Ending of Royal Ambassador??
Aug 6, 2014, 10:58 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
And if Ambassador program goes away what makes you think a Platinum status will instead suffice. I can not see it happening.
If you think IC's struggle with number of Ambassador's + RA's staying at the moment, it would be far worse if the millions of Platinums had to be given recognition and meaningful upgrades.
If you think IC's struggle with number of Ambassador's + RA's staying at the moment, it would be far worse if the millions of Platinums had to be given recognition and meaningful upgrades.
You just don't want the competition from the rest of us who deserve it more than you do.
Last edited by CalItalian; Aug 6, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Aug 6, 2014, 11:02 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
I am not home very often...sometimes just enough to pick up the mail...
Aug 7, 2014, 1:20 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Isn't that exactly what they are trying to achieve? Your post explains exactly why it would be a good thing for IHG to do.
Aug 7, 2014, 4:29 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
Hotels have been struggling with this for years now and did everything they could to get the referrals, and to some extent abusive guests, away and qualification criteria up, so I highly doubt that this will be a "good thing". At 50000 CNY / 10,000 USD - that might work here.
Aug 8, 2014, 7:36 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Call me a traditionalist but I'd hate to see the Ambassador/RA program end. I go back to the original SixContinentsClub (and the HiltonClub) which quite fit the needs of those using high end international hotels. The problem came with the takeover by Bass and Holiday Inn, and uneven integration with PriorityClub, as well as expectations moving from stay benefits to earning points and free nights.
For me, the program isn't broken so don't tinker with it further. Just let it exist for its purpose of better servicing regular IC customers, a very different market niche than that of HIs and HIXs, let alone the other leisure and lifestyle tier brands.
For me, the program isn't broken so don't tinker with it further. Just let it exist for its purpose of better servicing regular IC customers, a very different market niche than that of HIs and HIXs, let alone the other leisure and lifestyle tier brands.
Aug 8, 2014, 10:09 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
If they are going to cancel the RA programme, I hope they let us know soon so that I can change all my existing IC bookings over to Hyatt /SPG.
Aug 8, 2014, 11:56 am
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Aug 8, 2014, 2:47 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
That's true! In that case I hope we find out sooner than later.
So far since they stopped sending out RA referrals, I haven't seen any improvements as an RA member.
I don't really have any interest in staying in CPs and much less in HIs. So if they axe RA, it's farewell for me.
Aug 8, 2014, 2:55 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
That's true! In that case I hope we find out sooner than later.
So far since they stopped sending out RA referrals, I haven't seen any improvements as an RA member.
I don't really have any interest in staying in CPs and much less in HIs. So if they axe RA, it's farewell for me.
So far since they stopped sending out RA referrals, I haven't seen any improvements as an RA member.
I don't really have any interest in staying in CPs and much less in HIs. So if they axe RA, it's farewell for me.
The other thing, is if you regularly return to the same properties, sound them out now about whether they would continue to offer you the benefits if the programme closed. They can only say no. If they thought they might lose you ......
I still get RA benefits in two properties even though I have "lapsed". It is always worth asking nicely if you have a good relationship.
Aug 8, 2014, 8:41 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YYC
Programs: AC AP, Priority Club Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, National Executive
Posts: 414
Agree. I am fiercely loyal to IHG for my work travel, which are in towns and cities where there is no ICs. Consequently my 60 nights per year are spent at HI/HIX. However, on vacation in larger cities and resorts (15 nights per year) I seek out higher-end properties but shy away from ICs because I don't have any status/recognition. But if the programs were integrated I would consider staying at ICs.
Aug 8, 2014, 11:30 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: All around the world
Programs: Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 607
Could you imagine if they turned the concept on it's head and instead of giving RA away for free - but no one knows exactly how or why - and with customers constantly arguing about what they should be getting, instead they charged for it and benefits became a stronger and clearly spelt out contractual obligation?
So instead of DYKWIA it becomes a clear commercial contractual relationship. No variation. No whims of local management. And the fee is the same for anyone who pays but the people who gain most are those that stay most. What difference would a $1000 fee make to all the people who currently stay 75 nights a year or more or whatever it is to get RA ......
