgrade to an executive room or suite each time you stay. *

* Upgrade to either an executive room or a suite will be assigned at check-in.

There is no longer a reference to 'Club InterContinental Room (where available)' in the booklet, however, the Priority Club T&Cs still refer to the club room as a possible upgrade.

The update code on the back of the booklet is RPGE12.

I wonder if this a change in direction for room upgrades or a typo in the membership booklet? Ambassador Services were not aware of the change in the booklet content and referred me back to the T&Cs.

Had anyone else noticed this change?

mxm135 :(

I decided to read my new 2012 RA membership booklet and noticed a change on the wording regarding the 'Guaranteed Room Upgrade' for RA members:

It now reads - Guaranteed room upgrade | Enjoy an immediate upgrade to an executive room or suite each time you stay. *

* Upgrade to either an executive room or a suite will be assigned at check-in.

There is no longer a reference to 'Club InterContinental Room (where available)' in the booklet, however, the Priority Club T&Cs still refer to the club room as a possible upgrade.

The update code on the back of the booklet is RPGE12.

I wonder if this a change in direction for room upgrades or a typo in the membership booklet? Ambassador Services were not aware of the change in the booklet content and referred me back to the T&Cs.

Had anyone else noticed this change?

mxm135 :(

Oh man. Maybe the language from the Tokyo ICs now makes sense...

I am not due to renew until January, technically. And I've been considering not bothering again next year (I am virtually all leisure travel). If this is true, it's another nail in the coffin with me and ICs. :td: :(

Oh man. Maybe the language from the Tokyo ICs now makes sense...

I am not due to renew until January, technically. And I've been considering not bothering again next year (I am virtually all leisure travel). If this is true, it's another nail in the coffin with me and ICs. :td: :(

Oh boy, does this mean more and more on the choice or no club access list?

This might drive me right have to HH, as a benefit to HH Diamond status is that you can access clubs on stays. Already with RA it's a pain to get club on paid stays let alone award stays. Now club going away altogether.

:td: to IHG for this. Amb & RA is already about a revenue generating program, now are they getting greedy?

Oh boy, does this mean more and more on the choice or no club access list?

This might drive me right have to HH, as a benefit to HH Diamond status is that you can access clubs on stays. Already with RA it's a pain to get club on paid stays let alone award stays. Now club going away altogether.

:td: to IHG for this. Amb & RA is already about a revenue generating program, now are they getting greedy?

You can't buy HH Diamond, but you can buy RA.

I think a lot of hotels realise that they can sell club lounge access to regular guests - why give it out for free while you can get others to pay for it?

This is certainly different from my booklet from April (which also has a '12' code on the back) - may just be a proof-reading error though, as that wording is back to what it was a few years ago when Club wasn't an option.

I would much rather have see the removal of the 'Executive' room option, though, which gives rather too much license to hotels to treat RAs badly if they wish.

You can't buy HH Diamond, but you can buy RA.

I think a lot of hotels realise that they can sell club lounge access to regular guests - why give it out for free while you can get others to pay for it?

You can buy HH Diamond through spending $$ on surpass card. ;)

You can buy HH Diamond through spending $$ on surpass card. ;)

I think surpass card is only for US residents only?

You can't buy HH Diamond, but you can buy RA.

I think a lot of hotels realise that they can sell club lounge access to regular guests - why give it out for free while you can get others to pay for it?

Can't buy RA directly, can buy AMB.

Can't buy RA directly, can buy AMB.

Not 'directly' but it's possible to get it without actually staying at an IC. There are referrals available either on CC her at FT or pay real cash on ebay.

You can't buy HH Diamond, but you can buy RA.



HH Diamond is far easier to get the "official" way than the RA.

Perhaps what IHG need to do is to change the RA referral certs - two RA "trial vouchers" to experience the RA-level service on two stays, but not to become a full RA. That way, they can keep the number down and exclusive.

I'm not surprised by the number of RAs inflating (I assume that's what triggered the change) considering they have been sending out referral certs to referred RAs rather often.

RA is pretty hard to "earn" and it's been made harder, so why downgrade the benefits to more or less the same level as Ambassadors, other than the free minibar which some of us don't even indulge in?

