Old Jun 18, 2016, 4:39 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: HadesNL
Update 2023:
- it seems no new RA have been invited by IHG
- criteria for RA requalification are still unknown
- geographical location of member / country account registration seems of some impact due of covid19(restrictions/availability)
- RA is processed in weekly batches starting december 2022
- proof by nicolas75 shows RA qualification for 2024 seems to be strictly based on IC hotels only (not Regent, Kimpton, SixSenses anymore)

As per Tim O'Brien's post about IHG-corporate explaining RA criteria:

As you are aware,
Royal Ambassador is our invitation only tier with the number of members invited each year
limited to ensure our hotels are able to consistently deliver on the benefits promise,
elevating your stay experience at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.

Although we do not currently have a published criteria for Royal Ambassador,
consideration is determined by variable activities within a members account such as
- qualified paid room nights & spend across our luxury brands (, 2023 EDIT: Post-Pandemic from 2024 InterContinental only : Pre-Pandemic also Kimpton & Regent ) ,
- member region,
- primary hotels,
- category (of the hotel class / $ price levels compared to currency rates / competition / city / region / country / continent )
- tenure (repeat custom / average spend at hotel)
Accompanying or adjoining reservations,
such as the additional rooms of your family etc are not included for Royal Ambassador consideration
but are included in determining Spire Elite status within IHG Rewards Club
.


* FT:IHG forum community group consensus / empirical evidence shows
- that members must have stayed at different unique hotels per city / country / region / continent
the amount of uniques needed for RA qualification is unknown but generally extended long stays at just 1 hotel do not qualify
- IHG-corporate showing keen interest in how much guests are spending $ at hotel's own operated F&B / Spa / transport / extra services / other venues
atacama40 has given us insights that extra spend at the hotel charged to the hotelfolio generates EQP but also flags the database as high valued spending guest
- one must have AMB to get considered for RA invitation by IHG as they seem to evaluate over a longer period the length of one's tenure / devotion / spend / undisclosed criteria at stayed IC-hotels

2024
Royal Ambassador 2024 (Re)Qualification - statistics

Thank you everyone who graciously shared their status and statistics. I took the liberty to compose an overview.
The common factor that is instantly recognisable is:
  • everyone has a valid AMB membership
  • everyone has spent a good amount in $
Shoven
IC: 69 N - 4 unique IC - $17400 - 2 unique country

AndyMick
IC: 96 N - 10 unique IC - 7 unique country - 164778 EQP

Ithink
IC: 78 N - 10 unique IC - 27000

Richelieu
~

ProjectSunburst
15 unique IC (USA) - $35000
Kimpton spend: $11000

Milleage Millionaire
IC: 100 N : 58 revenue & 42 award - 166514 EQP

Raynyan
~

Nicolas75
~

ILS2
$20000

HadesNL
IC: 41 N - 8 unique IC (2x USA, 1x UK, 3x EU, 1x Indonesia) 250458 EQP

Marlin1978
IC: 40 N - 9 unique IC (USA + EU) - $13000

HClee01
IC: 30 N - 6 unique IC - $8700
2x Kimpton / 1x Regent : 22 N - $7400

VAbeachgirl
IC: 88 N - 14 unique IC - 8 countries
2x Kimpton : 7 N
total $20000 (IC + Kimpton)

PremexecSNA
IHG : 85 N - 147000 EQP of which
90% revenue stay
85 % IC + Kimpton
10 unique IC
15 unique Kimpton

Darby1970
IC 100 N : 59 revenue of which
37 N : 11 unique IC (USA)& 4 (non-USA)
187682 EQP

Atacama40
IC + Kimpton : 40 N : UK, ME, Asia
Roomrate > 1000

EmeraldLady
11 unique IC : 4 continents
IHG: 87 N
$20000

Dmac1418
IC: 3 N - 2 unjque (IC Houston MC & IC San Diego)
6S Fiji $22000 (room: $10000 + spend $12000)

