IHG Program Update March 2022

Old Nov 4, 2022, 7:36 am
  #1021  
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Originally Posted by 336
If you are Diamond, and your choice is free breakfast, it is for all nights.
And the gratuity is included, I confirmed at IC Montreal so anyone telling you the gratuity is not included is lying. Now if you get served by the same person over several days and you want to leave something extra, that is perfectly understandable!
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Old Nov 5, 2022, 8:46 am
  #1022  
 
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Originally Posted by HadesNL
My next stay is in two weeks

It lists as to work:
- need to checked in
- stay + account number must be combined = correctly match
- or the hotel isn't ready to accept these


Have you completed the stay? appreciate if you can update whether the FB voucher can be redeemed?
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Old Nov 5, 2022, 3:16 pm
  #1023  
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Whoops!

Forgot to cash it in at Voco The Hague and IC AMS !
Deserve a quick smacky bottoms for being so absent minded,
I am next at Kimpton Amsterdam in 1,5 week and have now put a post-it yellow note "reminder" on my samples case....
Bear with... Bear with... Bear with....

Apologies!
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Old Nov 12, 2022, 4:48 pm
  #1024  
 
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F&B voucher not ready at IC Singapore Robertson Quay

Tried to redeem via app and website
the system can detect I am currently stay at this hotel and room number, but after clicking redeem the page will load and time out in 20seconds

Spoken to Duty manager here. Was told the F&B voucher is not ready at this hotel yet.
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 2:09 am
  #1025  
 
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Does anyone know if the suite upgrade milestone reward can be used on the IHG Lux Life rate booked via Emyr? I've scanned the ts and cs but it isn't clear. I've emailed IHG but no reply yet.
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 6:44 am
  #1026  
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No More Ambassador Status Benefits At Regent Properties

​From the start of the year, youll no longer be able to redeem the complimentary weekend night certificate at Regent nor Kimpton locations no matter whether its a weekend stay or not.

The other change thats being made from January 1, 2023 is that members with Ambassador status will no longer receive benefits when staying at Regent Hotels & Resorts. That means Ambassadors wont receive the following status benefits from the start of the year:
  • A local Signature Amenity benefit shall be offered.
  • Royal Ambassador minibar credit capped at USD50 per day and USD200 per stay may be replaced by an alternative credit of equal value at the discretion of each hotel.
  • Royal Ambassador two category room upgrade replaced by a one category upgrade. Room upgrade is upon availability at Regent Hotels & Resorts in Greater China.
  • Early Check-in and Extended Check-Out for Ambassador and Royal Ambassador members are always subject to availability at Regent Hotels & Resorts in Greater China.
  • Complimentary breakfast: One complimentary full breakfast for each night of the stay for the Ambassador member, valid only in the main restaurant. Not applicable to in-room dining. Valid in Mainland China only.
​​​​​​
Source
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 10:42 am
  #1027  
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So IHG is making the loyalty program more rewarding for the masses while reducing the value at the top end: Royal Ambassador. No more RA benefits at SS, Kimpton, and Regent; it will only be at IC. That reduces the utility significantly in my opinion except for the (few?) guests who stay overwhelmingly at IC and generally avoid the other brands.
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 11:15 am
  #1028  
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True

But RA was never acknowledged at Kimpton in the first place.
One needs to be invited to InnerCircle status as that is the highest tier valid at Kimpton hotels.

One would assume that all RA get automatic InnerCircle status too,
Wrong, as i think i read on FT somewhere that there are some RA without InnerCircle status.

The consensus is that one must have stayed at Kimptons in the past, must have spent X amount of $ or has a history of staying in premium suites only

Last edited by HadesNL; Nov 13, 2022 at 11:21 am
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 11:15 am
  #1029  
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Originally Posted by escape4
So IHG is making the loyalty program more rewarding for the masses while reducing the value at the top end: Royal Ambassador. No more RA benefits at SS, Kimpton, and Regent; it will only be at IC. That reduces the utility significantly in my opinion except for the (few?) guests who stay overwhelmingly at IC and generally avoid the other brands.
Nothing is said about Six Senses and Kimpton, which by the way is run by another program (Inner Circle).

And lets see how it will be actually implemented (I have superb stay at both Regent Berlin and Montenegro)

Review 1/2

Review 2/2

.
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 11:20 am
  #1030  
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It would be cheaper for IHG to abolish RA/AMB

Let Diamond be highest tier across all brands....

No more need to guarantee benefits for RA/AMB,

instead
Just offer breakfast for Diamonds and the masses are happy

Lounge acces
is regulated via 40/70N mile stones evading a drain on resources

Upgrades are for Diamond subject to availability so no more need to offer confirmed cat+1/cat+2
and a good excuse to not offer upgrades as there will be many Diamonds fishing in the same pool for upgrades

....

You will be alienating your best customers though aka high spenders at IC
......

