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Old Jun 18, 2016, 4:39 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: HadesNL
Update 2023:
- it seems no new RA have been invited by IHG
- criteria for RA requalification are still unknown
- geographical location of member / country account registration seems of some impact due of covid19(restrictions/availability)
- RA is processed in weekly batches starting december 2022
- proof by nicolas75 shows RA qualification for 2024 seems to be strictly based on IC hotels only (not Regent, Kimpton, SixSenses anymore)

As per Tim O'Brien's post about IHG-corporate explaining RA criteria:

As you are aware,
Royal Ambassador is our invitation only tier with the number of members invited each year
limited to ensure our hotels are able to consistently deliver on the benefits promise,
elevating your stay experience at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.

Although we do not currently have a published criteria for Royal Ambassador,
consideration is determined by variable activities within a members account such as
- qualified paid room nights & spend across our luxury brands (, 2023 EDIT: Post-Pandemic from 2024 InterContinental only : Pre-Pandemic also Kimpton & Regent ) ,
- member region,
- primary hotels,
- category (of the hotel class / €$¥£ price levels compared to currency rates / competition / city / region / country / continent )
- tenure (repeat custom / average spend at hotel)
Accompanying or adjoining reservations,
such as the additional rooms of your family etc are not included for Royal Ambassador consideration
but are included in determining Spire Elite status within IHG Rewards Club
.


* FT:IHG forum community group consensus / empirical evidence shows
- that members must have stayed at different unique hotels per city / country / region / continent
the amount of uniques needed for RA qualification is unknown but generally extended long stays at just 1 hotel do not qualify
- IHG-corporate showing keen interest in how much guests are spending €$¥£ at hotel's own operated F&B / Spa / transport / extra services / other venues
atacama40 has given us insights that extra spend at the hotel charged to the hotelfolio generates EQP but also flags the database as high valued spending guest
- one must have AMB to get considered for RA invitation by IHG as they seem to evaluate over a longer period the length of one's tenure / devotion / spend / undisclosed criteria at stayed IC-hotels

2024
Royal Ambassador 2024 (Re)Qualification - statistics

Thank you everyone who graciously shared their status and statistics. I took the liberty to compose an overview.
The common factor that is instantly recognisable is:
  • everyone has a valid AMB membership
  • everyone has spent a good amount in €$£
Shoven
IC: 69 N - 4 unique IC - $17400 - 2 unique country

AndyMick
IC: 96 N - 10 unique IC - 7 unique country - 164778 EQP

Ithink
IC: 78 N - 10 unique IC - £27000

Richelieu
~

ProjectSunburst
15 unique IC (USA) - $35000
Kimpton spend: $11000

Milleage Millionaire
IC: 100 N : 58 revenue & 42 award - 166514 EQP

Raynyan
~

Nicolas75
~

ILS2
$20000

HadesNL
IC: 41 N - 8 unique IC (2x USA, 1x UK, 3x EU, 1x Indonesia) 250458 EQP

Marlin1978
IC: 40 N - 9 unique IC (USA + EU) - $13000

HClee01
IC: 30 N - 6 unique IC - $8700
2x Kimpton / 1x Regent : 22 N - $7400

VAbeachgirl
IC: 88 N - 14 unique IC - 8 countries
2x Kimpton : 7 N
total $20000 (IC + Kimpton)

PremexecSNA
IHG : 85 N - 147000 EQP of which
90% revenue stay
85 % IC + Kimpton
10 unique IC
15 unique Kimpton

Darby1970
IC 100 N : 59 revenue of which
37 N : 11 unique IC (USA)& 4 (non-USA)
187682 EQP

Atacama40
IC + Kimpton : 40 N : UK, ME, Asia
Roomrate > £1000

EmeraldLady
11 unique IC : 4 continents
IHG: 87 N
$20000

Dmac1418
IC: 3 N - 2 unjque (IC Houston MC & IC San Diego)
6S Fiji $22000 (room: $10000 + spend $12000)

Smythmeister
~

Additional statistics can be found in the comments of LL
https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/12/03/...4-share-yours/
The only other place on the whole interweb that has an interest in Royal Ambassador.
============================