Smythmeister
~

Additional statistics can be found in the comments of LL
https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/12/03/...4-share-yours/
The only other place on the whole interweb that has an interest in Royal Ambassador.
============================

2023
Below our FT-members from the IHG forum with RA status
some of whom have graciously shared their statistics to shed some light
-----------------------
Mileage millionaire: 155359 EQP - IC nights 58 - total nights 108 - unique IC 15
Shoven : $16000 - IC nights 49 - Kimpton nights 8 - total nights 57 - unique IC 5 - unique Kimpton 2 - [unique countries UK/Thailand]
Stimpy: overall stats higher than Shoven
Nicholas75 : 230236 EQP - 93 EQN
Raynyan : 190000 EQP - IC/Kimpton nights 90 - unique IC/Kimpton 10
Vsevolod4 : $24000 - IC nights 67 - total nights 87
Vabeachgirl : $17500 - IC nights 75 - Kimpton nights 4 - total nights 79 - unique properties 13 [unique countries 7]
Hclee01: >$12600 - >156K EQP - 54 EQN - unique IC 3 - unique Kimpton 1 - unique Regent 2 [unique countries Singapore/Thailand/Taiwan/Japan]
Chinatrvl :
Ithink : 220.000 EQP - 47 EQN
Ninjalad : 150000 EQP - IC nights 34
Andymick : 145000 EQP - IC nights 100
Gentleman adventurer :
Marlin1978 :
Pseudo nim :
Hadesnl : 250000 EQP - Kimpton/IC nights 30 - 44 EQN - unique IC 3 - unique Kimpton 2 [unique countries UK/NL/FRA/Indonesia]
Itadakimasu : 120000 EQP - IC nights 12 - 51 EQN
Atacama40 : >25000 - IC nights 60 - unique IC 8 - unique Kimpton 1
Eein : corporate rates global & local
Raynyan's friends : RA extension because their account is Japanese registered
Tim O'Brien: after own friendly persuasion effort : $8,500 - IC nights 79 of which 49 at pres.suite - unique IC 4 [unique countries US/AUS/CAN]


----------------
The only other place on the internet that has an interest in RA (re)qualification statistics is at the comments at Loyaltylobby,
more 2023 RA datapoints can be found there:
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/12/09/...re-your-stats/
https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/01/18/...re-your-stats/



==============================================

Update 2020 / 2021:
RA status was extended due to the global pandemic of covid19


================================================== =======

Update 2019: The RA status granted at the start of the calendar year 2017 and 2018 has been based on IC revenue. As from 2019 criteria again have become vague. RA is not achieved through IC spend only. Other, unknown elements are taken into account as well. (Fact: Some users with very high +25k IC spend were not renewed in 2019.)

Update December 2018: it looks like some accounts are proactively being renewed in December 2018, well ahead of the stated expiration of Jan 31, 2019. It is currently unknown what criteria were used, but previous years appeared to indicate around $10K++ in IC spend only.

As before, please Divide EQPs by 10 to get $$$ Spend
================================================== =====
December 2019 / January 2020 Link to RA Renewals & Upgrades
================================================== =====
================================================== =====

JANUARY 2019 RA RENEWAL STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG total (paid)/IC/EQP, break out IC spend if you can
Pseudo Nim 73 IC nights, $14.6K IC spend ($17.7K total),
Shoven 70 (50) IC nights, $17.3K IC spend ($17.3K total),
Unterwegs 52 IC nights, approx $12K net IC spend. No other brands this year! No more mediocre HIs to make status.
Kaix 63 IC nights, $14.4K IC spend ($15.1K total)
Tim O'Brien 26 IC Paid Nights as at Dec 27, when notified of RA renewal, 140,171 EQP, IC Net Spend 14, 017.
Vsevolod4 IHG total 132, IHG total paid 101, IC nights 85, IC Qualified Spend $16.5K, total EQP 398,800, Kimpton nights: 3, RA Ambassador Kit renewed Dec 27, RA renewal (again) and Kimpton Inner Circle upgrade Jan 4.
kaka(mom) 34 nights 1 country (all IC), IC spend:23k USD
Lewis42 / 81 Total (unknown IC) / $16k IC / $2k Kimpton / 4 Continents
81 nights total
$18k Kimpton / IC (about $2k kimpton)
stays in 4 continents

