Dec 10, 2018, 4:07 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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:

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

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR STAYS IN GREATER CHINA ONLY:
• 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)

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Feb 1, 2019, 8:48 am

#256

stimpy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 1999

Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques

Posts: 34,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by boekel

doesn't help normally. I don't want to negotiate upfront or any uncertainty about which room upgrade I'm entitled to. The whole new t&c's clearly indicate where the program is heading to.

I agree it's not optimal, but it seems to be the nature of how IC hotels are managed by IHG. The one thing I know from staying at, maybe 70 different IC's, is that the vast majority go above and beyond these T's and C's. So I don't stress about it. I just know from experience to never try to book an award stays at most IC's in Asia, with a few exceptions. Or there is the IC Kiev, which used to be very generous before the Ukraine troubles began a few years ago, but maybe no longer that generous. So you avoid those properties and enjoy the good ones.

Feb 1, 2019, 10:25 pm

#257

scienm

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Korea, USA

Programs: IC Dia RA / Marriott LT Plat / WOH Globalist / Hilton Diamond / OZ Diamond Plus

Posts: 340

Another downgrade for RA..

16. InterContinental Ambassador one category room upgrade and Royal Ambassador two category room upgrade exclude Presidential and Specialty Suites. Royal Ambassadors purchasing a suite category will receive a one category suite upgrade excluding Presidential and Specialty Suites.

I used to book suites and got 2 cat higher suites at most ICs but it looks like gone from now.. what a disaster..

I'm really not sure to continue to stay at ICs or move to Hyatt at this point

Last edited by scienm; Feb 2, 2019 at 2:27 am

Feb 2, 2019, 12:34 am

#258

IAN-UK

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2000

Location: London

Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK

Posts: 17,008

Quote:

Originally Posted by stimpy

Absolutely. But that attitude can come from the guest relations manager, or whoever sets how the hotel's implements IHG brand standards. For years one of my favourite ICs had a splendid chap who understood perfectly how to cultivate a relationship between the hotel, its frequent guests and IHG's frequent guests. The lounge offer and timings were pretty far from the new standards, but they were much appreciated by regulars.

He shifted to a new role in the hotel, and since then I've witnessed countless arguments about what exactly a two-level upgrade is and what benefits accrue to reward stays All rather depressing, but the new fellow cites brand standards and audits as driving the change. Perhaps he's new to the game and hasn't yet worked out that hotels enjoy a certain level of autonomy.

Feb 4, 2019, 12:42 am

#259

stimpy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 1999

Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques

Posts: 34,339

The Royal Ambassador Free Night night was posted in my account a few days ago.

And I still have a BOGO to use.

Feb 4, 2019, 5:43 am

#260

Carel1

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: AMS

Programs: FB Platinum PA; IHG Diamond Ambassador

Posts: 307

The "Double occupancy for single room rate" has also disappeared.

Feb 4, 2019, 5:49 am

#261

Cielito_

Join Date: Oct 2016

Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carel1

The "Double occupancy for single room rate" has also disappeared.

Quote:

12. f. Single room rate for double occupancy

Feb 4, 2019, 5:58 am

#262

Carel1

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: AMS

Programs: FB Platinum PA; IHG Diamond Ambassador

Posts: 307

You are right, it is still mentioned in the T&C's.

Feb 4, 2019, 2:42 pm

#263

vsevolod4

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine

Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia

Posts: 2,732

President's Circle and Free night not showing up yet

Maybe there is a glitch with the software, or maybe because I'm RA + Spire + InnerCircle, something interferes.

But:

[Officially Added Benefits] FREE NIGHTS AT AN IHG PROPERTY (capped at 70K points value)
[Officially Added Benefits] HERTZ GOLD PLUS REWARDS PRESIDENTS' CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP

I don't see (2) in the Royal Ambassador benefits nor can I link. I do see this in the benefits for InnerCircle, but have no option to do the status upgrade. I have previously linked my Hertz with my Spire, which gives me the lesser 5-star. Neither Hertz nor IHG customer service can figure it out. They all point me to the IHG rewards site, but I get no options. They've written up a customer service trouble ticket..