2023
Below our FT-members from the IHG forum with RA status
some of whom have graciously shared their statistics to shed some light
-----------------------
Mileage millionaire: 155359 EQP - IC nights 58 - total nights 108 - unique IC 15
Shoven : $16000 - IC nights 49 - Kimpton nights 8 - total nights 57 - unique IC 5 - unique Kimpton 2 - [unique countries UK/Thailand]
Stimpy: overall stats higher than Shoven
Nicholas75 : 230236 EQP - 93 EQN
Raynyan : 190000 EQP - IC/Kimpton nights 90 - unique IC/Kimpton 10
Vsevolod4 : $24000 - IC nights 67 - total nights 87
Vabeachgirl : $17500 - IC nights 75 - Kimpton nights 4 - total nights 79 - unique properties 13 [unique countries 7]
Hclee01: >$12600 - >156K EQP - 54 EQN - unique IC 3 - unique Kimpton 1 - unique Regent 2 [unique countries Singapore/Thailand/Taiwan/Japan]
Chinatrvl :
Ithink : 220.000 EQP - 47 EQN
Ninjalad : 150000 EQP - IC nights 34
Andymick : 145000 EQP - IC nights 100
Gentleman adventurer :
Marlin1978 :
Pseudo nim :
Hadesnl : 250000 EQP - Kimpton/IC nights 30 - 44 EQN - unique IC 3 - unique Kimpton 2 [unique countries UK/NL/FRA/Indonesia]
Itadakimasu : 120000 EQP - IC nights 12 - 51 EQN
Atacama40 : >£25000 - IC nights 60 - unique IC 8 - unique Kimpton 1
Eein : corporate rates global & local
Raynyan's friends : RA extension because their account is Japanese registered
Tim O'Brien: after own friendly persuasion effort : $8,500 - IC nights 79 of which 49 at pres.suite - unique IC 4 [unique countries US/AUS/CAN]


----------------
The only other place on the internet that has an interest in RA (re)qualification statistics is at the comments at Loyaltylobby,
more 2023 RA datapoints can be found there:
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/12/09/...re-your-stats/
https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/01/18/...re-your-stats/



==============================================

Update 2020 / 2021:
RA status was extended due to the global pandemic of covid19


================================================== =======

Update 2019: The RA status granted at the start of the calendar year 2017 and 2018 has been based on IC revenue. As from 2019 criteria again have become vague. RA is not achieved through IC spend only. Other, unknown elements are taken into account as well. (Fact: Some users with very high +25k IC spend were not renewed in 2019.)

Update December 2018: it looks like some accounts are proactively being renewed in December 2018, well ahead of the stated expiration of Jan 31, 2019. It is currently unknown what criteria were used, but previous years appeared to indicate around $10K++ in IC spend only.

As before, please Divide EQPs by 10 to get $$$ Spend
================================================== =====
December 2019 / January 2020 Link to RA Renewals & Upgrades
================================================== =====
================================================== =====

JANUARY 2019 RA RENEWAL STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG total (paid)/IC/EQP, break out IC spend if you can
Pseudo Nim 73 IC nights, $14.6K IC spend ($17.7K total),
Shoven 70 (50) IC nights, $17.3K IC spend ($17.3K total),
Unterwegs 52 IC nights, approx $12K net IC spend. No other brands this year! No more mediocre HIs to make status.
Kaix 63 IC nights, $14.4K IC spend ($15.1K total)
Tim O'Brien 26 IC Paid Nights as at Dec 27, when notified of RA renewal, 140,171 EQP, IC Net Spend 14, 017.
Vsevolod4 IHG total 132, IHG total paid 101, IC nights 85, IC Qualified Spend $16.5K, total EQP 398,800, Kimpton nights: 3, RA Ambassador Kit renewed Dec 27, RA renewal (again) and Kimpton Inner Circle upgrade Jan 4.
kaka(mom) 34 nights 1 country (all IC), IC spend:23k USD
Lewis42 / 81 Total (unknown IC) / $16k IC / $2k Kimpton / 4 Continents
81 nights total
$18k Kimpton / IC (about $2k kimpton)
stays in 4 continents