been Ra for ~3-4 years

ID;Name;Confirm;Kit msg; Revenue ;Nights;Challenge?;Additional Info

40;stimpy;+;none; $9,000.00 ;50;?;RA since 2001 - exceptional renewal
38;turner32;-;none; $9,000.00 ;?;?;8/9 years as RA
49;hannes08;+;01/16/2019; $9,990.00 ;52;2000;renewal probably because of challenge
17;Lewis42;+;12/27/2018; $10,000.00 ;?;2000;renewal probably because of challenge
27;scienm;+;none; $10,032.00 ;32;?;8 years RA
25;hclee01;+;none; $10,142.16 ;37;?;current RA since 2014 - manual renewal
18;annihilation;-;none; $10,605.00 ;39;?;
51;crosskonaftw;?;none; $10,700.00 ;35;?;not yet RA
30;Land-of-Miles;+;none; $10,999.00 ;19;?;
16;Kimsbrand;-;none; $11,297.88 ;5;?;not RA yet. 13,532.92 USD total?
48;Urby38;+;12/27/2018; $11,300.00 ;47;?;Royal since 2012
42;SAWorldVoyager;?;12/21/2018; $11,391.52 ;?;?;
14;Cielito_;+;none; $11,511.00 ;62;no;77/62/8 with 12042 USD after batch
45;whimike;+;none; $11,700.00 ;?;?;RA for about 7 years
10;Unterwegs;+;12/27/2018; $12,000.00 ;52;yes;
44;serendipity1211;+;01/16/2019; $12,300.00 ;45;no;first-time RA
28;cazane;+;12/27/2018; $12,600.00 ;61;no;4 prepaid nights not posted until 27th 11890 -> 12600
11;VaBeachGirl;+;12/27/2018; $12,750.00 ;68;no;
50;lukah;?;none; $12,800.00 ;80;?;3 years RA
15;336;-;none; $12,900.00 ;16;2000;NOT completed challenge / Lots of adjusted stays
1;DonPedro;+;12/21/2018; $12,971.00 ;49;no;
47;SD2019;+;none; $13,000.00 ;35;no;stays erroneously adjusted or marked as overlapping
36;BRUSS;+;01/16/2019; $13,001.00 ;?;?;
13;Tim O'Brien;+;12/27/2018; $14,017.00 ;26;?; Kimpton;
33;marlin1978;?;12/27/2018; $14,182.00 ;46;no;
26;Kaix;?;12/27/2018; $14,400.00 ;63;?;
9;Pseudo Nim;+;12/27/2018; $14,600.00 ;73;?;
41;PMMMDL;?;?; $15,000.00 ;50;?;
23;nicolas75;?;12/27/2018; $15,000.00 ;81;?;
5;sharps1337;+;12/21/2018; $15,200.00 ;79;no;
3;Raynyan (friend2);?;12/21/2018; $15,500.00 ;69;no;
22;pantanal;+;12/27/2018; $16,000.00 ;?;?;
24;vsevolod4;+;12/27/2018; $16,319.00 ;84;no;
34;boekel;?;12/27/2018; $16,950.00 ;60;no;
21;ILS2;+;none; $17,000.00 ;40;?;
8;skaya (2x);+;12/27/2018; $17,000.00 ;?;?;
7;shoven;+;12/27/2018; $17,304.00 ;50;?;
51;EmeraldLady;+;12/27/2018; $18,000.00 ;47;?;
32;Mr. Chan;?;12/21/2018; $19,582.00 ;45;yes;completed challenge
46;kaka;+;12/21/2018; $20,001.00 ;34;no;
31;christenlabelle;?;none; $22,000.00 ;51;1k + Kimpton;
39;marcel.baden;?;12/27/2018; $22,000.00 ;77;?;
35;Flying Lawyer;?;12/27/2018; $22,135.00 ;70;?;
37;Roey007;?;none; $25,000.00 ;42;?;9 years RA - 9k adjustment: no kit message with 11k before
12;IThink;+;12/27/2018; $25,000.00 ;85;no;
19;HadesNL;+;12/27/2018; $28,273.90 ;52;?;
4;Raynyan (friend3);?;12/21/2018; $30,000.00 ;73;no;
29;btravers33;?;12/27/2018; $30,000.00 ;98;?;
2;Raynyan (friend1);?;12/21/2018; $32,000.00 ;75;no;
20;Raynyan;+;12/27/2018; ? ;70;?;~30 nights not counted somehow
6;samjnz;?;12/21/2018; ? ;?;2000;


