Dec 10, 2018, 4:07 pm
Last edit by: FlyerTalker688786
Ambassador programme will change on 1st February 2019. This will start with Royal Ambassador's benefits. Then, all other Ambassador will have new benefits from 1st March 2019.
For Royal Ambassadors, the new benefits starts from 1st FEB 2019 will be:
For all other Ambassadors, the new benefit starts on 1st MARCH 2019:
One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
15% discount on restaurants and bars
AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GURANTEE work as bellow:
For Royal Ambassadors, the new benefits starts from 1st FEB 2019 will be:
- EARLY CHECK-IN from 10AM (instead of 8AM)
- ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY [
CONFIRMED AS IN GREATER CHINA REGION ONLY,On 1st March, it seems IHG quietly made a U-turn again, now this benefit only APPLIES TO IC HOTELS IN MAINLAND CHINA ONLY, Hong Kong IC hotels are excluded on the last minute U-turn.] - UP TO TWO COMPLIMENTARY FULL BREAKFASTS PER DAY IF THERE IS NO CLUB LOUNGE
- UPTO 50USD/200RMB/400HKD MINIBAR CREDIT PER DAY (200USD/800RMB/1600HKD PER STAY MAX)
- WAIVED DESTINATION/AMENITY FEES
- COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
- AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE (See below)
- [Officially Added Benefits] FREE NIGHTS AT AN IHG PROPERTY (capped at 70K points value)
- [Officially Added Benefits] HERTZ GOLD PLUS REWARDS PRESIDENTS' CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP
For all other Ambassadors, the new benefit starts on 1st MARCH 2019:
- GUARANTEED PLATINUM ELITE STATUS IN IHG REWARDS CLUB
- ONE COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR EVERY NIGHT YOU STAY <== Only for Greater China Stays !
- COMPLIMENTARY WEEKEND NIGHT CERTIFICATE WITH E-DELIVERY
- WELCOME FRUIT PLATTER (instead of welcome fruits and gifts) <== Only for Greater China Stays !
- AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GUARANTEE
One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
15% discount on restaurants and bars
AMBASSADOR BENEFIT GURANTEE work as bellow:
- Guaranteed Room Upgrade: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit up to USD50, or 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points per stay, applies to InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador only;
- 16:00 (4p.m.) Late Check-out: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit up to USD50, or 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points per stay, applies to InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador only;
- New Club InterContinental Lounge Access or alternative Club experience: Member must be given a food and beverage or Spa credit of USD100 per night, not exceeding the Club InterContinental upgrade supplement value, applies to Royal Ambassador only.
Changes to Ambassador from 1st March 2019 (now confirmed)
Dec 16, 2018, 11:12 pm
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,956
So after all that, basically the only enhancement coming (other than greater china for some odd reason) is a lousy $20 food credit per stay (not even per night) which in most ICs will cover about half a breakfast for one... 
Looks like I'll be sticking with Hilton.
Looks like I'll be sticking with Hilton.
Last edited by clubman; Dec 16, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Dec 16, 2018, 11:32 pm
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,956
NEW EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS STARTING IN EARLY 2019:
Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
Wonder if this means IHG are finally closing the unofficial but well known "loophole" wherby some get Spire just once then buy Ambassador each year for usd150 to maintain/renew Spire without qualifying on 75kEQP's or 75nights
Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
Wonder if this means IHG are finally closing the unofficial but well known "loophole" wherby some get Spire just once then buy Ambassador each year for usd150 to maintain/renew Spire without qualifying on 75kEQP's or 75nights
Dec 17, 2018, 3:21 am
#139
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
In all other currencies the value is considerably less than $20, for Malaysia and Vietnam even only $12 to $13. And what will happen to the welcome drink, the "in-room gift" and the fruit? It seems that fruit is now also only for China whereas the rest is not mentioned at all.
Dec 17, 2018, 4:16 am
#140
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
Wonder if having several Amb weekend bookings (with intention of choosing later which one to keep) would still be possible.
Dec 17, 2018, 6:17 am
#141
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,515
Very disappointed to see the removal of the welcome amenity, especially since they just tried to improve it two or so years ago by allowing the preference selection of fruit, sweet or savory snack (not that all properties followed that).
Dec 17, 2018, 8:08 am
#142
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Have updated Wiki as foc Breakfast is ONLY for Greater China
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
15% discount on restaurants and bars
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
NEW EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS STARTING IN EARLY 2019:
Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
15% discount on restaurants and bars
Dec 17, 2018, 10:10 am
#144
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,405
Have updated Wiki as foc Breakfast is ONLY for Greater China
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...r/new-benefits
NEW EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS STARTING IN EARLY 2019:
• Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
• Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
• Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
• E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
• Platinum Elite status in IHG Rewards Club
• Up to USD20 restaurants & bars credit for every stay***
• Ambassador Benefits Guarantee to ensure you make the most out of every stay
• E-delivery of complimentary weekend night certificate
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• One complimentary breakfast every night you stay
• 15% discount on restaurants and bars
What a totally lousy set of "enhancements".
Do they really expect normal ambassador members to take this seriously ?
This is the mickey mouse operation IHG has become.
Last edited by est-gratuite; Dec 17, 2018 at 10:20 am
Dec 17, 2018, 10:50 am
#145
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Hi, no need to be so jerk about it. As I said, the document I saw did not state the free breakfast is for Greater China only. I made all the effort to type every single word of that document into wiki. Please show some respect, even just for the hard work of retyping every single word of that document here.
Dec 17, 2018, 10:54 am
#146
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
I think scubaccr is talking about that you can renew your Spire when you renew Ambassador every year for now. This loophole has unofficially existed for a while. So it seems to scubaccr that IHG is to close this loophole by giving Platinum to all Ambassadors while no longer giving Spire when Ambassador renew their membership.
Dec 17, 2018, 11:19 am
#147
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,405
Dec 17, 2018, 12:00 pm
#148
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,443
Am I the only one who thought this rumour was too good to be true for Ambassadors? Paying 200 USD a year for one free bf on each stay would be a pretty big benefit for the client, and canibalise a whole lot of revenue for the hotels.
Plain Ambassador is just a paid membership. No loyalty.
Plain Ambassador is just a paid membership. No loyalty.
Dec 17, 2018, 1:20 pm
#149
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Marin County, California
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 414
I don't know about most people, but currently I ask for late checkout only once in a while. Maybe one in ten stays. But if this is true, I will be requesting late checkout EVERY STAY. Even if I have no intention of checking out late. I will be collecting $50 or points every time I am denied.
Dec 17, 2018, 1:31 pm
#150
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,221
Am I the only one who thought this rumour was too good to be true for Ambassadors? Paying 200 USD a year for one free bf on each stay would be a pretty big benefit for the client, and canibalise a whole lot of revenue for the hotels.
Plain Ambassador is just a paid membership. No loyalty.
Plain Ambassador is just a paid membership. No loyalty.
the 15k points and the 10% rebate on award redemptions is the only reason I renew. Anything else is a bonus.