1. Swanky upgrade
2. Early checkin and later checkout
3. Free mini-bar
4. Lounge access
5. Free Laundry - 2 pieces per day
6. Special RA weekend lower but flexible rates
7. In room/suite checkin
8. Same earnings as everyone else but 33% discount on all points redemptions
No weekend vouchers. No films. Oh alright just the one for blokes travelling by themselves.
Forget the nicknacks and little silly gifts. Just a welcome note explaining what you get.
A plain and simple and consistant and guaranteed contractual programme that anyone can buy.
So instead of DYKWIA it becomes a clear commercial contractual relationship. No variation. No whims of local management. And the fee is the same for anyone who pays but the people who gain most are those that stay most. What difference would a $1000 fee make to all the people who currently stay 75 nights a year or more or whatever it is to get RA ......
1. Swanky upgrade
2. Early checkin and later checkout
3. Free mini-bar
4. Lounge access
5. Free Laundry - 2 pieces per day
6. Special RA weekend lower but flexible rates
7. In room/suite checkin
8. Same earnings as everyone else but 33% discount on all points redemptions
No weekend vouchers. No films. Oh alright just the one for blokes travelling by themselves.
Forget the nicknacks and little silly gifts. Just a welcome note explaining what you get.
A plain and simple and consistant and guaranteed contractual programme that anyone can buy.
Aug 10, 2014, 4:14 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany, Austria
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, ALL Silver,, Miles&More
Posts: 1,122
The LHW program works like that, you have a basic 150$ membership tier that offers free internet, breakfast, possibility of upgrade... and a 1200$ membership that offers free airport transfer, free priority pass unlimited, guaranteed upgrades... I like this program more than the opaque Ambassador program because you pay a price and never have to worry about retaining the status.
Aug 10, 2014, 4:41 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
I don't know what the situation is currently with status matching, but if you were serious about your plans it wouldn't do any harm to sound out the other chains to see if they might whilst you are still currently RA in a live programme. Even if the published info is they don't they might do if asked nicely. You don't know until you try. If there was an announcement of the end of RA there could be a lot more trying it and sometimes the earlier bird catches the better worms.
The other thing, is if you regularly return to the same properties, sound them out now about whether they would continue to offer you the benefits if the programme closed. They can only say no. If they thought they might lose you ......
I still get RA benefits in two properties even though I have "lapsed". It is always worth asking nicely if you have a good relationship.
The other thing, is if you regularly return to the same properties, sound them out now about whether they would continue to offer you the benefits if the programme closed. They can only say no. If they thought they might lose you ......
I still get RA benefits in two properties even though I have "lapsed". It is always worth asking nicely if you have a good relationship.
Thanks for the tips!
I don't actually have an IC that I really stay a lot with - I should have stayed in about 40 ICs so far but the most are just 6 or 7 stays.
But it is a good point to build that relationship with existing hotels.
I just had breakfast with a hotel GM and it was not from the IHG group.
Aug 10, 2014, 7:41 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MUC/RJK
Programs: SQ G, LH FTL, UA S, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,442
With 200+ nights, I really don't see a reason why you would *avoid* staying at ICs - you would stay enough to make it to RA in any case. If there are no ICs where you usually stay, then the whole rant is irrelevant, because you wouldn't benefit from status recognition anyway.
Aug 10, 2014, 7:53 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MUC/RJK
Programs: SQ G, LH FTL, UA S, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,442
Could you imagine if they turned the concept on it's head and instead of giving RA away for free - but no one knows exactly how or why - and with customers constantly arguing about what they should be getting, instead they charged for it and benefits became a stronger and clearly spelt out contractual obligation?
What you are suggesting is not a *loyalty* program (the chain rewarding its most frequent customers), but just a subscription to benefits, similar to what UA has for E+. The only incentive for me to book IC/IHG hotels then would be to a) first invest in the relationship, and b) take care to get the most out of my money. Works perfectly if most of my stays are leisure stays. No need to try hard to achieve a (potentially imaginary) target, and I can clearly calculate how profitable my investment is.
It may seem silly, but a stupid gift or a knick-knack is what (falsely) makes it feel a little more personal in the whole relationship between myself and a huge international hotel chain. It's what pushes me to book IC/IHG vs. Hilton vs. SPG vs. Hyatt. Sure, I would probably get the same if I had top-tier status at any of the others, but I don't. And take away my knick-knack, and you're just making me go look for it at one of them.