been Ra for ~3-4 years

ID;Name;Confirm;Kit msg; Revenue ;Nights;Challenge?;Additional Info

40;stimpy;+;none; $9,000.00 ;50;?;RA since 2001 - exceptional renewal
38;turner32;-;none; $9,000.00 ;?;?;8/9 years as RA
49;hannes08;+;01/16/2019; $9,990.00 ;52;2000;renewal probably because of challenge
17;Lewis42;+;12/27/2018; $10,000.00 ;?;2000;renewal probably because of challenge
27;scienm;+;none; $10,032.00 ;32;?;8 years RA
25;hclee01;+;none; $10,142.16 ;37;?;current RA since 2014 - manual renewal
18;annihilation;-;none; $10,605.00 ;39;?;
51;crosskonaftw;?;none; $10,700.00 ;35;?;not yet RA
30;Land-of-Miles;+;none; $10,999.00 ;19;?;
16;Kimsbrand;-;none; $11,297.88 ;5;?;not RA yet. 13,532.92 USD total?
48;Urby38;+;12/27/2018; $11,300.00 ;47;?;Royal since 2012
42;SAWorldVoyager;?;12/21/2018; $11,391.52 ;?;?;
14;Cielito_;+;none; $11,511.00 ;62;no;77/62/8 with 12042 USD after batch
45;whimike;+;none; $11,700.00 ;?;?;RA for about 7 years
10;Unterwegs;+;12/27/2018; $12,000.00 ;52;yes;
44;serendipity1211;+;01/16/2019; $12,300.00 ;45;no;first-time RA
28;cazane;+;12/27/2018; $12,600.00 ;61;no;4 prepaid nights not posted until 27th 11890 -> 12600
11;VaBeachGirl;+;12/27/2018; $12,750.00 ;68;no;
50;lukah;?;none; $12,800.00 ;80;?;3 years RA
15;336;-;none; $12,900.00 ;16;2000;NOT completed challenge / Lots of adjusted stays
1;DonPedro;+;12/21/2018; $12,971.00 ;49;no;
47;SD2019;+;none; $13,000.00 ;35;no;stays erroneously adjusted or marked as overlapping
36;BRUSS;+;01/16/2019; $13,001.00 ;?;?;
13;Tim O'Brien;+;12/27/2018; $14,017.00 ;26;?; Kimpton;
33;marlin1978;?;12/27/2018; $14,182.00 ;46;no;
26;Kaix;?;12/27/2018; $14,400.00 ;63;?;
9;Pseudo Nim;+;12/27/2018; $14,600.00 ;73;?;
41;PMMMDL;?;?; $15,000.00 ;50;?;
23;nicolas75;?;12/27/2018; $15,000.00 ;81;?;
5;sharps1337;+;12/21/2018; $15,200.00 ;79;no;
3;Raynyan (friend2);?;12/21/2018; $15,500.00 ;69;no;
22;pantanal;+;12/27/2018; $16,000.00 ;?;?;
24;vsevolod4;+;12/27/2018; $16,319.00 ;84;no;
34;boekel;?;12/27/2018; $16,950.00 ;60;no;
21;ILS2;+;none; $17,000.00 ;40;?;
8;skaya (2x);+;12/27/2018; $17,000.00 ;?;?;
7;shoven;+;12/27/2018; $17,304.00 ;50;?;
51;EmeraldLady;+;12/27/2018; $18,000.00 ;47;?;
32;Mr. Chan;?;12/21/2018; $19,582.00 ;45;yes;completed challenge
46;kaka;+;12/21/2018; $20,001.00 ;34;no;
31;christenlabelle;?;none; $22,000.00 ;51;1k + Kimpton;
39;marcel.baden;?;12/27/2018; $22,000.00 ;77;?;
35;Flying Lawyer;?;12/27/2018; $22,135.00 ;70;?;
37;Roey007;?;none; $25,000.00 ;42;?;9 years RA - 9k adjustment: no kit message with 11k before
12;IThink;+;12/27/2018; $25,000.00 ;85;no;
19;HadesNL;+;12/27/2018; $28,273.90 ;52;?;
4;Raynyan (friend3);?;12/21/2018; $30,000.00 ;73;no;
29;btravers33;?;12/27/2018; $30,000.00 ;98;?;
2;Raynyan (friend1);?;12/21/2018; $32,000.00 ;75;no;
20;Raynyan;+;12/27/2018; ? ;70;?;~30 nights not counted somehow
6;samjnz;?;12/21/2018; ? ;?;2000;


