Jun 18, 2016, 4:39 am
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:
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
- 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 €$£
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
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.
$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.
New RA qualifying criteria based on IC Revenue
Oct 3, 2019, 12:03 am
#3586
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: Lufthansa: Senator || IHG: Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle || Plutonium Status
Posts: 3,521
Just some experiences
After all the new rules and headaches i tend to ask at reception, is the RA minicredit with or without +++ (tax service charge some other hidden fee)
Both IC's Bucharest and Budapest aren't stingy, the minibar is properly stocked and they even still give you a big bottle of wine - the lounges and services are acknowledging RA-loyalty so fortunately no worse changes
Both IC's Bucharest and Budapest aren't stingy, the minibar is properly stocked and they even still give you a big bottle of wine - the lounges and services are acknowledging RA-loyalty so fortunately no worse changes
Oct 4, 2019, 4:04 am
#3587
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I just got this email from Nairobi. This is wrong on so many levels. If IHG is trying to muscle all IC's to dumb down their service to a lower level, then that truly spells an end to this great program. Hopefully the wiser hotels would resist such a thing.
Dear Mr. Stimpy,
Greetings from InterContinental Hotel Nairobi!
As a Spire Royal Ambassador, We value your Loyalty to the brand and strive to ensure you enjoy all the benefits when you visit any of our hotels worldwide.
Complimentary airport one way transfer was an exclusive benefit extended to our most esteemed of the Ambassador programme, the Royals, at the hotel's discretion. However, in a bid to align all published member benefits through out the InterContinental Hotels, we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
Therefore, kindly note that the transfer will no longer be on complimentary basis.
Thank you for your Loyalty and continued business support.
Uber is less than $10, so I don't care a lot about this benefit, but the principle is upsetting.
Dear Mr. Stimpy,
Greetings from InterContinental Hotel Nairobi!
As a Spire Royal Ambassador, We value your Loyalty to the brand and strive to ensure you enjoy all the benefits when you visit any of our hotels worldwide.
Complimentary airport one way transfer was an exclusive benefit extended to our most esteemed of the Ambassador programme, the Royals, at the hotel's discretion. However, in a bid to align all published member benefits through out the InterContinental Hotels, we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
Therefore, kindly note that the transfer will no longer be on complimentary basis.
Thank you for your Loyalty and continued business support.
Uber is less than $10, so I don't care a lot about this benefit, but the principle is upsetting.
Oct 4, 2019, 7:43 am
#3588
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: Infinity Milage Lands Gold,Star Alliance Gold, IHG Diamond RA, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 372
Don't really get that response to be honest, IC place there brand up at the 5 star level, so its fair enough to have a brand standard that all should meet. But surely it should be reasonable there after for each property to enhance that minimum based on the type of property and location they are in and the guests it attracts.
It says alot of the type of people in the program if they are complaining about minor differences in addons above the brand standard from property to property.
It says alot of the type of people in the program if they are complaining about minor differences in addons above the brand standard from property to property.
Oct 4, 2019, 7:47 am
#3589
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Spire RA
Posts: 580
sticking to the rule is exactly what I've experienced during my last stays at RA, even at hotels where I'm a regular and which have treated me generous, i.e. exceeding the defined benefits
Oct 5, 2019, 12:24 am
#3590
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I just got this email from Nairobi. This is wrong on so many levels. If IHG is trying to muscle all IC's to dumb down their service to a lower level, then that truly spells an end to this great program. Hopefully the wiser hotels would resist such a thing.
......we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
......we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
It's a couple of years since a marketing group within IC Towers tried to make a their name by starting a redesign of the programme. One big positive from the RA/IC point of view was the lounge business finally got settled, but there were a bunch of quid pro quo initiatives demanded by the hotels.
One of these initiatives aimed at curbing the renegade hotels where benefits above the established brand standard were being offered: this included CPs and HIs where Spires/Plats had previously been given lounge and/or breakfast. Another, clearly, was transport offered by the Nairobi IC: and at some ICs a far too generous upgrade policy was a target.
There were two major drivers of this. The most important of these was the intense irritation felt at some hotels where brand standards were followed to the letter, when guests started wheedling for breakfast/lounge/suite (and transport!) on the strength of generosity experienced at sister properties.
The other, secondary driver was from guests themselves. These pages used to be littered with calls for consistency in benefits among brands. Well, that's what we are getting. A uniform and consistent policy to brand standards was always going to settle at lower levels, despite the those posting their pleas in the sunny expectation of a uniform shift to the level of the best performers.
