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.

















Print Wikipost

New RA qualifying criteria based on IC Revenue

Old Jan 29, 2019, 4:47 pm
  #3241  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
Originally Posted by hclee01
Based on clarification from Corporate Office, Inner Circle is offered to US based RA and to a small population of UK based RA. Looks like for my upcoming Taipei trip, I have to decide if I want to go with Kimpton hotel if they can't offer late check-out as I have a evening flight.

"Kimpton Inner Circle is reserved for the most loyal to the Kimpton brand and is the invitational programme that existed prior to Kimpton Karma merging with IHG Rewards Club in 2018. Throughout 2019 we continue to introduce the Kimpton experience to some loyal Royal Ambassadors in North America where 98% of the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurants are located plus small number in the UK, enabling trial as we take the brand global. As the brand expands so will the invitational base from Kimpton Inner Circle, however we do need to ensure new Kimpton hotels embrace IHG Rewards Club and deliver on the loyalty experience before inviting members to become part of Inner Circle."
have you tried emailing, and explaining you wld give Kimpton business with status? i can't see why they wouldn't make exceptions, unless their hands are tied with owners over numbers?
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 1:42 am
  #3242  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,163
Originally Posted by mellon
I just spent over 1 hour trying to figure out how many nights I actually spent in an IC hotel last year and it was 56. However for sure some of those were reward nights and I cant tell the difference from my daytimer. So IHG said my stays were 40 for renewal and they didn't renew me till Jan 26th.
clearly I need to do a better job of making sure my stays post properly, because I did not have 16 free nights.
Going through the last 12 months of your IHG account history the exercise should not take longer than 10 minutes
Flying Lawyer is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 3:41 am
  #3243  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,965
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer


Going through the last 12 months of your IHG account history the exercise should not take longer than 10 minutes

Lordy me but it's a tedious and messy business though. The site claims I had 98 IHG stays over the last 12 months, but sifting through the site's list of overlaps and corrections to get the number of nights involved is a task I'll pass on.

My travel office is clear that 110 IHG work-related nights were paid for in those twelve months. Precisely 101 of those nights were spent in IC beds.
Add in weekends, private trips and holidays (including a handful of redemptions) and we are up to an estimated 170 nights across all IHG brands.

So half my nights in 2018 were spent in IHG hotels: the majority of them Intercontinentals.

So it was odd to find the following line in my account today:

Downgrade Kit for Downgrade from Royal Ambass 0 pts

Can't wait to see what the kit contains...... Possibly a guide to applying for a Marriot/SPG status match
IAN-UK is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 6:17 am
  #3244  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: IHG Royal Ambassador
Posts: 812
Originally Posted by IAN-UK

Downgrade Kit for Downgrade from Royal Ambass 0 pts
Really rude it is.
Tim O'Brien likes this.
Raynyan is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 9:49 am
  #3245  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
Lordy me but it's a tedious and messy business though. The site claims I had 98 IHG stays over the last 12 months, but sifting through the site's list of overlaps and corrections to get the number of nights involved is a task I'll pass on.

My travel office is clear that 110 IHG work-related nights were paid for in those twelve months. Precisely 101 of those nights were spent in IC beds.
Add in weekends, private trips and holidays (including a handful of redemptions) and we are up to an estimated 170 nights across all IHG brands.

So half my nights in 2018 were spent in IHG hotels: the majority of them Intercontinentals.

So it was odd to find the following line in my account today:

Downgrade Kit for Downgrade from Royal Ambass 0 pts

Can't wait to see what the kit contains...... Possibly a guide to applying for a Marriot/SPG status match
have you outlined your grounds for appeal?
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 10:36 am
  #3246  
336
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,443
I understand that it doesnt hurt to try, but apart from Stimpy, contacting IHG has not been successful for anyone.

They simply follow their IT system, and do not deviate. They dont care about how many adjusted stays you have. You just get a generic reply, turning you down.
Eltham likes this.
336 is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 1:04 pm
  #3247  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
Originally Posted by 336
I understand that it doesnt hurt to try, but apart from Stimpy, contacting IHG has not been successful for anyone.

They simply follow their IT system, and do not deviate. They dont care about how many adjusted stays you have. You just get a generic reply, turning you down.
that's not right.

i have referred a dozen people, eight have been qualified/requalified, two have not, and two are awaiting responses.
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 1:55 pm
  #3248  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,758
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
that's not right.

i have referred a dozen people, eight have been qualified/requalified, two have not, and two are awaiting responses.
But how many of us had anything but a by the books response if they had a response at all (first I saw was in account history)?

Sticks in the throat a bit after circa a $150k of IC revenue in the last 8 years.

Would be foolish to continue to gamble on this programme without an effective back up or two.