04 JAN 2018 RA RENEWAL STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG total (paid)/IC/EQP, break out IC spend if you can
Pseudo Nim 139 (116)/85/192K, of which $18K in IC
Boekel 85 (70)55/170K, of which $15K in IC
Tim O'Brien 29 IC Nights 2 Non IC IHG nights, 341,976 EQP
scubaccr 55 paid IC Nights , us$13,000++ / 4paid non-IC nights us$900++ (plus 8x IC reward nights, 20x non-IC reward nights) <== Sorry.. forgot to cop exact EQP values before 1/1/2018 acct zeroing
Cielito_ 81/77/5 - $7,353 F&B + $11,656 Room = $19,009 IC net spend - EQP 468,000 (First Time RA)
hclee01 50 IC us$13k++
Land-of-Miles ?? IC us$10.5k++
cazane 60 IC us$11.8k++
VaBeachGirl 54 IC us$13k++
PiffPaffPuff 60IC us$25k++
??????? 35 IC us$10.2k++ <== first time RA ref PiffPaffPuff colleague
Spitcool 40 IC us$15k++
Eltham 40 IC us$12k++
shoven 43 IC us$15k++ <== first time RA
skaya (partner) ?? IC us$10.2k++ <== renewed
darby1970 62 IC us$13k++
The Mileage Millionaire 102 paid IHG nights / 100 paid IC nights / 229k EQP / $22.7k++ IC spend
Orion_1 8 nights at IC, spent at 2 properties - USD 10,200 in total at ICs (honeymoon...)
HadesNL Elite qualifying points: 239,095, Qualifying nights: 39
Aussielori 50 IC us$8k++ 9.2k overall renewed on 16 jan

04 JAN 2018 RA LOSS STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====

tarek.h ?? IC us$9.1k++

sharps1337 IC us$9.9k++ (and 129 non-IC us$17k++ )

04 JAN 2017 RA RENEWAL STATS (Please include 2016 y/end EQP count)
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG/IC/IC's EQP $$$$s
SCUBACCR 80/56/13 EQP=14,979 (Split $12864 + $2115)
HANNES08 76/46/10 EQP=11,200
OZ_CATALYST 75/63/8 EQP=14,700 (first Time RA) ($12414 at ICs)
TAREK.H 46/37/4 EQP=14.500 ($10,917 IC Spend)
TravelTheWorld66 147/33/11 EQP=27.972 ($8500 IC Spend)
HCLEE01 67/50/6 EQP=14880
ATACAMA40 82/56/10 EQP=??,???
VaBeachGirl 84/42/12 EQP=15,000
Land-of-Miles 87/73/10 EQP=40,000
SSH4POOH 132/99/28 EQP=50,000
???????? 75/35/8 EQP=??,??? (First Time RA, ref SSH4POOH)
iThink 82/36/11 EQP = 18,200
aussielori 75/45/5 EQP =15,100
1010101 50/48/4 = 12,500
MYSTERY7 63/45/? EQP=25,000 (First Time RA)
EmeraldLady 68/42/10 EQP=15,500
NKU 86/80/5 EQP=20,000
Petrus 110/40/3 EQP=20,000 ($8500 IC Spend)
JOHHENRIK 74/65/10 EQP=16,800
SyLance 76/76/4 EQP=17,500 (RA again after 3years missed)
Pseudo Nim 90/58/15 IC spend $9,500, $17K across chain (175K EQP)
Tim O'Brien 58 nights, EQP 474,576 , July 31, 2017 Year End, renewed to Dec 29, 2017
HadesNL 22/20/7 and us$20,000 ref two posts.
PROTEOME 53/36/? $25,000 (Plus further 30x IC Non-qual nights and 18 IC Award nights) <== nb Maybe/Maybe-Not the IC Non-qual $$'s count as about half EQPs spend, probably > 10k IC qual spend
Chinatrvl 88 nights (in all brands, but c. 75 in ICs), 300,000 EQP, ADR c. 115 USD as I stayed mostly on a locally negotiated rate (spend c. 10k USD)
Unterwegs 78(my count 86)/63/10/285.000 (according to email, I would have expected less. my spending estimate is 15-20K$)
Lewis42 77/39/10 EQP=16010
Whimike 88/35/12 EQP=14220

04 JAN 2017 RA Demotion to xxx Ambassador stats (if > 75/30/3)
==================================================
NAME IHG/IC/IC's EQP $$$$s

[Archived - no longer valid] New (Royal) Ambassador Criteria

A document was unintentionally available in the internet about changes to the (Royal) Ambassador Qualifying and Re-Qualifying criteria.
The document is available on

http://viewfromthewing.img.boardinga...Ambassador.pdf

Older discussion
There was an ongoing discussion about the criteria for some time. This thread is now closed.

update from Executive Liaison Sept, 2023,
spend at other IHG luxury brands does count for RA, and Renewal.
Brands weren't stated, but reasonable to assume Six Senses, Regent, and Kimpton.

















