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
Jun 15, 2016, 3:52 pm
#76
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
My non IC stays will drop off a cliff once the new criteria is in effect. I make something of an effort now to stay at borderline IHG properties to ease RA qualification. If the trigger value is somewhere in the ballpark of $15K then I would be quite happy and then just stay at the lesser IHG brands when a particular property suited me.
This is great news given that my free HH Diamond will end next year, so I can bump up my Hilton stays.
This is great news given that my free HH Diamond will end next year, so I can bump up my Hilton stays.
when you look at the others, Hyatt 50, SPG 50, Hilton 60 , and 75 Ritz, Ritz is the only straight up one category high end brand, similar to Intercon, the other groups include their sub brands like IHG do for Rewards Club.
so that may well be the magic number, if you consider say an ADR of USD175, and apply say a 75-85 night threshold, that equates to USD13-15K. reasonable numbers.
Jun 15, 2016, 3:59 pm
#77
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
when you look at the others, Hyatt 50, SPG 50, Hilton 60 , and 75 Ritz, Ritz is the only straight up one category high end brand, similar to Intercon, the other groups include their sub brands like IHG do for Rewards Club.
so that may well be the magic number, if you consider say an ADR of USD175, and apply say a 75-85 night threshold, that equates to USD13-15K. reasonable numbers.
so that may well be the magic number, if you consider say an ADR of USD175, and apply say a 75-85 night threshold, that equates to USD13-15K. reasonable numbers.
Jun 15, 2016, 4:25 pm
#78
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
i spend more on IC nights too, but i expect, as many have mentioned previously, you'd have quite a few corporates on corp rates with lower ADR's, and also a bunch of RA's that book the lowest price point, bringing that RA ADR average down, and enjoy the upgrade.
i wouldn't be surprised if the night number is 85, and the dollar number is c 15K as you suggested. I can't imagine it being less than say USD10K.
that wld be 57 nights @ USD175 ADR.
Jun 16, 2016, 1:13 am
#79
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,481
Total profit of a tier is
number of members of that tier x profit per member of that tier
A revenue based selection criteria will increase the profit per member of that tier. That will increase the total profit of that tier.
But a revenue based selection criteria will most likely decrease the number of members of that tier. That will decrease the profit of that tier.
The question is: Will the impact of the higher profit per member be higher or lower than the impact of the lower number of members?
Plus: With a revenue based selection criteria you make the qualifying rules more clear and more rational. Clearness and economic rationality lowers the emotions of a loyalty program. A loyalty program with less emotions is less successful.
And: The guests, who are RA now, maybe for years, but can not be qualify to RA again, will be disappointed, but attracted by the still stay based loyalty programs of IHG's competitors. Most of them will be able to get the top tier of that loyalty programs. If they change, they have to focus on their new loyalty program to qualify for the top tier. That means, that they will decrease their nights at IHG brands. OK, that will increase the emotions of the former RA for IHG, but when I said, that a loyalty program with less emotions is less successful, I meant positive emotions.
Btw: The upgrade t&c of IHG encourage RA to choose cheaper rooms. At some IC it doesn't matter if a RA book the cheapest or the most expensive room: He will get the same room. If IHG wants more profit per member, why do they have a rule like that?
number of members of that tier x profit per member of that tier
A revenue based selection criteria will increase the profit per member of that tier. That will increase the total profit of that tier.
But a revenue based selection criteria will most likely decrease the number of members of that tier. That will decrease the profit of that tier.
The question is: Will the impact of the higher profit per member be higher or lower than the impact of the lower number of members?
Plus: With a revenue based selection criteria you make the qualifying rules more clear and more rational. Clearness and economic rationality lowers the emotions of a loyalty program. A loyalty program with less emotions is less successful.
And: The guests, who are RA now, maybe for years, but can not be qualify to RA again, will be disappointed, but attracted by the still stay based loyalty programs of IHG's competitors. Most of them will be able to get the top tier of that loyalty programs. If they change, they have to focus on their new loyalty program to qualify for the top tier. That means, that they will decrease their nights at IHG brands. OK, that will increase the emotions of the former RA for IHG, but when I said, that a loyalty program with less emotions is less successful, I meant positive emotions.
Btw: The upgrade t&c of IHG encourage RA to choose cheaper rooms. At some IC it doesn't matter if a RA book the cheapest or the most expensive room: He will get the same room. If IHG wants more profit per member, why do they have a rule like that?