I miss the old days where experience, and FT, taught me exactly which IHG hotels to avoid: and where hotels that knew me went the extra mile and came up with the occasional surprise. I've now all but abandoned IHG and stay at Hiltons (where brand standards are quite rigidly applied), and half-heartedly at Bonvoy.
One important benefit of the Hilton rule-based consistency is that I know exactly where i stand in terms of Diamond renewal each year. Plus after 10 years at 30 stays or 60 nights a year I'll soon be eligible for life-time Diamond. After 14 years as a Royal Ambassador i got shown the door
Oct 5, 2019, 3:44 am
#3591
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Yes it is a bad trend, but as I have said before every IC I have stayed at this year has not enforced the new mini-bar rules. So some hotels are holding out against the trend. However my next stay is at the IC Times Sq so I will have very low expectations there. 
I have comped Hilton Diamond yet I rarely stay at Hiltons. I am not a fan of cookie cutter consistency. And I'm Marriott Lifetime Titanium and so far on the Starwood side there is still a lot of variety thankfully. If RA ends up being like Hilton Diamond, then they will have failed. At least they will have failed customers like me.
I have comped Hilton Diamond yet I rarely stay at Hiltons. I am not a fan of cookie cutter consistency. And I'm Marriott Lifetime Titanium and so far on the Starwood side there is still a lot of variety thankfully. If RA ends up being like Hilton Diamond, then they will have failed. At least they will have failed customers like me.
Oct 5, 2019, 4:18 am
#3592
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
It's a couple of years since a marketing group within IC Towers tried to make a their name by starting a redesign of the programme. One big positive from the RA/IC point of view was the lounge business finally got settled, but there were a bunch of quid pro quo initiatives demanded by the hotels.
One of these initiatives aimed at curbing the renegade hotels where benefits above the established brand standard were being offered: this included CPs and HIs where Spires/Plats had previously been given lounge and/or breakfast. Another, clearly, was transport offered by the Nairobi IC: and at some ICs a far too generous upgrade policy was a target.
There were two major drivers of this. The most important of these was the intense irritation felt at some hotels where brand standards were followed to the letter, when guests started wheedling for breakfast/lounge/suite (and transport!) on the strength of generosity experienced at sister properties.
The other, secondary driver was from guests themselves. These pages used to be littered with calls for consistency in benefits among brands. Well, that's what we are getting. A uniform and consistent policy to brand standards was always going to settle at lower levels, despite the those posting their pleas in the sunny expectation of a uniform shift to the level of the best performers.
I miss the old days where experience, and FT, taught me exactly which IHG hotels to avoid: and where hotels that knew me went the extra mile and came up with the occasional surprise. I've now all but abandoned IHG and stay at Hiltons (where brand standards are quite rigidly applied), and half-heartedly at Bonvoy.
One important benefit of the Hilton rule-based consistency is that I know exactly where i stand in terms of Diamond renewal each year. Plus after 10 years at 30 stays or 60 nights a year I'll soon be eligible for life-time Diamond. After 14 years as a Royal Ambassador i got shown the door
One of these initiatives aimed at curbing the renegade hotels where benefits above the established brand standard were being offered: this included CPs and HIs where Spires/Plats had previously been given lounge and/or breakfast. Another, clearly, was transport offered by the Nairobi IC: and at some ICs a far too generous upgrade policy was a target.
There were two major drivers of this. The most important of these was the intense irritation felt at some hotels where brand standards were followed to the letter, when guests started wheedling for breakfast/lounge/suite (and transport!) on the strength of generosity experienced at sister properties.
The other, secondary driver was from guests themselves. These pages used to be littered with calls for consistency in benefits among brands. Well, that's what we are getting. A uniform and consistent policy to brand standards was always going to settle at lower levels, despite the those posting their pleas in the sunny expectation of a uniform shift to the level of the best performers.
I miss the old days where experience, and FT, taught me exactly which IHG hotels to avoid: and where hotels that knew me went the extra mile and came up with the occasional surprise. I've now all but abandoned IHG and stay at Hiltons (where brand standards are quite rigidly applied), and half-heartedly at Bonvoy.
One important benefit of the Hilton rule-based consistency is that I know exactly where i stand in terms of Diamond renewal each year. Plus after 10 years at 30 stays or 60 nights a year I'll soon be eligible for life-time Diamond. After 14 years as a Royal Ambassador i got shown the door
I originally made diamond and repeatedly requalified based on spend too for around 10 years until I had a few years of comped diamond with BA GGL. The lifetime Diamond requirement is double that SPG had for the then more valuable lifetime Plat.