As for the Royal Ambassador free night, it showed up as: 02/01/2019 Royal Ambassador Free Night 0 pts
But there is no night showing up under free nights. I'm told now that you have to contact the IHG Rewards Support desk to book -- not sure if this is the workaround or the standard process.

Ditto the Kimpton InnerCircle New Hotel Free Night. I'm told you have to contact the hotel directly.

I would hope that they get the tech sorted out.

Last edited by vsevolod4; Feb 4, 2019 at 2:56 pm

Feb 4, 2019, 2:43 pm

#264

vsevolod4

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine

Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia

Posts: 2,732

Quote:

Originally Posted by stimpy

The Royal Ambassador Free Night night was posted in my account a few days ago.

And I still have a BOGO to use.

It posted for me as well:
02/01/2019 Royal Ambassador Free Night 0 pts

But I don't see it in my "free night status" and can't seem to figure out how to use it ...

Feb 4, 2019, 2:52 pm

#265

Land-of-Miles

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: 13,768

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsevolod4

Maybe there is a glitch with the software, or maybe because I'm RA + Spire + InnerCircle, something interferes.

But:

[Officially Added Benefits] FREE NIGHTS AT AN IHG PROPERTY (capped at 70K points value)
[Officially Added Benefits] HERTZ GOLD PLUS REWARDS PRESIDENTS' CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP

I don't see (2) in the Royal Ambassador benefits nor can I link. I do see this in the benefits for InnerCircle, but have no option to do the status upgrade. I have previously linked my Hertz with my Spire, which gives me the lesser 5-star. Neither Hertz nor IHG customer service can figure it out. They all point me to the IHG rewards site, but I get no options.

As for the Royal Ambassador free night, it showed up as: 02/01/2019 Royal Ambassador Free Night 0 pts
But there is no night showing up under free nights.

Ditto the Kimpton InnerCircle New Hotel Free Night.

I would hope that they get the tech sorted out.

I don't see either nor do I see any way to do the Presidents Circle Upgrade.

Feb 4, 2019, 6:49 pm

#266

perthite

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: Perth, WA, Australia

Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 3,845

Quote:

Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles

I don't see either nor do I see any way to do the Presidents Circle Upgrade.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President’s Circle®: This is an IHG Rewards Club opt-in member benefit that is offered to Royal Ambassador members. This benefit will be available in 2019 at a date to be confirmed

Feb 4, 2019, 8:42 pm

#267

vsevolod4

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine

Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia

Posts: 2,732

Quote:

Originally Posted by perthite

Until about 5 hours ago it said that this would be available on Feb 1, 2019 for Inner Circle members (I didn't see for RAs). I spent 88 minutes on a chat with IHG Customer service -- and also with Hertz. Neither was able to help. But later I got a call from InnerCircle, and they mentioned that the software to make this happen did not work, and then they changed the text as above. Previously it said:Also another benefit for Inner Circle is: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President’s Circle® Membership Upon receiving status, Inner Circle members will enjoy Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President’s Circle® membership which will be available to register for via their IHG Reward Club account on February 1, 2019. (https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/co...a/inner-circle)

Hopefully, soon.

Feb 5, 2019, 3:32 am

#268

shoven

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: London

Programs: Infinity Milage Lands Gold,Star Alliance Gold, IHG Diamond RA, Kimpton Inner Circle

Posts: 370

My free night has shown up in account activity and in the free night link under redeem its valid from now until the 30/12/19.

Feb 5, 2019, 8:16 am

#269

Land-of-Miles

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: 13,768

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoven

My free night has shown up in account activity and in the free night link under redeem its valid from now until the 30/12/19.

Mine too

The weird thing about the Hertz President's Circle thing is that the equivalent for Hertz 5 Star worked perfectly last year, so not sure why this version does not work now?

Feb 5, 2019, 2:13 pm

#270

skaya

Suspended

Join Date: Apr 2011

Programs: RIP

Posts: 506

Noticed the free night when it popped up on my awardwallet update.