HadesNL

Other things for RA as important and distinction versus Hyatt/Marriott/Hilton/Accor

- early check in at 10.00 (handy when arriving in Europe / Asia)
- hospitality room for RA if room is not ready (worth its weight in gold if i want straighten my toupet/wig after longhaul travel)
- late check out at 16.00 (handy departing US / Asia)
- room upgrade cat+2 (me like this)
- suite upgrade cat+1 (me like this even more)
(hotels may upgrade further up) (swoon)
- lounge access (always available for use)
- if hotel has no lounge than complimentary breakfast (never a fuss)
- if lounge is available but closed than max $100 per day credit at F&B (never encountered such situation yet though but good to know)


but the full list:https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...rms-conditions


Royal Ambassador Benefits

1. Royal Ambassador member benefits include:
   1. Guaranteed two category room upgrade at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, based on room type purchased, will be assigned. If Royal Ambassador members were to redeem the Confirmable Suite Upgrade Milestone Reward for their stay, they would not be entitled to an additional room upgrade at check-in because of their Ambassador membership. Click here for more information.
   2. Complimentary Club InterContinental lounge access.
      1. Applicable only where the hotel has a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge.
      2. Valid for two people including the member, staying in the member's room only.
      3. Where the hotel does not operate a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge,
      4. Royal Ambassador members will be given two complimentary full breakfasts for each night of the stay in the main restaurant for the member and one registered guest staying in the member’s room.
         Note: if the Royal Ambassador member chooses the Welcome Amenity Free breakfast for two, they will only receive up to two breakfasts, which will be for the member plus one additional guest staying in the member’s room.
      5. The Club InterContinental lounge access Benefits Guarantee is not applicable at hotels that do not operate a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge. More information on the Benefits Guarantee can be found here.
   3. Free Night at an IHG® Hotel.
      1. The Royal Ambassador member will receive one Reward Night credited directly to the member’s account, within 8 weeks of obtaining Royal Ambassador status. The Reward Night credit is redeemable as a ‘Royal Ambassador Night’ when logged into the member's account, applies to the room rate only, and is subject to Reward Night availability at an IHG® hotel where the point amount required for a single redemption night is 70,000 IHG® One Rewards points or less. The Royal Ambassador Night is valid for one calendar year from 1st January to 31st December. Blackout dates apply, and the Royal Ambassador Night has no cash value and may not be transferred, bartered, or sold. The member must be a registered guest, check-in and stay for all Royal Ambassador Reward Night redemption stays.
      2. Valid at any IHG® hotel branded property excluding IHG® Army Hotels and Six Senses.
   4. Guaranteed early check-in of 10 a.m. on day of arrival.
   5. Guaranteed late check-out of 4 p.m. on day of departure.
   6. Complimentary Weekend Night on the second night of a paid stay. Click here for more information
   7. Minibar credit
      1. Minibar credit of USD50 per night, cumulative up to a maximum of USD200 per stay, in all countries unless otherwise stated below.
      2. Minibar credit can be used toward minibar food and beverage only.
      3. In Mainland China (excluding Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan): Maximum RMB200 credit for the minibar per night, cumulative up to a maximum of RMB800 per stay.
      4. Minibar consumption greater than the credit amount will be charged to the member's guest folio and settlement of additional charges is the responsibility of the member.
      5. The minibar credit is limited to the member’s guest room and is inclusive of any taxes, service charges or gratuities, up to and including the credit amount.
   8. In-room welcome amenity: choice of fruit or sweet or savory snack on day of arrival when selected in stay preferences prior to arrival. (Solely fruit provided at InterContinental Alliance Resorts).
   9. Complimentary mineral water daily.
   10. Complimentary highest Internet access will be provided in guest room only at select hotels where available for purchase.
   11. Waived Amenity or Destination fees, where they would otherwise be charged
       1. This excludes any Government, State, or City mandatory imposed fees/taxes, and Resort Fees.
   12. Single room rate for double occupancy.
   13. Guaranteed room availability for member’s room with 24-hour advance reservation.
       1. Valid only at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Must be booked via the Ambassador Service Center. Reservations must be made before 12:00 noon (local hotel time) 24 hours prior to intended arrival. The room upgrade benefit will be subject to availability. These bookings may not be accepted by the hotel in exceptional circumstances such as the hotel being reserved for Government use or in the case of world sporting events, as determined by IHG.
       2. The Ambassador Benefits Guarantee is not applicable for reservations made utilizing the 24 hours Guaranteed room availability benefit.

And

1. InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador guaranteed upgrade excludes Residences, Penthouses, Presidential and Specialty Suites and two bedroom or greater Suites/Villas.
   1. Royal Ambassadors purchasing a suite category will receive a one category suite upgrade.
   2. Further Suite exceptions at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in addition to clause 17 can be reviewed here.
   3. The upgrade exclusion is applied only towards the Ambassador Guaranteed benefit and does not limit IHG® One Rewards Elite benefits.
2. At the sole discretion of the hotel, the hotel may provide room upgrades greater than one category. No compensation shall be provided where the hotel upgrade is beyond the defined category upgrade or to a category of various room configurations.