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New RA qualifying criteria based on IC Revenue

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Old Dec 5, 2018, 2:28 am
  #2686  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Originally Posted by stimpy
Or presence. A category that FS and Ritz are way behind on.
MO and Shangri La hotels are better than all but the best ICs imho, BA-Gold gets me upgrades too
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Old Dec 5, 2018, 4:43 am
  #2687  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,373
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
isn't like marriage, familiarity breeds contempt
Quality! :-) .... yes the more we get ruined, the more we have a tenancy to moan at it! I still feel that IC earns that recently awarded title. I still just don't have that much to moan at ... it keeps being good, a few minors aside. And the minors as so minor (in the main) that who cares?

When I first joined FT a few years back it was ironically to ask questions about specific IC's and RA benefits ... something I'd had and a place I'd stayed for years but didn't really understand much about. Once you 'know' how the machine works, you can mine so much more out of it ... in a decent way where everyone wins. Just holding a card or status will get you a bowl of fruit and a slightly better view. Have to say the advice gotten from old hand FT'ers has without doubt improved the quality of my experience ... significantly, and I was already treated well.

Better get great treatment in a tier 2 than be 'an attender' at a tier 1? Not that I consider it a tier 2 that said. Is like Grand Dame hotels ... they may have pedigree but how often did you come away feeling special. For me I still get that special factor and indeed treatment. Until that day ....
Tim O'Brien and shoven like this.
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Old Dec 5, 2018, 4:52 am
  #2688  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,373
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
I think we sometimes don't see and appreciate the good for the occasional inconvenience.

I've just finished a trip to Asia with a friend who doesn't do much travelling. The trip included stays at three Intercontinentals. Separate rooms, but he got most of the bennies - even down to an in-room breakfast served at 4am before an early flight. He was very much impressed by the upgrades, the lounges, checking in with no fuss at 7am, and the levels of service we received.

Me? I was ready to complain at happy hours starting at 17:00
Second that ... I take junior members of our tribe to various IC's a few times a year ... when they've achieved something in life, and they all echo that sentiment. And the weird thing? They all now stay at IC's or CP's as and when they can afford to.

And as I've discussed with senior IHG folks a good few times, this is (maybe) were the RA positioning comes in. As a marketing tool. So aside from my 90 odd nights a year, they collectively maybe match that. Good numbers! And why, because I stay and they hear the experiences. The same experiences you guys have as a rule.

I guess your friend would likely book an IC next time he travels?
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Old Dec 5, 2018, 9:47 pm
  #2689  
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
Originally Posted by Atacama40
Quality! :-) .... yes the more we get ruined, the more we have a tenancy to moan at it! I still feel that IC earns that recently awarded title. I still just don't have that much to moan at ... it keeps being good, a few minors aside. And the minors as so minor (in the main) that who cares?

When I first joined FT a few years back it was ironically to ask questions about specific IC's and RA benefits ... something I'd had and a place I'd stayed for years but didn't really understand much about. Once you 'know' how the machine works, you can mine so much more out of it ... in a decent way where everyone wins. Just holding a card or status will get you a bowl of fruit and a slightly better view. Have to say the advice gotten from old hand FT'ers has without doubt improved the quality of my experience ... significantly, and I was already treated well.

Better get great treatment in a tier 2 than be 'an attender' at a tier 1? Not that I consider it a tier 2 that said. Is like Grand Dame hotels ... they may have pedigree but how often did you come away feeling special. For me I still get that special factor and indeed treatment. Until that day ....
i think the value proposition is great, particularly, like you mentioned, if you rely on good advice, and work it out.
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Old Dec 6, 2018, 12:21 pm
  #2690  
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
i think the value proposition is great, particularly, like you mentioned, if you rely on good advice, and work it out.
it really depends on how you look at it.

if the value proposition was constant and you had a clear target maybe. My IC stays are all personal and paid individually. My choice to stay with IC and RA has almost certainly cost me LT MR PP so it’s not been free of consequence so you have to assess value against more than 1 dimension.