The other issue is that Hilton upgrades tend to be crap to non-existent. Yes you get an occasional surprise but the only thing you get for certain are breakfast and lounge. I would rather have a decent room guaranteed and even the current minibar benefit to be honest. Although I still have 4 more Hilton stays to go this year to requalify for next year so will do those without great enthusiasm because my travel patterns need Hilton as an option.
I don’t get the idea that those properties who slavishly adhere to the minimum standards and no more are in some way disadvantaged but those properties that do more. They simply aren’t and I find plenty of properties that give me more generous room upgrades than they “have to” and more flexibility with on property benefits from restaurant breakfast to no quibble minibar fees and then applying the AMB credit too. If you want to stick to the brand standards it is easy to do and as a property manager you simply fall back to the published t&c’s as the bad properties always did.
I have not been refused lounge access as a Spire paying the lowest rate or on a reward stay at a CP in the last 18 months but then I avoid those properties obviously skimping on giving lounge access (there are only 2 or 3 UK CP’s that I am aware do this however).
Oct 5, 2019, 7:16 am
#3593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I have coming up to 16 years as a Hilton diamond and still seem to be a only about half way to lifetime diamond so good luck with that. You need 100 nights a year for 10 years or $20k a year spend.for 10 years and that is before they “lose” a significant amount of previous qualification. 10 years at 30 stays a year is not going to advance you significantly unless those stays are running close to $1k each tax and fee inclusive.
The other issue is that Hilton upgrades tend to be crap to non-existent. Yes you get an occasional surprise but the only thing you get for certain are breakfast and lounge. I would rather have a decent room guaranteed and even the current minibar benefit to be honest. Although I still have 4 more Hilton stays to go this year to requalify for next year so will do those without great enthusiasm because my travel patterns need Hilton as an option..
I certainly didn't want to rehearse a tired argument about Hilton Group hotels being "better" than IHG hotels. Or even one programme being better than the other. Hilton, Conrad and WA can give IC and CP a run for their money, but IC invariably offers far higher standards than Hilton on a city by city basis, and certainly much more impressive lounges - though there are exceptions.
I've just written a note in the Hilton forum advising a fellow FT-er to select the terrific IC Sofia over the stodgy Hilton.
The simple point I was making is that by being consistent, by explicitly defining benefits and renewal terms, HH removes most elements of uncertainty: and, most imporantly, there's no requalification anxiety. Yay!
Bangkok and Dubai went the same way.
I don’t get the idea that those properties who slavishly adhere to the minimum standards and no more are in some way disadvantaged but those properties that do more. They simply aren’t and I find plenty of properties that give me more generous room upgrades than they “have to” and more flexibility with on property benefits from restaurant breakfast to no quibble minibar fees and then applying the AMB credit too. If you want to stick to the brand standards it is easy to do and as a property manager you simply fall back to the published t&c’s as the bad properties always did.
If you think back to the days of less-than-universal lounge access for RA's. I have clear memories of vibrant ding-dongs where RAs - and plain-As - were trying it on with "but I've just been given club access at Madrid; why aren't I getting it here", or "I'll take a lower upgrade in exchange for Club". Slowly, inevitably, lounge access became near universal, until the last encyclical-but-one made it universal.
Last edited by IAN-UK; Oct 5, 2019 at 9:33 am
Oct 5, 2019, 11:11 am
#3594
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
Can anyone give objective evidence of a hotel being penalised for going beyond the RA requirements? Which property and what was the penalty? I just don't see how that happens. I also don't see how a guest that doesn't get something that isn't guaranteed has any argument about not getting it.
I had a fortunate run of getting Presidential Suites at IC's once upon a time but that doesn't mean that I kicked up a fuss when that run ended and I found myself in a club room on my subsequent stay. Above 2 cat upgrades are always going to happen because a property can quickly find themselves sold out of lower room types (in fact I have been finding this as more of a norm in the properties that don't have a track record of stinginess).
The bogeyman of the corporate centre like "Government cutbacks" is always easier to blame than being honest about local choices.
I had a fortunate run of getting Presidential Suites at IC's once upon a time but that doesn't mean that I kicked up a fuss when that run ended and I found myself in a club room on my subsequent stay. Above 2 cat upgrades are always going to happen because a property can quickly find themselves sold out of lower room types (in fact I have been finding this as more of a norm in the properties that don't have a track record of stinginess).