22. In circumstances where the room upgrade is not available at 10 a.m., a Royal Ambassador member may be checked into another available room until an upgraded room becomes available. (Aka Hospitality Room provided if room is not ready)

1. All guaranteed benefits for InterContinental Ambassador including Royal Ambassador members and Club InterContinental access for Royal Ambassador members are subject to availability, and excluded from the Benefits Guarantee, over the following special events period:
   1. New Year’s Eve, December 31 – Location: Global
   2. Chinese New Year, beginning on the 1st day of the lunar year for a 10-day period – Location: Greater China
   3. Ramadan, beginning on the 1st day of Ramadan for a 30-day period – Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
   4. Hajj, from the 20th of Dhu al-Qidah to the 20th of Dhu al-Hijjah (total of 30 days) – Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
   5. Ambassador and Royal Ambassador guaranteed upgrade will not be applicable to Suites rooms at InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping until early 2025
2. InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador benefits do not apply at IHG Residence properties.

InterContinental Alliance Resorts

1. The following benefits exceptions are applicable when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts:
   1. Complimentary water will be provided on the day of arrival and will not be replenished daily.
   2. Royal Ambassador: Minibar credit will be capped at USD50 per day and USD100 per stay.
   3. InterContinental Ambassador one category andRoyal Ambassador two category room upgrades aresubject to availability.
2. The following benefits are not applicable when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts:
   1. Complimentary Weekend Night
   2. InterContinental Ambassador Restaurant and Bar credit up to USD20 for Ambassador Platinum members when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts, Macao
   3. Royal Ambassador Club InterContinental lounge access/alternate experience access
   4. Royal Ambassador breakfast for two when staying at The Venetian Resort and Palazzo at The Venetian, Las Vegas
3. The benefits Guarantee is not applicable at InterContinental Alliance Resorts

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Benefits – General

1. Any stay by the same member that begins within 24 hours of the last night of a prior stay at the same hotel, will be considered part of the same stay and will not qualify for any member benefits.
2. Benefits Guarantee: If an InterContinental Hotel or Resort is unable to fulfil the guaranteed benefits of a room category upgrade, 4pm late check-out, or Club InterContinental lounge access/alternate experience for Royal Ambassadors where provided, unless otherwise stated as an exception, the member will receive compensation for the undelivered benefit(s).
   1. This Benefits Guarantee is not applicable for reservations made via a third-party website or tour operator/wholesaler or as part of a group block/reservation, due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond the control of the hotel and the benefit exceptions as per clause 33.
   2. This Benefits Guarantee is not applicable during a force majeure event or similar circumstances beyond the control of the hotel, as described in the benefits exceptions as per clause 33
   3. This Benefits Guarantee cannot be requested and given in lieu of program benefits that are available.
   4. All Restaurant, Bar or Spa credits are only valid during the stay in which the standard, guaranteed benefit is not provided and cannot be carried over to a future stay or alternative hotel and cannot be transferred, bartered or sold. Any such credit has no cash redemption value, and the unused portion of such a credit cannot be exchanged for cash and is forfeited. Any such credit may be limited to select restaurants, bars or spa venues, at the sole discretion of the issuing hotel. Where provided, the credit amount will be deducted from the member's guest room folio on check-out and settlement of additional charges above the credit amount is the responsibility of the member. The credit is limited to the member’s guest room and is inclusive of any taxes, service charges or gratuities up to and including the credit amount.

Guaranteed Benefit
Compensation if Guaranteed Benefit not available

Room Upgrade

Either a Restaurant & Bar or Spa credit of USD50, or 10,000 IHG® One Rewards points (provided only once per stay). Not applicable on Reward Nights / Free Nights.



4pm late check-out

Either a Restaurant & Bar or Spa credit of USD50, or 10,000 IHG® One Rewards points (provided only once per stay).



Club InterContinental lounge access or alternate Club experience (Royal Ambassador only)

A Restaurant & Bar or Spa credit of up to USD100 per night, not to exceed the Club InterContinental upgrade supplement value.

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Royal Ambassador at Six Senses hotels & resorts participating in IHG-1rewards

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

1. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spa is progressively integrating into the IHG® One Rewards program and at that time the following benefits will apply for InterContinental Ambassador, Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members at participating Six Senses hotels:
   1. Complimentary Breakfast for two in the main restaurant per day. Benefit not applicable at Six Senses Residences.
   2. Signature Amenity of either a complimentary 50 minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or local experience once per stay. The Signature Amenity varies by resort, is subject to availability and confirmed on arrival. Not applicable with corporate or negotiated rates.
   3. Complimentary one category room upgrade (subject to availability, excluding residences and 2 bedroom or greater suites/villas)
   4. Extended check-out of 4pm subject to availability. Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members. Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.
   5. Early check-in subject to availability. Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members and in circumstances where the room is not available at 10 am, the member may be checked into another available room until the original booked room becomes available. (Aka Hospitality room if room is not ready ) Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.
   6. Complimentary Internet access. Internet accessibility, speed, and connectivity in common areas and guest rooms vary by resort
   7. Wellness Platter welcome amenity on day of arrival. Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.

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Contrary to what popular bloggers & influencers seem to repeat in their echochamber
that
Hyatt Courtesy card / Globalist
Marriott Cobalt / Ambassador
Hilton Preferential VIP / Diamond
are the only aspirational status to aim for,
i believe IHG's Royal Ambassador still has much merit of its own that can suit one's travel patterns and increase one's stay satisfaction substantially

The only thing that puts RA at a disadvantage is
- its elusive "per invitation only" criteria
- missing the highest rank of pecking order of lifetime status
to Marriott Bonvoy Titantium Lifetime
to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Lifetime
to Hilton Diamond Lifetime
to Hilton Gold Lifetime
to Hyatt Globalist Lifetime
(you could argue though that to much lifetime members might impact availability of benefits, certainty of delivery of upgrades, create swelling ranks of elites all vying for the same benefits and quality of lounges degrading due to larger quantity of users )