To clarify, I was a "Charter" member of the Ambassador. It was unclear how I renewed or whether this was lifetime. My Ambassador told me that I would stay Ambassador through the remainder of 2018 -- she didn't say anything about renewing yet.

I don't how the qualified spend is determined either. I'm assuming its paid room rates plus F&B/spa but that's just my assumption. It's a little crazy they don't have a definition of qualified spend up but I assume its because they think everyone knows it will mean what it has always meant. Otherwise, they would have said $20,000 in room rates. They don't get that we pay attention to it and when i occasionally glance at the Insiders site, I don't see the type of analysis here. I'm already over 125 nights (albeit with rollover but no credit card yet).

But ...while I like the metal card, still not getting the value proposition between saving a few minutes here/there and have not seen anything reported here or elsewhere suggesting any substantive value. And I don't know that I've seen any meaningful discussion of the Ambassador program on the Insiders site at all.

That doesn't mean that I haven't had some really exceptional experiences (and some not so exceptional experiences) but I believe they are more driven by engaged GM's at particular hotels. When I get a random note and unsolicited room service, I believe its coming from the GM and not my ambassador.