The bogeyman of the corporate centre like "Government cutbacks" is always easier to blame than being honest about local choices.
Oct 5, 2019, 4:41 pm
#3595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I overheard one such RA launch into an unpleasant DYKWIA rant at the Semiramis reception desk, attempting to get club access on his stay because the IC Madrid, where he was a regular and personnel friend on the manager, always gave him that upgrade. In the end, they gave in: which was fine for me, because of they then had to give me a club room, too. OK, club suite - the Semiramis has always been punctilious about suites
Oct 5, 2019, 10:04 pm
#3596
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
I just got this email from Nairobi. This is wrong on so many levels. If IHG is trying to muscle all IC's to dumb down their service to a lower level, then that truly spells an end to this great program. Hopefully the wiser hotels would resist such a thing.
Dear Mr. Stimpy,
Greetings from InterContinental Hotel Nairobi!
As a Spire Royal Ambassador, We value your Loyalty to the brand and strive to ensure you enjoy all the benefits when you visit any of our hotels worldwide.
Complimentary airport one way transfer was an exclusive benefit extended to our most esteemed of the Ambassador programme, the Royals, at the hotel's discretion. However, in a bid to align all published member benefits through out the InterContinental Hotels, we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
Therefore, kindly note that the transfer will no longer be on complimentary basis.
Thank you for your Loyalty and continued business support.
Uber is less than $10, so I don't care a lot about this benefit, but the principle is upsetting.
Dear Mr. Stimpy,
Greetings from InterContinental Hotel Nairobi!
As a Spire Royal Ambassador, We value your Loyalty to the brand and strive to ensure you enjoy all the benefits when you visit any of our hotels worldwide.
Complimentary airport one way transfer was an exclusive benefit extended to our most esteemed of the Ambassador programme, the Royals, at the hotel's discretion. However, in a bid to align all published member benefits through out the InterContinental Hotels, we had to take it down to avoid frustration and any inconvenience when visiting the other hotels.
Therefore, kindly note that the transfer will no longer be on complimentary basis.
Thank you for your Loyalty and continued business support.
Uber is less than $10, so I don't care a lot about this benefit, but the principle is upsetting.
it's when the program police overpower the marketing team, disappointing.
when i get that approach, i avoid the properties altogether, and convey the same to colleagues.
Oct 5, 2019, 10:13 pm
#3597
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
It's a couple of years since a marketing group within IC Towers tried to make a their name by starting a redesign of the programme. One big positive from the RA/IC point of view was the lounge business finally got settled, but there were a bunch of quid pro quo initiatives demanded by the hotels.
One of these initiatives aimed at curbing the renegade hotels where benefits above the established brand standard were being offered: this included CPs and HIs where Spires/Plats had previously been given lounge and/or breakfast. Another, clearly, was transport offered by the Nairobi IC: and at some ICs a far too generous upgrade policy was a target.
There were two major drivers of this. The most important of these was the intense irritation felt at some hotels where brand standards were followed to the letter, when guests started wheedling for breakfast/lounge/suite (and transport!) on the strength of generosity experienced at sister properties.
The other, secondary driver was from guests themselves. These pages used to be littered with calls for consistency in benefits among brands. Well, that's what we are getting. A uniform and consistent policy to brand standards was always going to settle at lower levels, despite the those posting their pleas in the sunny expectation of a uniform shift to the level of the best performers.
I miss the old days where experience, and FT, taught me exactly which IHG hotels to avoid: and where hotels that knew me went the extra mile and came up with the occasional surprise. I've now all but abandoned IHG and stay at Hiltons (where brand standards are quite rigidly applied), and half-heartedly at Bonvoy.
One important benefit of the Hilton rule-based consistency is that I know exactly where i stand in terms of Diamond renewal each year. Plus after 10 years at 30 stays or 60 nights a year I'll soon be eligible for life-time Diamond. After 14 years as a Royal Ambassador i got shown the door
One of these initiatives aimed at curbing the renegade hotels where benefits above the established brand standard were being offered: this included CPs and HIs where Spires/Plats had previously been given lounge and/or breakfast. Another, clearly, was transport offered by the Nairobi IC: and at some ICs a far too generous upgrade policy was a target.
There were two major drivers of this. The most important of these was the intense irritation felt at some hotels where brand standards were followed to the letter, when guests started wheedling for breakfast/lounge/suite (and transport!) on the strength of generosity experienced at sister properties.
