Dec 10, 2018, 4:07 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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

For Royal Ambassadors, the new benefits starts from 1st FEB 2019 will be:

EARLY CHECK-IN from 10AM (instead of 8AM)
ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY [~~CONFIRMED AS IN GREATER CHINA REGION ONLY,~~ On 1st March, it seems IHG quietly made a U-turn again, now this benefit only APPLIES TO IC HOTELS IN MAINLAND CHINA ONLY, Hong Kong IC hotels are excluded on the last minute U-turn.]
UP TO TWO COMPLIMENTARY FULL BREAKFASTS PER DAY IF THERE IS NO CLUB LOUNGE
UPTO 50USD/200RMB/400HKD MINIBAR CREDIT PER DAY (200USD/800RMB/1600HKD PER STAY MAX)
WAIVED DESTINATION/AMENITY FEES
COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE (See below)
[Officially Added Benefits] FREE NIGHTS AT AN IHG PROPERTY (capped at 70K points value)
[Officially Added Benefits] HERTZ GOLD PLUS REWARDS PRESIDENTS' CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP

For all other Ambassadors, the new benefit starts on 1st MARCH 2019:

GUARANTEED PLATINUM ELITE STATUS IN IHG REWARDS CLUB
ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY <== Only for Greater China Stays !
COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
WELCOME FRUIT PLATTER (instead of welcome fruits and gifts) <== Only for Greater China Stays !
AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars

AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GURANTEE work as bellow:

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

Changes to Ambassador from 1st March 2019 (now confirmed)

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Feb 22, 2019, 7:06 am

#301

JetAway

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Virginia, USA

Posts: 4,508

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaconSF

I think I accidentally threw away the paper cert. are they able to issue a new one ?

You can ask but unlikely.

Feb 22, 2019, 11:04 am

#302

BaconSF

Join Date: Jul 2018

Location: SFO

Posts: 487

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetAway

You can ask but unlikely.

they said they’re going to ship a new one!

Mar 1, 2019, 4:48 am

#303

armouredant

Join Date: Aug 2015

Location: London, UK

Programs: BA GGL

Posts: 1,577

Hello. My IHG Ambassador membership expired in December, but the website (and hotels, when I check in) still seem to recognise me as Gold Ambassador. I was planning to renew after the changes kicked in this month, but as I'm apparently still a member (!?) will I be moved over to the IHG Platinum status shortly?

Mar 1, 2019, 1:02 pm

#304

goliath

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: ZRH

Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond

Posts: 2,418

Quote:

Originally Posted by goliath

Another question regarding yesterday's e-mail:

My accounts still shows Gold status today. Did anyones account actually get upgraded?

Update: my account was now upgraded to Platinum today. ^

Mar 1, 2019, 2:48 pm

#305

adobbing

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: Cheshire

Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Am Elite, Best Western Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold

Posts: 1,712

Possibly a stupid question and may already have been answered, but here goes!

For the “ Guaranteed one category room upgrade“

Is this just at IC properties or all IHG group properties?

kodyandgracie likes this.

Mar 1, 2019, 3:41 pm

#306

FlyerTalker688786

Suspended

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2007

Posts: 4,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by adobbing

Possibly a stupid question and may already have been answered, but here goes!

For the “ Guaranteed one category room upgrade“

Is this just at IC properties or all IHG group properties?

For Ambassador, IC only.
For Platinum/Spire, all IHG group with exceptions and also strict terms and conditions [i.e., don't expect anything].

Mar 1, 2019, 3:46 pm

#307

adobbing

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: Cheshire

Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Am Elite, Best Western Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold

Posts: 1,712

Quote:

Originally Posted by chongcao

For Ambassador, IC only.
For Platinum/Spire, all IHG group with exceptions and also strict terms and conditions [i.e., don't expect anything].

How about Ambassador Spire Elite?