Jun 16, 2016, 1:30 am
#80
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
when you look at the others, Hyatt 50, SPG 50, Hilton 60 , and 75 Ritz, Ritz is the only straight up one category high end brand, similar to Intercon, the other groups include their sub brands like IHG do for Rewards Club.
so that may well be the magic number, if you consider say an ADR of USD175, and apply say a 75-85 night threshold, that equates to USD13-15K. reasonable numbers.
so that may well be the magic number, if you consider say an ADR of USD175, and apply say a 75-85 night threshold, that equates to USD13-15K. reasonable numbers.
Your view coloured as you are in the very fortunate position of being able to stay so much (all the time) in IC locations and also booking premium non entry level rooms. At the low end of RA qualification the opposite is true, less IC nights are possible, and those IC nights need to be at lower room categories in lower priced locations.
IHG still want to give top 1% of Ambassadors RA status, and your above $13-15k figures would decimate RA ranks including myself. Any revenue qualification bar will be set to keep RA numbers at 1% so you really need lto consider the low end of qualification for RA guest revenue amounts.
At the low end, a not insubstantial number of RAs do qualify with minimum mix of 20x $125-150 IC and 40x $80-120 non-IC ($2500-3000 + $3200-4800 ) equals minimum spend of RA in a $5700-7800 range.
(And it could well be done even cheaper 20x $100 IC's + 40x $60 HIE = $4400 only, by a real minority of RA's)
Maybe an RA just in top half RA by revenue would be 60/40/3 profile with a wider range of IC locations and rates , fleshed out with some cheaper CP/HI nights eg
20x $150, 10x $200, 10x $300 IC's and 20x $80-150 non-ICs, giving $8000 IC spend and $2000 non-IC spend.
My own IHG stay profile averages 80-100/30-35/6-8, eg 30night IC spend $10k (10x $150 = $1500, 10x $300 = $3000, 10x $550 = $5500 )
cheapest IC's Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Bangkok £100-£175 ($140-245)
medium IC's Singapore, London/Paris low season, £200-£300 ($280-420)
costly ICs HK, London, Amsterdam, Paris £300-£450 ($420-630)
Where IC is cheap, eg KUL/SIN/BKK , I book pricier club rooms. Paris-LG/London-PL I book mostly classic/superior rooms. I only make 30-35 IC nights as I will stay at IC's when on vacation or 3-4night weekend break trips to destinations like Budapest.
If you set revenue bar much above $8k IC spend, the number of RAs could likely be halved.
If bar of IC only revenue is set much above $10k then I will have to seriously consider dropping RA and not staying with IHG at all, and no way do I believe I fall into the bottom 25% by IC/IHG spend value of the 1% RA pool that IHG corporate can probably afford to lose.
Without RA I would switch stays to hotel chains where I will get lounge each night, Hilton, Marriott, so IHG will lose most of my usual IHG nights, both IC and non-IC chain
Last edited by scubaccr; Jun 16, 2016 at 1:41 am
Jun 16, 2016, 1:49 am
#81
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,846
My reading of the document was that they were still in the thought process.
Jun 16, 2016, 2:07 am
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Total profit of a tier is
number of members of that tier x profit per member of that tier
A revenue based selection criteria will increase the profit per member of that tier. That will increase the total profit of that tier.
But a revenue based selection criteria will most likely decrease the number of members of that tier. That will decrease the profit of that tier.
The question is: Will the impact of the higher profit per member be higher or lower than the impact of the lower number of members?
Plus: With a revenue based selection criteria you make the qualifying rules more clear and more rational. Clearness and economic rationality lowers the emotions of a loyalty program. A loyalty program with less emotions is less successful.
And: The guests, who are RA now, maybe for years, but can not be qualify to RA again, will be disappointed, but attracted by the still stay based loyalty programs of IHG's competitors. Most of them will be able to get the top tier of that loyalty programs. If they change, they have to focus on their new loyalty program to qualify for the top tier. That means, that they will decrease their nights at IHG brands. OK, that will increase the emotions of the former RA for IHG, but when I said, that a loyalty program with less emotions is less successful, I meant positive emotions.
Btw: The upgrade t&c of IHG encourage RA to choose cheaper rooms. At some IC it doesn't matter if a RA book the cheapest or the most expensive room: He will get the same room. If IHG wants more profit per member, why do they have a rule like that?
number of members of that tier x profit per member of that tier
A revenue based selection criteria will increase the profit per member of that tier. That will increase the total profit of that tier.
But a revenue based selection criteria will most likely decrease the number of members of that tier. That will decrease the profit of that tier.
The question is: Will the impact of the higher profit per member be higher or lower than the impact of the lower number of members?