The other, secondary driver was from guests themselves. These pages used to be littered with calls for consistency in benefits among brands. Well, that's what we are getting. A uniform and consistent policy to brand standards was always going to settle at lower levels, despite the those posting their pleas in the sunny expectation of a uniform shift to the level of the best performers.
I miss the old days where experience, and FT, taught me exactly which IHG hotels to avoid: and where hotels that knew me went the extra mile and came up with the occasional surprise. I've now all but abandoned IHG and stay at Hiltons (where brand standards are quite rigidly applied), and half-heartedly at Bonvoy.
One important benefit of the Hilton rule-based consistency is that I know exactly where i stand in terms of Diamond renewal each year. Plus after 10 years at 30 stays or 60 nights a year I'll soon be eligible for life-time Diamond. After 14 years as a Royal Ambassador i got shown the door
Oct 6, 2019, 2:59 pm
#3598
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The reward? Ambassador membership for one year, worth $150
Oct 6, 2019, 3:28 pm
#3599
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
I have no idea what sanctions IHG can, or does apply if it ever needs to. But it seems pretty evident that the Group is trying to hold hotels to their agreement on brand standards. When hotels tell me they are cutting benefits to meet those standards at the behest of IHG Towers, I believe them. The Nairobi IC gave the same message about airport pick-ups, and I'm told one of my favourite Asian ICs is considering getting rid of its wildly generous free laundry concession.
Sadly a number of guests don't follow rationality when it comes to hotels, airlines and benefits. A good few are chancers, and RA status, like BA's gold card, can produce in these delusions of grandeur. I'm surprised you hadn't noted that.
I overheard one such RA launch into an unpleasant DYKWIA rant at the Semiramis reception desk, attempting to get club access on his stay because the IC Madrid, where he was a regular and personnel friend on the manager, always gave him that upgrade. In the end, they gave in: which was fine for me, because of they then had to give me a club room, too. OK, club suite - the Semiramis has always been punctilious about suites
Sadly a number of guests don't follow rationality when it comes to hotels, airlines and benefits. A good few are chancers, and RA status, like BA's gold card, can produce in these delusions of grandeur. I'm surprised you hadn't noted that.
I overheard one such RA launch into an unpleasant DYKWIA rant at the Semiramis reception desk, attempting to get club access on his stay because the IC Madrid, where he was a regular and personnel friend on the manager, always gave him that upgrade. In the end, they gave in: which was fine for me, because of they then had to give me a club room, too. OK, club suite - the Semiramis has always been punctilious about suites
its really easy for a property to use the excuse of corporate standard enforcement to cut costs. So I remain sceptical that this is anything more than a lip service move by the centre until there is some objective rather than hearsay evidence it is happening.
Oct 7, 2019, 9:24 pm
#3600
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
Not an IC but UK HIE experience for me where the semi edible breakfast is sausages/beans/scrambled eggs.
Bacon was not in the IHG standards but a couple of HIEs i had to stay at also served bacon, no doubt due to proximity of competitor eg premier inn, travel lodge etc with nicer breakfast at similar nightly rates.
Anyway very quickly IHG Corporate made the HIE remove the non-std bacon offering. At time I thought some stupid **** guest probably complained agressively after getting bacon about why no bacon at another HIE naming the first HIE and it got escalated
So yes I have seen IHG force a brand standard on their hotels
note
If I get extra at IC's or other eg CP, HI, HIE, I don't then complain about getting less in another version in IHG, all that achieves is getting that hotel pissed off and maybe getting the special treatment stopped at the first hotels. But yes I regulary see/hear some chancer complaining about lack of a non std benefit coz they got at same hotel brand elsewhere.
Bacon was not in the IHG standards but a couple of HIEs i had to stay at also served bacon, no doubt due to proximity of competitor eg premier inn, travel lodge etc with nicer breakfast at similar nightly rates.
Anyway very quickly IHG Corporate made the HIE remove the non-std bacon offering. At time I thought some stupid **** guest probably complained agressively after getting bacon about why no bacon at another HIE naming the first HIE and it got escalated
So yes I have seen IHG force a brand standard on their hotels
note
If I get extra at IC's or other eg CP, HI, HIE, I don't then complain about getting less in another version in IHG, all that achieves is getting that hotel pissed off and maybe getting the special treatment stopped at the first hotels. But yes I regulary see/hear some chancer complaining about lack of a non std benefit coz they got at same hotel brand elsewhere.