04 JAN 2018 RA RENEWAL STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG total (paid)/IC/EQP, break out IC spend if you can
Pseudo Nim 139 (116)/85/192K, of which $18K in IC
Boekel 85 (70)55/170K, of which $15K in IC
Tim O'Brien 29 IC Nights 2 Non IC IHG nights, 341,976 EQP
scubaccr 55 paid IC Nights , us$13,000++ / 4paid non-IC nights us$900++ (plus 8x IC reward nights, 20x non-IC reward nights) <== Sorry.. forgot to cop exact EQP values before 1/1/2018 acct zeroing
Cielito_ 81/77/5 - $7,353 F&B + $11,656 Room = $19,009 IC net spend - EQP 468,000 (First Time RA)
hclee01 50 IC us$13k++
Land-of-Miles ?? IC us$10.5k++
cazane 60 IC us$11.8k++
VaBeachGirl 54 IC us$13k++
PiffPaffPuff 60IC us$25k++
??????? 35 IC us$10.2k++ <== first time RA ref PiffPaffPuff colleague
Spitcool 40 IC us$15k++
Eltham 40 IC us$12k++
shoven 43 IC us$15k++ <== first time RA
skaya (partner) ?? IC us$10.2k++ <== renewed
darby1970 62 IC us$13k++
The Mileage Millionaire 102 paid IHG nights / 100 paid IC nights / 229k EQP / $22.7k++ IC spend
Orion_1 8 nights at IC, spent at 2 properties - USD 10,200 in total at ICs (honeymoon...)
HadesNL Elite qualifying points: 239,095, Qualifying nights: 39
Aussielori 50 IC us$8k++ 9.2k overall renewed on 16 jan

04 JAN 2018 RA LOSS STATS [put total IHG vs. IC if you can]
================================================== =====

tarek.h ?? IC us$9.1k++

sharps1337 IC us$9.9k++ (and 129 non-IC us$17k++ )

04 JAN 2017 RA RENEWAL STATS (Please include 2016 y/end EQP count)
================================================== =====
NAME.... IHG/IC/IC's EQP $$$$s
SCUBACCR 80/56/13 EQP=14,979 (Split $12864 + $2115)
HANNES08 76/46/10 EQP=11,200
OZ_CATALYST 75/63/8 EQP=14,700 (first Time RA) ($12414 at ICs)
TAREK.H 46/37/4 EQP=14.500 ($10,917 IC Spend)
TravelTheWorld66 147/33/11 EQP=27.972 ($8500 IC Spend)
HCLEE01 67/50/6 EQP=14880
ATACAMA40 82/56/10 EQP=??,???
VaBeachGirl 84/42/12 EQP=15,000
Land-of-Miles 87/73/10 EQP=40,000
SSH4POOH 132/99/28 EQP=50,000
???????? 75/35/8 EQP=??,??? (First Time RA, ref SSH4POOH)
iThink 82/36/11 EQP = 18,200
aussielori 75/45/5 EQP =15,100
1010101 50/48/4 = 12,500
MYSTERY7 63/45/? EQP=25,000 (First Time RA)
EmeraldLady 68/42/10 EQP=15,500
NKU 86/80/5 EQP=20,000
Petrus 110/40/3 EQP=20,000 ($8500 IC Spend)
JOHHENRIK 74/65/10 EQP=16,800
SyLance 76/76/4 EQP=17,500 (RA again after 3years missed)
Pseudo Nim 90/58/15 IC spend $9,500, $17K across chain (175K EQP)
Tim O'Brien 58 nights, EQP 474,576 , July 31, 2017 Year End, renewed to Dec 29, 2017
HadesNL 22/20/7 and us$20,000 ref two posts.
PROTEOME 53/36/? $25,000 (Plus further 30x IC Non-qual nights and 18 IC Award nights) <== nb Maybe/Maybe-Not the IC Non-qual $$'s count as about half EQPs spend, probably > 10k IC qual spend
Chinatrvl 88 nights (in all brands, but c. 75 in ICs), 300,000 EQP, ADR c. 115 USD as I stayed mostly on a locally negotiated rate (spend c. 10k USD)
Unterwegs 78(my count 86)/63/10/285.000 (according to email, I would have expected less. my spending estimate is 15-20K$)
Lewis42 77/39/10 EQP=16010
Whimike 88/35/12 EQP=14220