Plus: With a revenue based selection criteria you make the qualifying rules more clear and more rational. Clearness and economic rationality lowers the emotions of a loyalty program. A loyalty program with less emotions is less successful.
And: The guests, who are RA now, maybe for years, but can not be qualify to RA again, will be disappointed, but attracted by the still stay based loyalty programs of IHG's competitors. Most of them will be able to get the top tier of that loyalty programs. If they change, they have to focus on their new loyalty program to qualify for the top tier. That means, that they will decrease their nights at IHG brands. OK, that will increase the emotions of the former RA for IHG, but when I said, that a loyalty program with less emotions is less successful, I meant positive emotions.
Btw: The upgrade t&c of IHG encourage RA to choose cheaper rooms. At some IC it doesn't matter if a RA book the cheapest or the most expensive room: He will get the same room. If IHG wants more profit per member, why do they have a rule like that?
Jun 16, 2016, 2:48 am
#83
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
This could be quite good news for me.My Hilton Diamond status comes complimentary from BA as part of my Gold Guest list status.
If IHG moves down the road of RA renewal based on pure IC spend,I will be able to renew based on staying at nice IC's where I wish to stay.I will then be able to ditch my stays at crappy Holiday inns where I do not get free breakfast,nor much else despite the promises from Spire,and move them to equally crappy Hiltons where I do get free breakfast as a Diamond.
I wonder how much RA's spend at HI's,and if IHG care,but will they risk the revenue loss,or will they bring in added requirements in addition to spend in IC's?
If IHG moves down the road of RA renewal based on pure IC spend,I will be able to renew based on staying at nice IC's where I wish to stay.I will then be able to ditch my stays at crappy Holiday inns where I do not get free breakfast,nor much else despite the promises from Spire,and move them to equally crappy Hiltons where I do get free breakfast as a Diamond.
I wonder how much RA's spend at HI's,and if IHG care,but will they risk the revenue loss,or will they bring in added requirements in addition to spend in IC's?
Jun 16, 2016, 4:49 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
In my recent conversations with IHG Corporate, I did not get the impression that the RA program was going to take such a radical turn. They did state that changes were being considered and some changes were made this year regarding qualifications.
I think it is premature to start speculating where the program will go.
mxm135
I think it is premature to start speculating where the program will go.
mxm135
Jun 16, 2016, 1:20 pm
#85
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
Be careful here. Customers booking more expensive hotels or more expensive rooms within particular hotels are not necessarily the most profitable customers. A lower priced hotel can be very profitable for various reasons (such s cheap labor or cheap reasl estate prices) while one that is much more expensive can make much less money net of costs.
Jun 16, 2016, 1:23 pm
#86
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
Your maths understanding above is in my view is unrealistic and so far out of whack it beggars belief, very few RA's yearly hotel stay profiles will be 60nights-plus 100% at IC's.
Your view coloured as you are in the very fortunate position of being able to stay so much (all the time) in IC locations and also booking premium non entry level rooms. At the low end of RA qualification the opposite is true, less IC nights are possible, and those IC nights need to be at lower room categories in lower priced locations.
IHG still want to give top 1% of Ambassadors RA status, and your above $13-15k figures would decimate RA ranks including myself. Any revenue qualification bar will be set to keep RA numbers at 1% so you really need lto consider the low end of qualification for RA guest revenue amounts.
At the low end, a not insubstantial number of RAs do qualify with minimum mix of 20x $125-150 IC and 40x $80-120 non-IC ($2500-3000 + $3200-4800 ) equals minimum spend of RA in a $5700-7800 range.
(And it could well be done even cheaper 20x $100 IC's + 40x $60 HIE = $4400 only, by a real minority of RA's)
Maybe an RA just in top half RA by revenue would be 60/40/3 profile with a wider range of IC locations and rates , fleshed out with some cheaper CP/HI nights eg
20x $150, 10x $200, 10x $300 IC's and 20x $80-150 non-ICs, giving $8000 IC spend and $2000 non-IC spend.
My own IHG stay profile averages 80-100/30-35/6-8, eg 30night IC spend $10k (10x $150 = $1500, 10x $300 = $3000, 10x $550 = $5500 )
cheapest IC's Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Bangkok £100-£175 ($140-245)
medium IC's Singapore, London/Paris low season, £200-£300 ($280-420)
costly ICs HK, London, Amsterdam, Paris £300-£450 ($420-630)
Where IC is cheap, eg KUL/SIN/BKK , I book pricier club rooms. Paris-LG/London-PL I book mostly classic/superior rooms. I only make 30-35 IC nights as I will stay at IC's when on vacation or 3-4night weekend break trips to destinations like Budapest.