But that can be compensated by removing -invitation only- status and offering top / easy status with creditcards and making points sales the primary income source (USA centric like Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt)

Last edited by HadesNL; Nov 13, 2022 at 11:26 am
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 12:30 pm
  #1031  
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Originally Posted by HadesNL
You will be alienating your best customers though aka high spenders at IC

But that can be compensated by removing -invitation only- status and offering top / easy status with creditcards and making points sales the primary income source (USA centric like Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt)
Let's let those other brands focus on traveling Americans and IHG can be the leader of the rest of the world. And have a decent business in America.

As for Regent, I fully expect good treatment as a regular customer and RA when Hong Kong is back in business and the Regent reopens.
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 1:34 pm
  #1032  
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Originally Posted by nicolas75
Nothing is said about Six Senses and Kimpton, which by the way is run by another program (Inner Circle).
Nothing is said in the quote above, I agree. However LL does mention Kimpton being cut out too.
"The spend at InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent, and Six Senses count towards the Royal Ambassador invitation, although Royal Ambassador benefits dont apply for stays at Kimpton and Regent hotels come 2023."
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/11/13/...senses-hotels/
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Old Nov 13, 2022, 1:38 pm
  #1033  
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Originally Posted by stimpy
As for Regent, I fully expect good treatment as a regular customer and RA when Hong Kong is back in business and the Regent reopens.
Being a regular customer at any individual hotel does bring good treatment for sure, but it is a different issue that the loyalty program. The power of the loyalty program for me, is getting good treatment when I am a first time guest at a specific hotel.
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Old Nov 14, 2022, 2:13 am
  #1034  
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Kimpton hotels' reservation/booking can only see if someone has:
IHG status (basic ---- diamond)
or
Inner Circle (per invitation only status)

Ambassador / Royal Ambassador status are totally irrelevant at Kimpton hotels
(if one is RA and has qualified also in $ or fitting attractive stayprofile at Kimpton than only will per invitation Inner Circle be granted)

LL confuses the fact that all RA have also InnerCircle status, which is untrue.

point 1
There are some RA without Inner Circle
(never stayed at Kimpton)

point 2
There are Diamonds with Inner Circle but not RA
(did not sign up for Ambassador + never stayed at IC hotels)

point 3
RA can only pe granted if one has signed up for Ambassador as this is the IHG's accounting way to calculate dedicated tenure/ spend $ at IC hotels over periods
(FT thread somewhere: honeymoon spend at different IC hotels up $ 15.000,
was miffed not offered RA:
consensus was he wasn't enrolled as AMB
so IHG did not consider him
as no way of tracking dedicated tenure / spend $ per time periods)





Hope this clarifies a bit,
I have to admit is a bit confusing!
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Last edited by HadesNL; Nov 17, 2022 at 2:56 am
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Old Nov 14, 2022, 3:37 am
  #1035  
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Lightbulb Clarissa explains it all - IHG : status / rank / dominance / benefits eligable

Also to clear away confusion for our newly minted Diamond friends....
And to keep the need of repeating myself .,.
While informing you with some (insider) knowledge / experience
That no other US titan blog or niche blog will tell you or has not even bothered to warn its readers about


and to support nicolas75
when it comes to these claims

Quote LL comments:
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/11/13/...tels/#comments
From comments there:
Last week was with my partner who has ihg diamond at an IHG hotel in Germany.
Just a one level upgrade even though much better rooms were available.
2 PM check out.
No lounge access

!!


and the same person on OMAAT's comments
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/...al-ambassador/
Quote:
My partner got the Diamond status with the promotion.
Sounds great but frankly IHG Diamond status proved to be relatively useless compared to marriott/hiltno/ or hyatt status.
We just stayed at an IHG hotel in germany and really disappointed.
1. Only an upgrade to a better
room .
refused to provide a suite upgrade even though suites were available.
those are th IHG program rules actu
ally.
BTW, Almost always get suite upgrade at marriott and usually get it at hilton.
2. 2 pm chekcout - Marriot/hilton/hyatt have 4 pm for top tier elite
3. no lounge access- big issue for me asi always get it at the others.


SOOOO to make laong story short will not use the IHG dimanod again
as it is a VERY POOR competitor to the others.
I am shocked still some people go to lengths to get IHG diamond or acxtually pay for IHG Ambassador.


Ahum....

It seems a lot of people have too high expectations of IHG's Diamond status.
Thinking it to be highest status among all brands of the group.
Having no idea of being outranked as Diamond at some of IHG's brands.
(Blogs seem to have convenient left this crucial information out)


And why do i keep moaning about late checkout expectations:
see my post:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34731760-post214.html


And keep hammering about early check in expectations
Please adjust expectations if you come before official checkin time (15.00H)
and you won't be a able to check in early and get your room right away.
Even if you see rooms still available for sale via the official app / site
Even if you see better rooms (higher category) still available for sale via the official app / site
That is because room availability can differ in real time at the hotel due to at:
IC : Royal ambassadors enjoy early check in from 10 AM Guaranteed / enjoy a temporary hospitality room until their booked room is ready
Kimpton hotels : Inner Circle enjoy early check in from 10.00 AM Guaranteed / enjoy a temporary hospitality room until their booked room is ready
Six Senses hotels : Royal Ambassadors + Inner Circle enjoy early check in from 10.00 AM / enjoy a temporary hospitality room until their booked room is ready

If a lot of top tier status guests are checking in early at 10AM, (or are all using late checkout at 16.00H)
it can put a strain on real time available rooms ready before official check in time of 15.00H.
(events / holidays / late red eye transcon flights / hotel has limited amount of suites vs rooms)
Source:
https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/co...y/inner-circle
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...rms-conditions



Thus I implore everyone to have expectations managed and thoughts fine tuned.