04 JAN 2017 RA Demotion to xxx Ambassador stats (if > 75/30/3)
==================================================
NAME IHG/IC/IC's EQP $$$$s

[Archived - no longer valid] New (Royal) Ambassador Criteria

A document was unintentionally available in the internet about changes to the (Royal) Ambassador Qualifying and Re-Qualifying criteria.
The document is available on

http://viewfromthewing.img.boardinga...Ambassador.pdf

Older discussion
There was an ongoing discussion about the criteria for some time. This thread is now closed.

update from Executive Liaison Sept, 2023,
spend at other IHG luxury brands does count for RA, and Renewal.
Brands weren't stated, but reasonable to assume Six Senses, Regent, and Kimpton.

















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New RA qualifying criteria based on IC Revenue

Old Oct 7, 2016, 11:06 am
  #646  
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Originally Posted by rapidex
I waited 2 months for mine,then at the end of the 3rd month and each subsequent month I asked for 10000 points.

I think I was getting expensive,my new card arrived after 5 months.
Wow I feel foolish. I never got a card/package last year. But this year it arrived in a matter of days after renewal.
stimpy is offline  
Old Oct 7, 2016, 2:11 pm
  #647  
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Originally Posted by rapidex
We Brits had a different number and missed out on the porn,which may end up as being the best part of Spire.
that explains the hardcore benefits, but ignores the soft openings
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Oct 8, 2016, 7:55 am
  #648  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
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Posts: 3,104
Originally Posted by boekel
while 1. might be possible, knowing IHG's IT system we can assume 2. as 100% given

this could also explain why they don't communicate officially to their members that their membership year was shifted, because they are so embarrassed about their IT system
I imagine a hotel chain's IT system complexity to be enormous. So what do you know about it?
Furthermore, the system will only be as good as the requirements from the business, and I highly doubt that business has made up its mind yet and is struggling to sell the new RA concept to its hotel owners.

That said, my RA expiry date also vanished.
Chinatrvl is offline  
Old Oct 8, 2016, 10:53 am
  #649  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,587
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
that explains the hardcore benefits, but ignores the soft openings
^
rapidex is online now  
Old Oct 8, 2016, 6:15 pm
  #650  
 
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
Originally Posted by Chinatrvl
I imagine a hotel chain's IT system complexity to be enormous. So what do you know about it?
Furthermore, the system will only be as good as the requirements from the business, and I highly doubt that business has made up its mind yet and is struggling to sell the new RA concept to its hotel owners.

That said, my RA expiry date also vanished.
Date of expiry still supplied on the card send with renewal packs.

