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)
Mar 2, 2019, 6:58 am
#316
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cheshire
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Am Elite, Best Western Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,712
hi, can anyone confirm what happenes to the spire Elite ambassador Status when you renew and the Spire elite part of this was always coming from the renewal of ambassador and not from the nights spent?
my Ambassador will expire on april 1st and to be honest i am not impressed with the "benefits" in the past and of course less impressed with the changes and would only extend it one more time if i can keep the spire elite part be doing this.
i am also HH diamond and SPG Gold elite and most of the time i got better treatment by them then by IHG
my Ambassador will expire on april 1st and to be honest i am not impressed with the "benefits" in the past and of course less impressed with the changes and would only extend it one more time if i can keep the spire elite part be doing this.
i am also HH diamond and SPG Gold elite and most of the time i got better treatment by them then by IHG
Mar 2, 2019, 9:11 am
#317
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Just to report back. As of 1st March, IHG did something despicable in my opinion. The once confirmed ONE FREE BREAKFAST for IC hotels in GREATER CHINA (Including TAIWAN, HONG KONG and MACAU) now is MAINLAND CHINA ONLY (excluding TAIWAN, HONG KONG and MACAU).
So basically the 2 Hong Kong IC hotels are now excluded from the breakfast benefit!
This is a betrayal of loyalty for me. And very frustrating as this terms and condition was changed several times during February and looks like IHG can not take the pressure from Grand Stamford IC in Hong Kong (the big IC in Hong Kong will be reflagged to Regent, so would not take the new benefit for too long).
Very bad on IHG's part to do this. IHG cheats!
So basically the 2 Hong Kong IC hotels are now excluded from the breakfast benefit!
This is a betrayal of loyalty for me. And very frustrating as this terms and condition was changed several times during February and looks like IHG can not take the pressure from Grand Stamford IC in Hong Kong (the big IC in Hong Kong will be reflagged to Regent, so would not take the new benefit for too long).
Very bad on IHG's part to do this. IHG cheats!
Mar 2, 2019, 9:41 pm
#318
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
Not surprised, at IHG the concept of loyalty is a one way road to be shown by the guests, but not the hotel / program.
The IC GS HKG is also the one that continuously charges my credit card for a security hold 1-2 weeks prior to a stay for a flex reservation on Corp rate with 24hrs cancellation deadline. What for? They are nickel and diming a lot, so not surprised.
The IC GS HKG is also the one that continuously charges my credit card for a security hold 1-2 weeks prior to a stay for a flex reservation on Corp rate with 24hrs cancellation deadline. What for? They are nickel and diming a lot, so not surprised.
Mar 2, 2019, 10:49 pm
#319
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 123
That contradicts my experience. Many hotels provide better benefits for Spire Amb than for Plat Amb. Some even seem to have formal in-house rules as to what benefits they provide to Gold/Plat/Spire Ambs and explain those to you during check-in.
Mar 3, 2019, 12:02 am
#320
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat (+LTP), VS Silver
Posts: 1,392
Checked into IC Downtown LA today. Welcomed as Spire Ambassador and given a one category upgrade, but no other benefits provided or mentioned (no fruit or water in room, no mention of the $20 credit, etc). I’ll charge to the room and see what happens re $20 on check out. It just doesn’t feel as hospitable as having the welcome amenities in the room.
Mar 3, 2019, 2:07 am
#321
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
Quick update. I asked reception who told me I needed to find Guest Services. I eventually found the person (who was not at her desk) and was told the $20 will be taken off the bill at check out. I was told also to take water from the mini bar and any charge would be reversed at check out. I did suggest they ought to tell people the process but I was told I was not informed as the Ambassador benefits have only just transitioned.
Mar 3, 2019, 3:53 pm
#324
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: AUS
Programs: QANTAS, Oneworld
Posts: 84
Rewards Platinum Elite status attributes (higher bonus points etc) showed up immediately on my forward Rewards bookings, but it took about an hour for the displayed status level badging to change from Gold to Platinum.
Aug 18, 2019, 8:28 pm
#325
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz PC, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 149
I have a few stays coming up and noticed a change in upgrade policy. I've always booked the highest non-club category room right below a suite to ensure my auto upgrade would get me the suite. My stays in both Bangkok and Tokyo have been pre-upgraded to the next category which are executive and club rooms. It was my understanding that in order to get club access, you'd always have to book a club room. Is it now possible to get a club room by booking the category below? Or is this just an auto computer upgrade that will be adjusted when checking in?
Aug 19, 2019, 4:41 am
#326
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
I have a few stays coming up and noticed a change in upgrade policy. I've always booked the highest non-club category room right below a suite to ensure my auto upgrade would get me the suite. My stays in both Bangkok and Tokyo have been pre-upgraded to the next category which are executive and club rooms. It was my understanding that in order to get club access, you'd always have to book a club room. Is it now possible to get a club room by booking the category below? Or is this just an auto computer upgrade that will be adjusted when checking in?
Aug 19, 2019, 10:14 am
#327
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz PC, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 149
I suppose it's safe to assume you do indeed need to book directly below the suite category now to get one. Hopefully this means club rooms are now accessible by booking directly below as well. Though this is a major devaluation for me as I travel for leisure almost exclusively and lounges are of very little use to me, I can see how this could be a huge plus for others, that is if Club rooms are now accessible without booking into one.
Aug 20, 2019, 12:05 am
#328
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
Do Ambassadors still get a 10% rebate on all points redeemed at any IHG property, and how long should it take for those points to post? I had a points stay in late May and still haven't gotten the 10% points redeemed.
Aug 20, 2019, 1:06 am
#329
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Only if you renewed your Intercontinental Ambassador while this was offered (there are / were various offers available). If you did, you should get the points back 4 to 6 weeks after the stay booked on points.