Originally Posted by hdogan

I for one would be the first to leave. For most of my stays, I don't *choose* to travel, and my company won't reimburse any membership fees. Sure, I like the perks, but frankly, they seem to be more consistent (especially at non-IC properties) with other chains.

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.

Originally Posted by uk1

I understand and accept that perspective. But the current programme isn't a loyalty programme either.

I spend more than a great many who currently receive RA benefits. I am therefore more "loyal" than they are. I have zero qualifying nights for RA. That seems dumb for both ICHG and to me. RA benefits are being purchased in some way or other. The debate is "how". No one has ever stated or " boasted" yet ( as far as I can recall) how little they have spent in personally qualifying to gain RA and what they quantify the benefits and freebies they received as being worth. It takes a chunk of HIEX and others and a very few IC nights to give extraordinary benefits in all - but particularly IC - doesn't it? We don't know 'cos they ain't sayin'!

Perhaps the programme should accommodate both by simply recognising solely how much a customer spends annually .... which was in fact my starting point. Just plain revenue. No more - no less. Perhaps one night in a $30k suite or 200 nights in $150 rooms in any part of the chain - sort of principle. Simplicity!

Originally Posted by mitpat474

How come your nights do not qualify?

Originally Posted by uk1

I understand and accept that perspective. But the current programme isn't a loyalty programme either.

I spend more than a great many who currently receive RA benefits. I am therefore more "loyal" than they are. I have zero qualifying nights for RA. That seems dumb for both ICHG and to me. RA benefits are being purchased in some way or other. The debate is "how". No one has ever stated or " boasted" yet ( as far as I can recall) how little they have spent in personally qualifying to gain RA and what they quantify the benefits and freebies they received as being worth. It takes a chunk of HIEX and others and a very few IC nights to give extraordinary benefits in all - but particularly IC - doesn't it? We don't know 'cos they ain't sayin'!

Perhaps the programme should accommodate both by simply recognising solely how much a customer spends annually .... which was in fact my starting point. Just plain revenue. No more - no less. Perhaps one night in a $30k suite or 200 nights in $150 rooms in any part of the chain - sort of principle. Simplicity!

Originally Posted by nicolas75

I would be very sad if Royal Ambassador may end, as it is my major reason why I am very loyal to IHG.

I love the idea that very loyal customers get exceptional benefits. I love checking-in in the morning without any issue. I love staying around the world and always been very well welcomed. I love club lounges to have a quiet moment. And I love of course very nice suites.

I love having my little problems solved quickly and efficiently through the Ambassador line.

I know that ICs can be in some towns not the trendiest/cheapest option, but still I am always very happy to see the IC logo when arriving in a city by taxi, because I know I will have again a great stay.

Originally Posted by scubaccr

Your spend is irrelevant as you never pay for a qualifying rate to stay. Ok that works well if one is a regular at an IC, one can usually get everything RA does with exception of the free mini-bar as a regular repeat stayer.

I think IHG should up IC nights we all currently believe required from 20 to 30, that would reduce a few RAs .

My one issue is IC stays in London, Paris, Amsterdam cost me 3-4x nightly rate than a whole bunch of cheaper cities. As such my 30 European nights can easily buy 60-100+ nights in some USA, Asian, Chinese countries.

Maybe the cheaper IC's should only count as 0.5 qual nights to even things up ?

Originally Posted by nicolas75

I would be very sad if Royal Ambassador may end, as it is my major reason why I am very loyal to IHG.

I love the idea that very loyal customers get exceptional benefits. I love checking-in in the morning without any issue. I love staying around the world and always been very well welcomed. I love club lounges to have a quiet moment. And I love of course very nice suites.

I love having my little problems solved quickly and efficiently through the Ambassador line.

I know that ICs can be in some towns not the trendiest/cheapest option, but still I am always very happy to see the IC logo when arriving in a city by taxi, because I know I will have again a great stay.

Originally Posted by nicolas75

I would be very sad if Royal Ambassador may end, as it is my major reason why I am very loyal to IHG.

I love the idea that very loyal customers get exceptional benefits. I love checking-in in the morning without any issue. I love staying around the world and always been very well welcomed. I love club lounges to have a quiet moment. And I love of course very nice suites.

I love having my little problems solved quickly and efficiently through the Ambassador line.

I know that ICs can be in some towns not the trendiest/cheapest option, but still I am always very happy to see the IC logo when arriving in a city by taxi, because I know I will have again a great stay.

Originally Posted by uk1

Your argument is inconsistent.

In your first comments you state that qualification should be based solely on nights and not revenue - but more. Then you go on to grumble that your stays are more expensive than other RA's that qualify which is a revenue argument and then in your last comments you state that cheaper IC's should qualify for less nights - which is again a further revenue based argument.

But my suggestion that it is simply based on how much a customer spends isn't to your liking.

Originally Posted by scubaccr

Not what I said at all, I just pointed out that a few European City IC rates were of the order of 4x that of a raft of cheaper ICs in eg China, Asa and cetain US cities. May well be why so many RAs qualify in China, many new ICs at relatively cheap rates

And I would hate Ambassador program to close just when they fix the only real issue I had, the fixed points per IC stay versus loads of $$$ points in Americas.

I comfortably make the IC stay counts needed the last few years, so qualifying on ££'s is not relevant or needed.

My only annoyance from switching from predominantly CP to IC stays, was the loss in points, BUT that has just been corrected, which will be really appreciated when I stay in London, Amsterdam and Paris.

Heck just 2 inroom meals and 2 bar beers at IC-Berlin got me 2k points that I would not have received at IC's before this July. I will be upping my incidental spend at IC's a fair bit now.

Originally Posted by scubaccr

May well be why so many RAs qualify in China, many new ICs at relatively cheap rates

Originally Posted by paulmoscow

Then why not change the program to be purely revenue-based? For example, instead of 60 nights price the average night at about USD 250 and require at least 15K spending per year.

Originally Posted by paulmoscow

Then why not change the program to be purely revenue-based? For example, instead of 60 nights price the average night at about USD 250 and require at least 15K spending per year.

Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles

Too low make it 25k and increase the benefits