I am incredibly happy with the RA value proposition generally but that is why I stay at IC’s. Without RA MO, FS, RC, Waldorf Astoria, Langham or broader Marriott or Hilton options would win out every time.

i really don’t understand why anyone who isn’t RA would have any loyalty to IC unless they have a convenient location for one or two properties. That is a problem for the programme not a strength. If I ever lose RA (which from recent commentary is likely), then the logical consequence is that I never stay at an IC again as there is no compelling reason for me to do so, rather than I spend a year with no RA benefits hoping for the best in the annual RA qualification lottery.

How anyone in marketing can deem this a good idea is a total mystery to me.
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Old Dec 6, 2018, 11:33 pm
  #2691  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: QF Plat, IHG RA, Marriott Plat
Posts: 256
Hi all. Another question from me as we're now at the end of the RA-qualifying period.

As a few posters have noted, the calculations in Account Activity are often messy where currency is not USD. Nevertheless, by IHG's own calculations I'm at 145k+ EQPs at ICs this year.

Does anyone have tips on what details to have ready, what info to screenshot from the IHG account pages, or what type of personal records to keep in order to escalate, assuming the target for 2019 remains the same and that status is not awarded? Has anyone had to appeal in the last couple of years - and if so, what helped?

Thanks in advance!
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Old Dec 7, 2018, 12:33 am
  #2692  
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Not to seem like a constant poop-it-all, RA absolutely has its intangible benefits - which is why I choose to try to maintain it. I just stayed at a hotel with a friend where they didn’t have twin bed upgraded rooms. So they gave us a free room and connected the two to make it a sort of mini apartment. It was a nice touch, and they didn’t even charge for the second room - which was amazing.

Until the next day, anyway. I left early and when my friend went to check out they forgot all about the free room and tried to make him pay

Anyway, it worked out in the end, so i still consider it a great experience.
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Old Dec 7, 2018, 7:22 am
  #2693  
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Originally Posted by DonPedro
Hi all. Another question from me as we're now at the end of the RA-qualifying period.

As a few posters have noted, the calculations in Account Activity are often messy where currency is not USD. Nevertheless, by IHG's own calculations I'm at 145k+ EQPs at ICs this year.

Does anyone have tips on what details to have ready, what info to screenshot from the IHG account pages, or what type of personal records to keep in order to escalate, assuming the target for 2019 remains the same and that status is not awarded? Has anyone had to appeal in the last couple of years - and if so, what helped?

Thanks in advance!
sounds like you'll be fine with 14.5K EQP's at IC, as long as that converts to 14.5K net spend, not including any EQP's from IHG CC spend^

if you're really concerned, take screen shots of stay point summaries, where they appear erroneous.
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Old Dec 7, 2018, 6:39 pm
  #2694  
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Posts: 3,523
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
as far as i know, a Kimpton stay isn't mandatory, it's just part of a challenge targeted late in the year at some that may be short of making it?
the curious thing is i have exactly 1 stay at Kimpton SEA and the rest is (award) 1n indigo and 10n cp and all paid private leisure nights at IC in europe, america and asia. That's why it seemed to me that IC's RA requalification prefers to testdrive to crosscombine or link RA behaviour with InnerCircle temptations.

in our case, the other half prefers business stays at Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Four Seasons, inclined to move leisure travel there, the consensus is that the price of topsuites at those chains are astronomical or are not on our travel schedule while at IC the cost is more tolerable but appeals tenfold due to RA recognation.

our usual hotels are IC AMS, Parklane, O2, ParisLeGrand, LIS, DUS, FRA, VIE, ATH, TLV, MIA, Barclay, GrandParnas, BKK, SIN, BALI

the Willard Washington was the only bad apple


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Old Dec 7, 2018, 8:32 pm
  #2695  
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Posts: 2,690
Originally Posted by HadesNL


the curious thing is i have exactly 1 stay at Kimpton SEA and the rest is (award) 1n indigo and 10n cp and all paid private leisure nights at IC in europe, america and asia. That's why it seemed to me that IC's RA requalification prefers to testdrive to crosscombine or link RA behaviour with InnerCircle temptations.

in our case, the other half prefers business stays at Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Four Seasons, inclined to move leisure travel there, the consensus is that the price of topsuites at those chains are astronomical or are not on our travel schedule while at IC the cost is more tolerable but appeals tenfold due to RA recognation.

