Originally Posted by scubaccr

You need to split Intercontinental out from the rest of the oifferings, as not participating in a true sense in [MENTION=215904]Rewards[/MENTION], IC brand is covered by Ambassador prgram, pay $200 and should be guaranteed 1cat upgrade , but foc lounge has never been an Ambassadr benefit

Free breakfast, lounge (outside breakfast of pre included hotels like HIE) has never been a benefit for any/top [MENTION=215904]Rewards[/MENTION] elites

Outside IC's, CP/HI/Indigo can and will upgrade Plats+Spires rooms. Some CP's even give lounge foc to Spire Elites, though this is not a benefit of [MENTION=215904]Rewards[/MENTION] program. I tend to get foc water/tea/coffee on arrival day every stay, sometimes water bottles replenished daily.
(Even with HH, water is only day-of-arrival , not daily.... annoyingly some (minority) HH hotels replace used foc water later daily and charge you at checkout and point at t+c, despite having the comp card with water on 2nd, 3rd etc nights)

The main reason detre for continuing to stay IHG [MENTION=215904]Rewards[/MENTION] is branded hotels, especialy if Spire 100% bonus (and if in USA CC earning points on stays) the high rate of earn and burn to get a free night compared to other large chains ( eg HH, MR etc)

ps
Newer hotel nmulti-story buildings upgrades often a non-benefit , std - superior - dlx are alas then simply identical rooms, same size/layout/contents just sited on higher floors.