Because now i will explain the rank of status and benefits at IHG's brands
(Of own personal patronage + according to T&C + tenure experience + FT's collective wisdom of sages)

IHG elite tiers:
https://www.ihg.com/onerewards/conte...ProgramUpdates



Intercontinental hotels
Note: Inner Circle is not applicable at Intercontinental hotels, highest status here is Royal Ambassador

Royal Ambassador (per invitation only)
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...bassador-royal

Ambassador (sign up paid programme)
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental.../en/ambassador

IHG Diamond status
https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/cu...er-tc/2nd-page



In order of rank for upgrades / late checkout

1 Royal Ambassador
2 Diamond Ambassador
3 Platinum Ambassador
4 Diamonds
5 Platinum

* AMB is a paid programme:
- guaranteed an upgrade (cat+1)
- guaranteed late checkout till 16.00H

* Diamond / Platinum :
- upgrade subject to availability at hotel's discretion
- 2PM late checkout subject to availability at hotel's discretion
! Pro TIP: mail reservations in advance to ask about the posibilities % chance to set expectations




Breakfast Complimentary

RA
(if hotel has no open club lounge)

&

Diamonds
(must inform reservations / reception at checkin that breakfast is chosen as Diamond welcome amenity)


Note: Ambassador does not get free breakfast


Lounge access

RA
(Part of status benefit/auto-granted)

&
Diamond
(= only at 40/70 nights milestone rewards selection, must pick & choose in IHG account)

&
Platinum
(= only at 40/70 nights milestone rewards selection, must pick & choose in IHG account)



* NOTE:
Ambassador: does not get lounge access!
Diamond / Platinum: does not auto-grant lounge access,
must have chosen lounge access as 40/70 N as milestone rewards in IHG-account before stay



-------------------------------


Kimpton hotels
NOTE: RA / AMBASSADOR programme is not applicable at Kimpton hotels, it has Inner Circle as highest status

Inner Circle: per invitation only
https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/co...y/inner-circle

IHG Diamond status
https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/cu...er-tc/2nd-page



In order of rank for upgrades / late checkout

1 Inner Circle
2 Diamond
3 Platinum


* Inner Circle (https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/co...y/inner-circle)
- has guaranteed cat+1 upgrade
- guaranteed late checkout till 16.00H


* Diamond / Platinum:
- upgrade subject to availability at hotel's discretion
- 2PM late checkout subject to availability at hotel's discretion
! Pro TIP: mail reservations in advance to ask about the posibilities % chance to set expectations




Breakfast Complimentary

Inner Circle = grants also Diamond status benefits

&

Diamond

NOTE: both must inform reservations / reception at checkin that breakfast is chosen as Diamond welcome amenity


--------------------------


Other brands: HI/HIX/Voco/CP/StaybridgeSuites/Indigo etc.
NOTE: RA / AMB / Inner Circle is not applicable at these brands, Diamond is the highest status
IHG Diamond status :
https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/cu...er-tc/2nd-page


In order of rank for upgrades / late checkout

1 Diamond
2 Platinum

Diamond / Platinum:
- upgrade subject to availability at hotel's discretion
- 2PM late checkout subject to availability at hotel's discretion
! Pro TIP: mail reservations in advance to ask about the posibilities % chance to set expectations



Lounge Access

Diamonds / Platinum
(= only at 40/70 nights milestone rewards selection, must pick & choose in IHG account)




Breakfast complimentary

Diamond only

NOTE: must inform reservations / reception at checkin that breakfast is chosen as Diamond welcome amenity


---------------------------------------------


I cannot speak for Six Senses or for Regent, other regulars may wish to chime in....
I trust their experience and wisdom to add and improve where needed.


Moderators:
I would appreciate it if this could be made into a sticky,
Would make an easy reference for regulars to point out to members.
Would provide newbies with a first non stop source of explaination about status & rank at IHG-hotels
- i admit it is confusion that reigns


Bloggers:
If you wish to blatantly copy this information because you all seem to forget to post these important details to inform the newbies
I prefer FT and all my wise friends here to get a honorable mention or at least a hat tip!
You may wish to thank me personally for having saved the uninformed of disappointment and unrealistic expectations
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Last edited by HadesNL; Nov 17, 2022 at 2:57 am Reason: Thanks to tip : Platinum at 40N milestone can access lounge
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