Mar 1, 2019, 4:21 pm

#308

FlyerTalker688786

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Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2007

Posts: 4,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by adobbing

How about Ambassador Spire Elite?

For IC hotels, they only care Ambassador or Royal Ambassador.

For non-IC IHG hotels, they only care if you are Platinum or Spire.

Ambassador system only works in IC, so only Ambassador guaranteed for one level upgrade. Spire Ambassador is guaranteed one level only, although sometimes some nice ICs may upgrade two levels.

ginmqi likes this.

Mar 1, 2019, 5:30 pm

#309

ginmqi

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MCI

Posts: 698

I'm a new Club member (looking to purchase up to Ambassador status), should also get Platinum Elite with my chase IHG card

Look over the new Ambassador program benefits starting today, it looks like there is no guaranteed Club/Lounge access if you're an ambassador (aka, free breakfast perk) unless you're RA.

I'm looking to stay at IC Saigon in April, will likely have Ambassador + Platinum Elite status, but I assume I have to book a club room to get the lounge access (which I see seems to not able to be booked via pts when I looked....other rooms are bookable via pts or pts+ cash, Club room only shows cash rate).

What are the chances of booking say a higher level king room (corner room) and then get the room upgraded into a club room upon checkin as ambassador? Or would it be a paid upgrade at checkin? Or is it more likely property dependent/YMMV kind of situation?

Thanks for any insights

Mar 1, 2019, 7:44 pm

#310

MXM135

Join Date: Aug 2006

Location: Ottawa

Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold

Posts: 1,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginmqi

You might get upgraded to a Club Room but will not be given Club Lounge access unless you pay for it.

As per the Ambassador T&C's:

15. The InterContinental Ambassador guaranteed one room category upgrade excludes the Club InterContinental Experience/Club InterContinental lounge access. Should a member’s original room purchase be one category lower than an advertised Club InterContinental room/suite category, the member will be assigned the one category upgrade without the Club InterContinental Experience/Club InterContinental lounge access.

mxm135

ginmqi likes this.

Mar 1, 2019, 9:44 pm

#311

davidw70

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: UK

Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat (+LTP), VS Silver

Posts: 1,392

Checked into IC Downtown LA today. Welcomed as Spire Ambassador and given a one category upgrade, but no other benefits provided or mentioned (no fruit or water in room, no mention of the $20 credit, etc). I’ll charge to the room and see what happens re $20 on check out. It just doesn’t feel as hospitable as having the welcome amenities in the room.

Mar 1, 2019, 9:45 pm

#312

ginmqi

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MCI

Posts: 698

Quote:

Originally Posted by MXM135

Ah I see. Thanks for that. Looks like I'll have to just keep looking at the club room rate vs standard rooms.

Mar 1, 2019, 11:37 pm

#313

demue

Join Date: May 2004

Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)

Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 7,738

Quote:

Originally Posted by goliath

Update: my account was now upgraded to Platinum today. ^

My GFs too. An entry on 28 Feb in account activity shows the upgrade.

Mar 2, 2019, 2:16 am

#314

FlyerTalker688786

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Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2007

Posts: 4,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw70

That is when Ambassador benefit guarantee should work. Make sure you mention this on check out, better to talk to a manager for it. And be prepared to show him the benefit page of Ambassador.

ginmqi likes this.

Mar 2, 2019, 6:23 am

#315

doubter13

Join Date: Feb 2019

Programs: IHG Spire Am Elite, HH Diamond, BonVoy Gold Elite, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, StarAlliance Gold

Posts: 21

hi, can anyone confirm what happenes to the spire Elite ambassador Status when you renew and the Spire elite part of this was always coming from the renewal of ambassador and not from the nights spent?
my Ambassador will expire on april 1st and to be honest i am not impressed with the "benefits" in the past and of course less impressed with the changes and would only extend it one more time if i can keep the spire elite part be doing this.
i am also HH diamond and SPG Gold elite and most of the time i got better treatment by them then by IHG