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 15, 2018, 8:29 pm
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Though I guess the points have to be accounted for. So rather than an ever-growing liability IHG'd prefer you to use up your points one way or another.
I don't suppose the hotels mind too much, unless they are convinced there's an opportunity cost involved - though i believe they get well compensated if the hotel has high occupancy on the night of you reward stay.
Dec 15, 2018, 9:11 pm
#122
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 487
Though I guess the points have to be accounted for. So rather than an ever-growing liability IHG'd prefer you to use up your points one way or another.
I don't suppose the hotels mind too much, unless they are convinced there's an opportunity cost involved - though i believe they get well compensated if the hotel has high occupancy on the night of you reward stay.
I don't suppose the hotels mind too much, unless they are convinced there's an opportunity cost involved - though i believe they get well compensated if the hotel has high occupancy on the night of you reward stay.
Dec 15, 2018, 9:46 pm
#124
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
Instead IHGers are booking such in demand nights like NYE a full 11months out, and since availability is 5% of rooms, not last room in basic category, nothing is then available
Further on a soldout NYE, an hotel doesn't the usual pittance from IHG, but the averaged rate across all rooms that night (entry/deluxe/suites averaged out) so hotel doesn't really care. In fact it is not unusual for larger hotels 200rooms plus, if comfortably over 95% threshold, to release last few rooms on points at last minute knowing IHG will have to pay same as a cash booking.
Dec 15, 2018, 10:29 pm
#125
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
Reimbursement is fixed until the hotel reaches 95% occupancy, st which point they get a pretty solid kickback. I’ve seen times where standard rooms are sold out but available on points - which is a bit of an extreme case.
Dec 16, 2018, 12:01 am
#126
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,443
Dec 16, 2018, 1:17 am
#127
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
This has happened when I was trying to book IC Singapore. The standard rooms are sold out but the award night rooms are available. Upon check-in, I have discussed my observation with the Club Manager and was told that under IHG policy, the hotel is committed to offer "X" number of award rooms daily. So even if the award rooms are not booked and the hotel is booked solid, they have to keep the award rooms for redemption and not sell them.
Dec 16, 2018, 2:10 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Canary Wharf, London
Programs: MyWaitrose, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond & BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,685
I hope the free night cert allows for cancellation. Often rates change and I re-book but if I have an e-voucher, will that still be possible?
Dec 16, 2018, 9:16 am
#129
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
Still even get RA upgrade where IC treats awards same as paid, as usually lower room types oversold and some high cat rooms unsold and will be used to upgrade oversold mid cat rooms or RAs/Ambs
Agreed occurs where the required 5% of rooms made available as awards each night are not all taken up, but hotel must keep the 5% awards on sale
Dec 16, 2018, 8:54 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
Since IHG haven't formally announced any of this, no one can answer that at this point. However, considering the free night cert requires you to book the expensive flexible rates, why would you not be able to do so?
Dec 16, 2018, 9:12 pm
#131
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/us/en/ambassador/new-benefits?
Dec 16, 2018, 9:46 pm
#132
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
Bogo Cert as not expired, you can't use physical bogo cert past it's expiry date (like one can do with CC or IHG free night certs) will return to account to be reused
Will be interesting if bogo once becomes e-cert then allows booking before expires for a date past end date of ones bogo . If it does then of course not returned similar to other expired freenight certs
Dec 16, 2018, 9:54 pm
#133
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
Have updated Wiki as foc Breakfast is ONLY for Greater China
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
NEW EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS STARTING IN EARLY 2019:
• Platinum Elite status in IHG® Rewards Club
• Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
• Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
• E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
• Platinum Elite status in IHG® Rewards Club
• Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
• Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
• E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars
Last edited by scubaccr; Dec 16, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Dec 16, 2018, 10:18 pm
#135
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
NEW EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS STARTING IN EARLY 2019:
• Platinum Elite status in IHG® Rewards Club
Wonder if this means IHG are finally closing the unofficial but well known "loophole" wherby some get Spire just once then buy Ambassador each year for usd150 to maintain/renew Spire without qualifying on 75kEQP's or 75nights
• Platinum Elite status in IHG® Rewards Club
Wonder if this means IHG are finally closing the unofficial but well known "loophole" wherby some get Spire just once then buy Ambassador each year for usd150 to maintain/renew Spire without qualifying on 75kEQP's or 75nights