our usual hotels are IC AMS, Parklane, O2, ParisLeGrand, LIS, DUS, FRA, VIE, ATH, TLV, MIA, Barclay, GrandParnas, BKK, SIN, BALI

the Willard Washington was the only bad apple


curious re the Willard, we've stayed there on average 2-3 times annually for the past 10 years, and really enjoy it, i book an Oval suite for upgrade to their Thomas Jefferson Presidential suite, which is abt 3K sqft, and very nice, the downside is no club lounge. breakfast for five pax can be c. $250. i've traditionally booked via Amex FHR, that includes breakfast, but last time i looked they aren't with FHR currently, but thankfully with Chase LHRC.

Last edited by Tim O'Brien; Dec 7, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2018, 3:28 am
  #2696  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Programs: IHG
Posts: 1,316
Currently sat just shy of the ostensible re-qualifying figure of $10k. Not sure if I can be bothered to hit this target or to just let it go.
Considering other recent devaluations, and the pending EUR 50 per day minibar allowance, I think I might look elsewhere.
scienm likes this.
turner32 is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2018, 3:33 am
  #2697  
Marriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
See, and this is my complaint to the IHG apologists in this thread: I get that we collectively may or may not care if the minibar benefit gets chopped, can we at least find out with more than, oh I don’t know, two weeks notice?!?

Hell, for all I know, I’ll have a stay on Jan 6, and they’ll change the rules on Jan 6 and I’ll get charged for it on checkout because you know, IHG
HadesNL likes this.
Pseudo Nim is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2018, 3:53 am
  #2698  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: Infinity Milage Lands Gold,Star Alliance Gold, IHG Diamond RA, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 372
Not to add fuel to the fire but the Club lounge manager I was speaking to recently was informed that the changes to RA benefits such as the mini bar would not be implemented until Feb/Mar time next year so who knows what will happen

One thing you have to admit is that IHG certainly know how to get people talking about RA be it good or bad we spend a fair amount of time talking about the program and I'm sure we don't just comment about it on here.....
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shoven is offline  
Old Dec 12, 2018, 7:23 am
  #2699  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
just in case anyone missed it..............

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inte...ch-2019-a.html


Ambassador programme will change on 1st February 2019. This will start with Royal Ambassador's benefits. Then, all other Ambassador will have new benefits from 1st March 2019.

For Royal Ambassadors, the new benefits starts from 1st FEB 2019 will be:
  1. EARLY CHECK-IN from 10AM (instead of 8AM)
  2. ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY
  3. UP TO TWO COMPLIMENTARY FULL BREAKFASTS PER DAY IF THERE IS NO CLUB LOUNGE
  4. UPTO 50USD/200RMB/400HKD MINIBAR CREDIT PER DAY (200USD/800RMB/1600HKD PER STAY MAX)
  5. WAIVED DESTINATION/AMENITY FEES
  6. COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
  7. AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE (See below)

For all other Ambassadors, the new benefit starts on 1st MARCH 2019:
  1. GUARANTEED PLATINUM ELITE STATUS IN IHG REWARDS CLUB
  2. ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY
  3. COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
  4. WELCOME FRUIT PLATTER (instead of welcome fruits and gifts)
  5. AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE

AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GURANTEE work as bellow:
  1. Guaranteed Room Upgrade: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit up to USD50, or 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points per stay, applies to InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador only;
  2. 16:00 (4p.m.) Late Check-out: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit up to USD50, or 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points per stay, applies to InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador only;
  3. New Club InterContinental Lounge Access or alternative Club experience: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit of USD100 per night, not exceeding the Club InterContinental upgrade supplement value, applies to Royal Ambassador only.
Added by Moderator

Please follow the discussion in the dedicated thread and not in this thread.

Last edited by FLYGVA; Dec 13, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Dec 13, 2018, 12:59 pm
  #2700  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: BAEC, Flying Club, HHonors, Gold Passport, IHG Rewards, Le Club Accor, Club Carlson
Posts: 323
Is anyone clear on whether the $10k figure has to be spent at IHG properties or just IC's? I ask as I have about $9k of IC spend this year and $2.5k of IHG and I want to figure out if I will qualify currently or if I should move an upcoming stay to an IC.

Thanks in advance for any help.
TheWiseOne is offline  


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