InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Will I be penalized for early check-out, even if I tell them in advance?

I booked a stay at IC Berlin on the IC website, for 4 nights. Now, two weeks in advance of the trip I find I'll be leaving a day early, and was surprised to find neither the web site nor 800# would let me drop a day from my reservation without re-booking the whole thing at a much steeper rate. Apparently the hotel is full due to a conference. The phone agent's advice was to notify the front desk at check-in, since she thinks they will let me off the hook for the final day once they understand the circumstances. Do any of you have advice or a similar experience to relate? FWIW I am an Ambassador/Platinum.

As long is it's
1. ) not a pre-paid advance purchase rate or
2.) a rate that explicity mentions 'early check-out fee of £ XX ' in the booking confirmation
you will be fine.

I booked a stay at IC Berlin on the IC website, for 4 nights. Now, two weeks in advance of the trip I find I'll be leaving a day early, and was surprised to find neither the web site nor 800# would let me drop a day from my reservation without re-booking the whole thing at a much steeper rate. Apparently the hotel is full due to a conference. The phone agent's advice was to notify the front desk at check-in, since she thinks they will let me off the hook for the final day once they understand the circumstances. Do any of you have advice or a similar experience to relate? FWIW I am an Ambassador/Platinum.

Why not e-mail the hotel direct now? They can resell it and you've given them max notice.

Agree with the above. E-mail or call the in-house reservations department and have them delete the night without rebooking.

I emailed the hotel and they indeed have dropped the extra night. Thanks for the suggestions.