That vanished ages ago, in July2015 when Spire was activated
ie nothing to do with any benefits IHG may or not be rewnegotiating with IC hotels for enhancing RA bennies whilst reducing numbers of qualified RAs

since July2015....
a)no more top 1/4 of card date line on RA Card showing on ones IHG.COM account page
b)no more grey slider bar for Amb's showing statys of Gold/Plat/RA
c)no more RA expiry date in monthly Ambassador account activity emails
scubaccr is offline  
Old Oct 9, 2016, 7:19 am
  #651  
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Originally Posted by scubaccr
Date of expiry still supplied on the card send with renewal packs.

That vanished ages ago, in July2015 when Spire was activated
ie nothing to do with any benefits IHG may or not be rewnegotiating with IC hotels for enhancing RA bennies whilst reducing numbers of qualified RAs

since July2015....
a)no more top 1/4 of card date line on RA Card showing on ones IHG.COM account page
b)no more grey slider bar for Amb's showing statys of Gold/Plat/RA
c)no more RA expiry date in monthly Ambassador account activity emails
How many RA's can there be? It seems to me that there has to be an awful lot less than top status members in competing chains.
Land-of-Miles is offline  
Old Oct 9, 2016, 8:20 am
  #652  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
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Programs: Qatar Plat, EK Gold
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I have been to a few ICs where the GM or deputy GM requested a meeting with me and they said they never had an RA visit or rarely did............. I found it all rather embarrassing (kind of like Emirates crew welcoming you on board as a Gold member when you are sitting in Economy ;-)

so as noted above, there cannot not be all that many RAs and now that they killed off the referral certificate............
jonspencer is offline  
Old Oct 10, 2016, 12:09 pm
  #653  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bergen, Norway
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, Flying Blue Gold, PC Platinum Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
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Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles
So I just had a call from an IHG supervisor following up on the call of last month. They confirmed that status would be extended to the end of the year (which we have already worked out) and there would be some unspecified communication at an unspecified time detailing the new qualification criteria (there will be some but she couldn't discuss with me).

My feedback was that this is customer hostile and that I have zero intention of playing these games re: RA anymore and that I would be cancelling all forward bookings and shifting to alternative chains. As per my earlier post enough is enough. My $30k a year of income is probably an irrelevance in the broad scheme of things but I will not continue being treated like this.

It might well be that the new qualification criteria is better and/or that I have already qualified for next year (by any rational measure I certainly should) but until there are some tangible scheme rules I am no longer prepared to spend an additional penny at IHG hotels.
I AGREE with you and I have also changed to Hilton. Looks like Hilton did something right when they offered me a status match.... Although I really love Intercontinental I have changed most of my coming stays to Hilton/Conrad.

Xxx.
no-backpacker is offline  
Old Oct 10, 2016, 2:40 pm
  #654  
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Originally Posted by no-backpacker
I AGREE with you and I have also changed to Hilton. Looks like Hilton did something right when they offered me a status match.... Although I really love Intercontinental I have changed most of my coming stays to Hilton/Conrad.

Xxx.
it's understandable for a myriad of reasons, the changing of the goal posts, with a distinct lack of communication, and changing people's anniversary dates doesn't bode well for many.

enjoy your new life at Hilton^

i think they were astute to be generous with their liberal Diamond status matching.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 1:26 am
  #655  
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Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
it's understandable for a myriad of reasons, the changing of the goal posts, with a distinct lack of communication, and changing people's anniversary dates doesn't bode well for many.

enjoy your new life at Hilton^

i think they were astute to be generous with their liberal Diamond status matching.
Status matching is good marketing, but I'm not sure how well it works in the long run. I get a free comped Hilton Diamond each year but I don't use it unless I really need to stay at a Hilton. Like there are several very well placed airport Hiltons that I stay at when I need to. So they get a bit of revenue from me thanks to the comped card, but I really don't like most of their bland boring hotels. IC's and many Starwood hotels are more interesting to me and give me much more enjoyable stays.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 2:29 am
  #656  
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Originally Posted by stimpy
Status matching is good marketing, but I'm not sure how well it works in the long run. I get a free comped Hilton Diamond each year but I don't use it unless I really need to stay at a Hilton. Like there are several very well placed airport Hiltons that I stay at when I need to. So they get a bit of revenue from me thanks to the comped card, but I really don't like most of their bland boring hotels. IC's and many Starwood hotels are more interesting to me and give me much more enjoyable stays.
I have also had a comped HH Diamond for the last 5 years (after 11 years of earning it) and my Hilton stays have been pretty minimal but it all depends upon travel patterns.

