Programs: US Chairman's Preferred, IC Royal Ambassador
Posts: 214
Changes to RA program?
Hello, all!
I just got back from a 1-night stay at an IC in the USA. I was chatting with the Front Desk manager who said IC is making changes to the RA program to differentiate it even more from just Ambassador. He wouldn't/couldn't give details, but said his staff was briefed and trained on it this week. He said for example, that all Ambassadors and RA get the same movie, gift, late checkout, room upgrade. He sound apologetic as though IC felt it wasn't doing enough for the RA's.
Forgive me if this is covered...I couldn't find a reference.
We also talked about the RA upgrade policy being different at different IC properties (ie--not all grant club access) I got the feeling they were trying to also make the perks more uniform.
Does anyone have any more information?! Also, when? And, does it include any changes to the qualification for RA thresholds? Anyone with insight or inside connections, time to play super sleuth! Thanks!
Safe travels!
I read the OPs post different than you guys. I took it to say that the manager was saying that CURRENTLY Ambassadors and RAs get the same upgrades, movie, etc. That is why they are making changes to the RA program to differentiate it more. Hopefully, the OP can clarify, but if that is the case, and it is indeed true, that is a very good thing IMO.
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 22,216
Whatever changes come down the pike, RA is a great program now despite some variance in treatment by different properties (I won't stay at Mark Hopkins any longer for instance). 'Standardization' will be bad. They'll market the 'benefits' but on net it will not be an improvement.
My IC upgrades have on the whole been far better than anything I've gotten from SPG Plat (which itself offers better upgrades than Marriott, Hilton).
The minibar and early check-in are unique benefits.
They won't add without taking away. At least that's my prediction.
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I read the OPs post different than you guys. I took it to say that the manager was saying that CURRENTLY Ambassadors and RAs get the same upgrades, movie, etc. That is why they are making changes to the RA program to differentiate it more. Hopefully, the OP can clarify, but if that is the case, and it is indeed true, that is a very good thing IMO.
Agreed. I read that to mean the AMB and RA were too similar right now, such as upgrades, movie, etc. That means IC is talking about more or better perks for RA. I took it to mean improvements for RA and either the same or worse for AMB.
I can think of one way to improve RAs ahead of AMBs... Maybe things like guaranteed club access on any rate across all ICs... wouldn't that be amazing!
Location: AC Million Miler & long time SE; StarwoodPlat for 10+ yrs & lifetime Gold; Hilton Honours Diamond; IC Ambassador; AMEX Plat;Avis Presidents Club; Airmiles GOLD; and just about everything else!
Posts: 3,056
Lounge access for RAs and even Ambassadors should be a no brainer for IC. But I have been denied lounge access at some properties which really left a bad taste in my mouth esp after all the coddling I got on check in. Vienna stands out in my mind in particular!
You have to be kidding about the transport to and from the airport! In your wildest dreams!
Lets be reasonable. SPG certainly welcomes its top tier members to its lounges without question!
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AC-SE;AC Million Miler; SPG Plat + life Gold; Hilton Diamond; Priority Club Amb; AMEX Plat; Avis Pres Club; Sixt Plat.
So does Hilton. Its about time IC provides it to RA's
I rather have my:
- Guaranteed 8AM check in
- Guaranteed 4PM check out
- Guaranteed suite upgrades
- Complimentary minibar beverages
- Complimentary movie
- Continuous overlapping promos
Hilton doesn't offer any of these.
The IC RA program already has the best benefit package out there. The SPG PLT is the second best.
Programs: CX DM, PR MM, PC Royal Ambassador, HHonors Gold, LHW Leaders Club Access
Posts: 290
While I agree with you that RA has better benefits than HH Diamond, all I said was its about time they would consider giving lounge access to RA's as HH does to their top tier members.
What I like about HH is that they give you same benefits for paid or reward stays. I think with IC, RA benefits on reward stays are not guaranteed.
(This is from what I read in other posts, not from my own experience since I never stayed in an IC on award yet)
Quote:
Originally Posted by holtju2
I rather have my:
- Guaranteed suite upgrades
I don't think a suite upgrade is guaranteed. Per RA T&C its an executive room or suite.
'Standardization' will be bad. They'll market the 'benefits' but on net it will not be an improvement.
Totally agree! If you go to the right hotels (and read the threads here about individual properties), there's no need for standardization. I don't like the idea of guaranteed club access, since that'll likely come at the cost of suite upgrades. Take Bali as an example -- RA's don't get upgraded to club rooms, but many RA's report amazing experiences with suite upgrades. I know I recently got the Balinese suite, and that was when paying for a club room. I far prefer that to paying for a basic room and then receiving a basic club room.
Lounge access for RAs and even Ambassadors should be a no brainer for IC. Vienna stands out in my mind in particular!
It can be a shocker, especially at those hotels which ask you to go to the club lounge to check in!
But the arguments against free admission throughout the chain are convincing. Many lounges are intimate (read "small" ) for example the SIN lounge was rammed at drinks & snacks time - and RAs are certainly not thin on the ground at the trophy hotels. At the moment some hotels appear to manage it on the basis of giving access to repeat guests.
Perhaps send out a handfull of lounge entry vouchers with the annual renewal?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 100,000miler
You have to be kidding about the transport to and from the airport! In your wildest dreams!
Why stop at free transport to/from the airport ? round-trip air tickets (C-class at least) are the answer
and a good news for AMB.
If you go to the right hotels (and read the threads here about individual properties), there's no need for standardization. I don't like the idea of guaranteed club access, since that'll likely come at the cost of suite upgrades. Take Bali as an example -- RA's don't get upgraded to club rooms, but many RA's report amazing experiences with suite upgrades. I know I recently got the Balinese suite, and that was when paying for a club room. I far prefer that to paying for a basic room and then receiving a basic club room.
) for example the SIN lounge was rammed at drinks & snacks time - and RAs are certainly not thin on the ground at the trophy hotels. At the moment some hotels appear to manage it on the basis of giving access to repeat guests. 