An example on what I suspect to be part of the room upgrade change. I have a letter from IC Berlin which clearly states the next category up. It used to be two categories at IC Berlin and with club access. No free club access at IC Berlin even if you book a junior suite as an RA, although they offer a reduced rate of €40 for club access (normally €80). It's still a worthwhile Club lounge but it's quite a change from before.

If you want club, book club.

If you want club, book club.

Yes, and forget about any loyalty at the same time. Just book any hotel.

Did I miss something about the the original intent of the (Royal) Ambassador program?

HTB.

If they just upgrade RAs to an often "invented" executive room category then what are they going to do to Amb? Same treatment upgrade wise or do Amb now get rooms on higher floors or with better views "sold" as upgrades? Irksome and my RA is just a day old :D

Agree with HTB that this would make RA again a program with very inconsistent benefits and not really a all to loyalty. Give a suite, internet and breakfast instead of Club if you must ICHG, but stop fiddling around with the T&Cs without telling anyone. I will certainly not go out of my way to stay at ICs unless it makes sense location and price wise.

Those are interesting changes - the welcome gift, free movie, mineral water is also gone when checking www.priorityclub.com/terms (it's only mentioned as exclusion on reward stays, but not listed as regular benefit).
However, the RA upgrade to club rooms is still listed.

I assume it's just a little mistake in the booklet.

Some clarification by the until now silent IHG Care and PriorityClub Rewards corporate representatives here would certainly be appreciated by the community. ^

Those are interesting changes - the welcome gift, free movie, mineral water is also gone
Aha, now I see why fruits and gifts at ICs are few and far between.

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The welcome gift hasn't appeared in the terms for a while, I think...

Those are interesting changes - the welcome gift, free movie, mineral water is also gone when checking www.priortyclub.com/terms (it's only mentioned as exclusion on reward stays, but not listed as regular benefit).

I couldn't get that link to work, but on the Ambassador page (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/ambassador/benefits) it clearly states that the movie and mineral water are included. However, at http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/tc/member-terms#ambassador it appears as you have stated. The free gift has been gone for awhile now but still seems to be given at many places.

Something I found interesting was this, though:

PC Plat: When contacting the Priority Club Service Center directly and guaranteeing the reservation with a valid credit card, each Platinum level member will be guaranteed one room for personal use, for reservations made at least 72 hours prior to the date of arrival, except during special events that result in extraordinary room demand, as determined solely by the hotel. (http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/tc/member-terms#ambassador)

Amb: Go to the top of the waiting list if your chosen hotel is fully booked. InterContinental Ambassador reservation requests will take priority when rooms become available and the hotel will contact you the moment we can complete the booking. (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/amb/benefits/lm/simplify)

RA: Guaranteed room availability for one room occupied by the Royal Ambassador with 24-hour advance reservation. Reservations must be made before 12:00 midday (local hotel time) 24 hours prior to intended arrival for room availability to be guaranteed. Only in exceptional circumstances where the hotel has been completely reserved by the Government and with explicit Priority Club Rewards approval, may a reservation be declined. (http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/tc/member-terms#ambassador)

So, PC Plat gets a "guaranteed" room IF the hotel feels like it, Amb gets no guarantee and RA gets a pretty much iron clad guarantee.... I was not aware of that....

PC Plat: When contacting the Priority Club Service Center directly and guaranteeing the reservation with a valid credit card, each Platinum level member will be guaranteed one room for personal use, for reservations made at least 72 hours prior to the date of arrival, except during special events that result in extraordinary room demand, as determined solely by the hotel. (http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/tc/member-terms#ambassador)

So, PC Plat gets a "guaranteed" room IF the hotel feels like it, Amb gets no guarantee and RA gets a pretty much iron clad guarantee.... I was not aware of that....

Yes indeed, and also what are your rights if a hotel walks you. Marriott comps all Gold and Plat $100 and the night comp for a FS hotel, and for limited services it's $50 and the night comp.

However so far I have never been walked by any hotel (even though I wouldn't mind being walked at a Marriott hotel :D).

I couldn't get that link to work, [...]

Mistake in my original post, should read www.priorItyclub.com/terms

Mistake in my original post, should read www.priorItyclub.com/terms

Ahh... Didn't notice the typo. Just thought the page was down or something....