Dec 10, 2018, 4:07 pm
Last edit by: FlyerTalker688786
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:
For all other Ambassadors, the new benefit starts on 1st MARCH 2019:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars
AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GURANTEE work as bellow:
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
• 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)
Dec 13, 2018, 6:03 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
Yep that's me, unashamedly ..... mind I'm good for at least 60k GBP direct IC spend p.a, a similar amount combined indirect and a sign budget off across EMEA for a many more 000,000's again for a lot of folk. That's worth a cheap red, white, champagne and some miniatures to take home and lurk in a dark cupboard until Christmas yes?
There's a need to think how this works. Without sounding pompous, I imagine a lot of you RA's have large sign off and budget influence. I know I have. I also know that that FOC mini bar is an (admittedly shallow, childish and selfish) influencer, but one that should it disappear would have a not insignificant influence on my thinking. Enough to jump ship? Maybe not, as many of you have mentioned, if you have a relationship with the hotels on a regular basis then that 'good treatment' is likely to continue I suspect. But in a childish moment, would it influence my T&A budget decisions. Maybe .... the raid the mini bar RA's tend to have a good amount of spend influence. At least it's my experience.
There's a need to think how this works. Without sounding pompous, I imagine a lot of you RA's have large sign off and budget influence. I know I have. I also know that that FOC mini bar is an (admittedly shallow, childish and selfish) influencer, but one that should it disappear would have a not insignificant influence on my thinking. Enough to jump ship? Maybe not, as many of you have mentioned, if you have a relationship with the hotels on a regular basis then that 'good treatment' is likely to continue I suspect. But in a childish moment, would it influence my T&A budget decisions. Maybe .... the raid the mini bar RA's tend to have a good amount of spend influence. At least it's my experience.
Dec 13, 2018, 6:15 am
#92
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
Exactly this. Does not having a minibar make me quit the program? No. But this was the fun differentiator. Now, if I have a Hyatt and an IC, I’ll be more likely to go to the Hyatt - with suspicious upgrade rules and no more minibar ($50 is not even enough for two singles in sone properties, and seriously, two singles is really not a lot of drink), this really makes me questions the value prop.
Have to say if I conducted all my stays based on need, rationality, modesty and role model behaviour then what a dull miserable existence it would be!
The day I have to sit on a budget airline running for a seat and have to stay at a 'sensible hotel' with 'sensible benefits' is the day I take up clay pot or chocolate fudge making as a business ... at home. By the way, I know many folks have to do that so it's tongue in cheek comment but you get what I mean. This stuff should be fun not subsistence.
Dec 13, 2018, 9:30 am
#93
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
and frankly I could not care less about this issue. I posted the information on good faith of sharing information on FT. Your accusation abosultely hurts. Please apologize if you could not find any of my past posting could indicate that I am an insider of IHG. I am serious. Your accusation make me question what is the point to share something I accidentally got. It is utterly personal attack and false.
Dec 13, 2018, 9:36 am
#94
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Despite multiple requests from various members here, the OP (original poster) of this thread refuses to give details of where he got all this inside information apart from saying he got his hands on some draft IHG training document for 2019 from a intercontinental hotel employee in China.
Is it really wise to be dedicating a whole thread with this many posts to something so unofficial and unconfirmed ?
Is it really wise to be dedicating a whole thread with this many posts to something so unofficial and unconfirmed ?
So next time when I see something similar, I will keep my mouth shut. I did not realise this forum has becoming a shoot the messenger type place. Disgusting.
Dec 13, 2018, 9:37 am
#95
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,394
Calm down Chongcao.
You are posting private company information on a public website without revealing your sources or how you got them.
In such a situation you should expect extra scrutiny and questioning from members here.
What you are doing is not exactly "kosher".
You are posting private company information on a public website without revealing your sources or how you got them.
In such a situation you should expect extra scrutiny and questioning from members here.
What you are doing is not exactly "kosher".
Dec 13, 2018, 9:39 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Data Point: I just checked into a Euro IC and they have a new RA policy. You can choose a fruit bowl or either sweet or savory items from the minibar. I chose savory and am enjoying Pringles and peanuts, etc. 
Dec 13, 2018, 9:41 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Korea, USA
Programs: IC Dia RA / Marriott LT Plat / WOH Globalist / Hilton Diamond / OZ Diamond Plus
Posts: 340
Dec 13, 2018, 9:47 am
#98
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Calm down Chongcao.
You are posting private company information on a public website without revealing your sources or how you got them.
In such a situation you should expect extra scrutiny and questioning from members here.