If you set revenue bar much above $8k IC spend, the number of RAs could likely be halved.
If bar of IC only revenue is set much above $10k then I will have to seriously consider dropping RA and not staying with IHG at all, and no way do I believe I fall into the bottom 25% by IC/IHG spend value of the 1% RA pool that IHG corporate can probably afford to lose.
Without RA I would switch stays to hotel chains where I will get lounge each night, Hilton, Marriott, so IHG will lose most of my usual IHG nights, both IC and non-IC chain
Your view coloured as you are in the very fortunate position of being able to stay so much (all the time) in IC locations and also booking premium non entry level rooms. At the low end of RA qualification the opposite is true, less IC nights are possible, and those IC nights need to be at lower room categories in lower priced locations.
IHG still want to give top 1% of Ambassadors RA status, and your above $13-15k figures would decimate RA ranks including myself. Any revenue qualification bar will be set to keep RA numbers at 1% so you really need lto consider the low end of qualification for RA guest revenue amounts.
At the low end, a not insubstantial number of RAs do qualify with minimum mix of 20x $125-150 IC and 40x $80-120 non-IC ($2500-3000 + $3200-4800 ) equals minimum spend of RA in a $5700-7800 range.
(And it could well be done even cheaper 20x $100 IC's + 40x $60 HIE = $4400 only, by a real minority of RA's)
Maybe an RA just in top half RA by revenue would be 60/40/3 profile with a wider range of IC locations and rates , fleshed out with some cheaper CP/HI nights eg
20x $150, 10x $200, 10x $300 IC's and 20x $80-150 non-ICs, giving $8000 IC spend and $2000 non-IC spend.
My own IHG stay profile averages 80-100/30-35/6-8, eg 30night IC spend $10k (10x $150 = $1500, 10x $300 = $3000, 10x $550 = $5500 )
cheapest IC's Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Bangkok £100-£175 ($140-245)
medium IC's Singapore, London/Paris low season, £200-£300 ($280-420)
costly ICs HK, London, Amsterdam, Paris £300-£450 ($420-630)
Where IC is cheap, eg KUL/SIN/BKK , I book pricier club rooms. Paris-LG/London-PL I book mostly classic/superior rooms. I only make 30-35 IC nights as I will stay at IC's when on vacation or 3-4night weekend break trips to destinations like Budapest.
If you set revenue bar much above $8k IC spend, the number of RAs could likely be halved.
If bar of IC only revenue is set much above $10k then I will have to seriously consider dropping RA and not staying with IHG at all, and no way do I believe I fall into the bottom 25% by IC/IHG spend value of the 1% RA pool that IHG corporate can probably afford to lose.
Without RA I would switch stays to hotel chains where I will get lounge each night, Hilton, Marriott, so IHG will lose most of my usual IHG nights, both IC and non-IC chain
My experience too is that RA rewards buying non base rooms like no other programme. It recognises and encourages room upsell which makes it smarter than any other frequent guest scheme on the street.
Jun 16, 2016, 1:41 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PARIS (France)
Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,963
In my recent conversations with IHG Corporate, I did not get the impression that the RA program was going to take such a radical turn. They did state that changes were being considered and some changes were made this year regarding qualifications.
I think it is premature to start speculating where the program will go.
mxm135
I think it is premature to start speculating where the program will go.
mxm135
I do not see any relevant news telling us that things have changed.
Jun 17, 2016, 3:40 am
#88
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 202
I do not like the latest rumours, there are simply not enough ICs in the places I travel
after being an RA for the past 8 years or so, IHG will very likely lose 95% of my business if I fail to re-qualify strictly due to new revenue-based criteria
surely IHG must be aware of this risk and not be overly concerned about losing a few long-time RAs
after being an RA for the past 8 years or so, IHG will very likely lose 95% of my business if I fail to re-qualify strictly due to new revenue-based criteria
surely IHG must be aware of this risk and not be overly concerned about losing a few long-time RAs
Jun 17, 2016, 4:19 am
#89
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
thks, the interesting thing is all i wanted was for my ambassador clock to have renewed in Jan when i attempted to, couldn't do it online, so phoned a few times, spoke to a supervisor, she couldn't process either, but i didn't want to lose my 34/24/4 since Aug last year, so they've agreed on the manual count of those, and just 26 nights to trigger RA that i'll do by mid July, so pretty nice outcome. ironic that it's still about 60 nights^