I now need to regularly visit some UK locations and my Hilton use has increased (because many UK IHG properties are dumps with no meaningful upgrades). I will requalify for Diamond again this year properly (luckily as my BA comp is coming to an end).

I think status matches (and I picked up RA initially and then again some years later after failing once to requalify via the referral scheme) attract a lot of customers who use it for only a year to milk the benefits but it is the 10% that stick which are the target.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 7:28 am
  #657  
 
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Originally Posted by stimpy
Status matching is good marketing, but I'm not sure how well it works in the long run. I get a free comped Hilton Diamond each year but I don't use it unless I really need to stay at a Hilton. Like there are several very well placed airport Hiltons that I stay at when I need to. So they get a bit of revenue from me thanks to the comped card, but I really don't like most of their bland boring hotels. IC's and many Starwood hotels are more interesting to me and give me much more enjoyable stays.
I don't get any free Diamond-card with Hilton, so for me, the status-match came in very handy, esp. because I didn't get RA.

I haven't stayed at many Hilton-hotels yet, so I really can't compare. However I have stayed at some not so interesting CPs, HIs and Hixs... I willl decide if I change for good after Conrad in HK and Conrad in Beijing.

Xxx.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 7:37 am
  #658  
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Originally Posted by no-backpacker
I don't get any free Diamond-card with Hilton, so for me, the status-match came in very handy, esp. because I didn't get RA.

I haven't stayed at many Hilton-hotels yet, so I really can't compare. However I have stayed at some not so interesting CPs, HIs and Hixs... I willl decide if I change for good after Conrad in HK and Conrad in Beijing.
I meant Hilton hotels aren't interesting. Most Conrad hotels are very nice, but not all are interesting and few are unique or show local flavor. The Conrad HK is in a group of 3 towers that look the same from the outside. The JW is similar to the Conrad, but the Shangri-La on the inside, especially the Club and Club rooms is a much more interesting hotel. Still if you are doing the bulk of your HHonors stays at Conrad's you should not be too disappointed as they are very comfortable and well appointed.

As for the lower end properties like Hamptons and HI's, there isn't much difference between the chains. It mostly depends on how new the hotel is. A new Hampton is better than an old HI, and vice versa.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 8:58 am
  #659  
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Originally Posted by stimpy
I meant Hilton hotels aren't interesting. Most Conrad hotels are very nice, but not all are interesting and few are unique or show local flavor. The Conrad HK is in a group of 3 towers that look the same from the outside. The JW is similar to the Conrad, but the Shangri-La on the inside, especially the Club and Club rooms is a much more interesting hotel. Still if you are doing the bulk of your HHonors stays at Conrad's you should not be too disappointed as they are very comfortable and well appointed.

As for the lower end properties like Hamptons and HI's, there isn't much difference between the chains. It mostly depends on how new the hotel is. A new Hampton is better than an old HI, and vice versa.
And the comparator is IHG where even the best brand IC can be formulaic and unexceptional (sure there are some great properties in amongst many cookie cutters, but not all IC's are that good)? I would put Conrad and IC on a par, if only Hilton Diamond gave me the benefits that RA does I would never stay another night in an IHG hotel

To be fair though HKG is a bit of a soft choice because the proper IC is exceptional the crappy one down the road however is a different matter.
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Old Oct 11, 2016, 9:24 am
  #660  
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Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles
And the comparator is IHG where even the best brand IC can be formulaic and unexceptional (sure there are some great properties in amongst many cookie cutters, but not all IC's are that good)?
Aside from a few IC's in the US, What IC's out there are formulaic and unexceptional? Even the poorer HKG property can't be called formulaic. It was quite an interesting hotel when it opened up many years ago. It just needs a re-fresh.
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