What you are doing is not exactly "kosher".
You are posting private company information on a public website without revealing your sources or how you got them.
In such a situation you should expect extra scrutiny and questioning from members here.
What you are doing is not exactly "kosher".
Dec 13, 2018, 10:04 am
#99
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
Have to say, I'd rather folks shared data got in good faith as well .... even if it proved to be wrong.
There's been a good few times I've found things, considered them unbelievable, kept shut and they indeed proved to be correct. There have also been times I've been told stuff way too sensitive to share and with good reason to those concerned, which subsequently becomes real. Braver to share and run the risk of some flack.
Keep up the good work ... if you see stuff you think we should know about or can learn from then post away. I for one find it interesting regardless.
Let's keep the nature of this stuff in good spirit.
There's been a good few times I've found things, considered them unbelievable, kept shut and they indeed proved to be correct. There have also been times I've been told stuff way too sensitive to share and with good reason to those concerned, which subsequently becomes real. Braver to share and run the risk of some flack.
Keep up the good work ... if you see stuff you think we should know about or can learn from then post away. I for one find it interesting regardless.
Let's keep the nature of this stuff in good spirit.
Dec 13, 2018, 10:17 am
#100
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
Don't nail chongcao please. Even if his OP is not really "kosher", it is only his problem and choice to post it or not, but we benefit from it anyhow, so if we participate the speculation we play the game so let's continue play.
Dec 13, 2018, 11:49 am
#101
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
i've had some ridiculous things said to me about RA by hotel employees, i take it all with a grain of salt. they suffer from the speculation syndrome too
Dec 13, 2018, 11:54 am
#102
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
as long as ambassadors get one tier, minimum for RA's has to be two.
caveat - all speculative till the fat lady (IHG) sings.
Dec 13, 2018, 2:08 pm
#104
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: Infinity Milage Lands Gold,Star Alliance Gold, IHG Diamond RA, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 370
To be fair to chongcao the title of the thread says (unconfirmed) and the op is not the first person to raise some of the info provided here, I myself mentioned hearing about potential minibar change and credit for not providing an upgrade from staff at a club lounge in another thread. All the op has done is provide more concrete sounding detail than some of the chit chat that has gone on in other threads weather it comes to fruition or not we will just have to wait and see.
Dec 13, 2018, 3:51 pm
#105
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: Infinity Milage Lands Gold,Star Alliance Gold, IHG Diamond RA, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 370
Yep that's me, unashamedly ..... mind I'm good for at least 60k GBP direct IC spend p.a, a similar amount combined indirect and a sign budget off across EMEA for a many more 000,000's again for a lot of folk. That's worth a cheap red, white, champagne and some miniatures to take home and lurk in a dark cupboard until Christmas yes?
There's a need to think how this works. Without sounding pompous, I imagine a lot of you RA's have large sign off and budget influence. I know I have. I also know that that FOC mini bar is an (admittedly shallow, childish and selfish) influencer, but one that should it disappear would have a not insignificant influence on my thinking. Enough to jump ship? Maybe not, as many of you have mentioned, if you have a relationship with the hotels on a regular basis then that 'good treatment' is likely to continue I suspect. But in a childish moment, would it influence my T&A budget decisions. Maybe .... the raid the mini bar RA's tend to have a good amount of spend influence. At least it's my experience.
There's a need to think how this works. Without sounding pompous, I imagine a lot of you RA's have large sign off and budget influence. I know I have. I also know that that FOC mini bar is an (admittedly shallow, childish and selfish) influencer, but one that should it disappear would have a not insignificant influence on my thinking. Enough to jump ship? Maybe not, as many of you have mentioned, if you have a relationship with the hotels on a regular basis then that 'good treatment' is likely to continue I suspect. But in a childish moment, would it influence my T&A budget decisions. Maybe .... the raid the mini bar RA's tend to have a good amount of spend influence. At least it's my experience.
I like the fact that if I don't feel like going out for the evening or miss the club I have the choice to enjoy a few or more drinks bearing in mind that not everyone is a solo business traveller all the time, couple of beers, couple of G&Ts maybe a half bottle of fizz for the other half and that $200 stay cap is gone in 1 night let alone the $50 per night thing.
Using myself as an example of how things can influence spend with this being my first year as RA I am way ahead of what I spent last year when qualifying even though last year I nearly always booked club rooms I had 0 reward nights at IC's against a dozen or so this year and quite often drunk all the beer in the minibar and more lol, it's the choices that the RA program gives currently that has helped influence some of my increased spending choices this year.