It would be extremely foolish to bank on a lottery win year after year.
Tim O'Brien, 336 and annihilation like this.
Land-of-Miles is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 2:38 pm
  #3249  
336
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,443
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
that's not right.

i have referred a dozen people, eight have been qualified/requalified, two have not, and two are awaiting responses.
I would love to be proven otherwise, but why have they been (re)qualified? Because they were already in a batch to qualify, but, simply not yet communicated.

Except for Stimpy, everyone has recevied a generic response, not deviating from the spend algorithm as tracked by IHG.

They don't even want to look at the adjusted stays.
Land-of-Miles and Tim O'Brien like this.
336 is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 3:17 pm
  #3250  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,758
Originally Posted by 336
I would love to be proven otherwise, but why have they been (re)qualified? Because they were already in a batch to qualify, but, simply not yet communicated.

Except for Stimpy, everyone has recevied a generic response, not deviating from the spend algorithm as tracked by IHG.

They don't even want to look at the adjusted stays.
One suspects a bit of first mover advantage here
Tim O'Brien likes this.
Land-of-Miles is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 7:15 pm
  #3251  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: ord
Programs: UA 1k SPG Platinum
Posts: 365
Originally Posted by Tim O'Brien
can't you check your past stays for the last year, and then look at the bills, to determine if award, or paid?

and if the hotel hasn't uploaded the bill, just cross reference against activity in your account, and then just make your own calculations....
no that is more work than I am willing to do. Next year my account will be correct, I will NO longer book second rooms with my IC number. I am committed to making sure all my stays post properly this year with out me traying to clean up messes with hotel because of two rooms.
actually I just changed my next few 2 room stays to SPG also.
mellon is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 7:18 pm
  #3252  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,965
Originally Posted by 336
I would love to be proven otherwise, but why have they been (re)qualified? Because they were already in a batch to qualify, but, simply not yet communicated.

Except for Stimpy, everyone has recevied a generic response, not deviating from the spend algorithm as tracked by IHG.

They don't even want to look at the adjusted stays.
No, Tim's right. I was in a similar position last year, sent a message outlining my history and got an (almost) immediate response, an apology and a correction. I seem to be jinxed in the IHG system, and trying to set things right is not something I want to go through every year. My volume of business will see me comfortably into the top tiers of Hilton or Marriot. Or both


The downgrade message was a tad brutal in delivery. But the one-year complimentary Ambassador membership offered is truly a classy touch. In value terms its rather less than a coffee for each of my stays in an intercontinental last year.
turner32 and Tim O'Brien like this.
IAN-UK is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 9:11 pm
  #3253  
336
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,443
No, last year was completely different, and corresponds to what you describe. At that time they were in fact very liberal. Perhaps the very reason why they took this unreasonable position this year.

This year is the opposite. We have a mystery account, LuxuryLoyalty, assuring everyone, even trying to influence the public debate by throwing out some IHG points, only to disappear a few days after.

Possibly an alias of the very same office handling the review requests. In principle not answering at all to personal review requests, or only copy pasting a generic reply, not addressing any specific account activity.

People with 10 00x usd spend, or 17n, are automatically approved, others with >15k spend, or 80n, get booted. The pattern is extremely arbitrary. A constant is that adjusted stays are not taken into account (cfr. stats in renewal mails), and also not considered by IHG after appeal. They can continue to beat on their there are several factors drum, it is just not true based on the facts gathered here by FT users.

I am very happy for anyone renewed, no matter on which conditions. But I hope that they dont let the euphoria blind themselves for how InterContinental is dealing with a subset of their loyal customers which also do have all the right reference for years.

I hope that they survive the lottery next year...

Kimsbrand and annihilation like this.

Last edited by 336; Jan 30, 2019 at 9:18 pm
336 is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 10:07 pm
  #3254  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles


But how many of us had anything but a by the books response if they had a response at all (first I saw was in account history)?

Sticks in the throat a bit after circa a $150k of IC revenue in the last 8 years.

Would be foolish to continue to gamble on this programme without an effective back up or two.

It would be extremely foolish to bank on a lottery win year after year.
fully understood, i recall going through it in 2016, and earning half way through the year, the last year you cld do that.....
Tim O'Brien is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 10:13 pm
  #3255  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,685
Originally Posted by 336
I would love to be proven otherwise, but why have they been (re)qualified? Because they were already in a batch to qualify, but, simply not yet communicated.

Except for Stimpy, everyone has recevied a generic response, not deviating from the spend algorithm as tracked by IHG.

They don't even want to look at the adjusted stays.
no, most were at the margin, several in the 10-12K range, not everyone has received a generic response, you are only reflecting upon what you've read in the thread. nearly all that have reached out to me haven't posted in the thread, one or two may have posted once mentioning they missed out, and not followed up stating they qualified. i can think of two off hand.
Tim O'Brien is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.