RA/A benefits at Regent hotels?
Nov 28, 2018, 4:15 pm
#16
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
cost per night many Kimptons are more on par with IC brand versus the second tier CP/Indigo brand. However Kimpton currently location wise is a USA located brand, thus he recipients of that offer are guests who stay in USA Kimptons, that IHG want to stay at IC's too when traveling outside of USA where there are no Kimpton hotels.
Nov 30, 2018, 1:27 am
#18
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
I too think that it would be a good idea to extend Ambassador benefits to Regent and Kimpton. Whilst I would love to see it also apply to Indigo and Crowne Plaza - and it is certainly the case that some Indigos and Crowne Plazas offerings do very effectively compare with some Intercontinentals out there - many Indigos just don’t have that semi-lux full service offering and there remain too many run down Crowne Plazas that would tarnish the Ambassador program by their presence. If standards of maintenance and service are rigorously enforced Voco could also be added.
However adding Kimpton and Regent (and Voco) to the Ambassador brands would be a great way of increasing Ambassadors traction. I have considered Ambassador every time I’ve booked an Intercontinental stay but as every IC stay I’ve made (save one night) has been a redemption and Ambassador benefits don’t apply on redemption it’s not been worth it to me. Adding in Regent, Kimpton and Voco would probably change that equation...
However adding Kimpton and Regent (and Voco) to the Ambassador brands would be a great way of increasing Ambassadors traction. I have considered Ambassador every time I’ve booked an Intercontinental stay but as every IC stay I’ve made (save one night) has been a redemption and Ambassador benefits don’t apply on redemption it’s not been worth it to me. Adding in Regent, Kimpton and Voco would probably change that equation...
Jan 5, 2019, 2:18 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Makes sense to integrate Regent+IC+Kimpton
Hopefully at one point they will become integrated with Ambassador/Royal Ambassador and Inner Circle. At least those two programs appear to be headed towards a harmonization. The initial shift to Spire and "super-Spire" was not effective, but shifting IC to RA makes sense. The upcoming RA changes, some good (free breakfast, benefits at ICH hotels without Club Access, extending minibar to snacks not drinks), some bad (limits on "free drinks from minibar" and 10am instead of 8am guaranteed early check-in) seem geared to do that.
Plus at least some RAs have been granted IC status.
I am waiting for Regent to be integrated into the
Plus at least some RAs have been granted IC status.
I am waiting for Regent to be integrated into the
Jan 8, 2019, 9:08 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972