Ambassador Renewal

Old May 8, 2014, 11:09 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
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Ambassador Renewal

I was at the Royal Ambassador level June 2011-2013 but was downgraded to Plantimum last June.

My platinum status expires on June 2013 as I have not been doing as much travel. I have a notice to renew for $150 or 24,000 points. I was thinking of using the points since I have quite a bit but was wondering if I will be renewed as Platinum or as a Gold?

Anyone have an idea?
harlequine is offline  
Old May 8, 2014, 11:10 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Im pretty sure you will be renewed as Gold, unless you have qualified for Platinum. But since you say you haven't done as much travelling, I assume you haven't qualified.
johhenrik is offline  
Old May 8, 2014, 1:16 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by harlequine
I was at the Royal Ambassador level June 2011-2013 but was downgraded to Plantimum last June.

My platinum status expires on June 2013 as I have not been doing as much travel. I have a notice to renew for $150 or 24,000 points. I was thinking of using the points since I have quite a bit but was wondering if I will be renewed as Platinum or as a Gold?

Anyone have an idea?
Ambassadors buying part way through a year , are given Gold minimum, or Platinum if Platinum at time amb is purchased.

Then
a)If during year you reflag from Gold->Plat you get upgraded to Plat Amb
b)If Plat Amb, and you do not requal by nights/points by 31Decyyyy then you luckily keep Plat until Amb status runs out

In fact it is worthwhile for an IHG Plat who knows they will not requalify as Platinum, without multiple mattress run nights, instead buying Ambassador mid December as they then get 12 1/2 months Platinum (Ambassador) for 150/200 USD instead of losing plat 2weeks later on Jan 1st. And is way cheaper than 4+ MR nights.
scubaccr is offline  
Old May 8, 2014, 1:43 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I got an email on April 30 stating I'd get a bonus of 5,000 points if I renew my Ambassador membership this summer. Email did state that all renewals would get bonus, I'd call them to confirm if you are eligible.



Renew your Ambassador membership today

Dear Xxxx,

Thank you for being a member of InterContinental Ambassador over the past year. We sincerely hope youve enjoyed all the unique benefits being an Ambassador has to offer, including:

Guaranteed room upgrade
4 p.m. late check-out
Free Weekend Night certificate*
Your membership is due to expire on 30 June 2014, so renew today for just US$150.

Summer promotion Dont miss out for all renewals made by 30th June you will receive an additional 5,000 bonus. This is in addition to the 10,000 points you would usually receive.+

We look forward to welcoming you back as our guest very soon.

Yours sincerely,

Director, InterContinental Ambassador
canesfan is offline  
Old May 8, 2014, 1:56 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by canesfan
I got an email on April 30 stating I'd get a bonus of 5,000 points if I renew my Ambassador membership this summer. Email did state that all renewals would get bonus, I'd call them to confirm if you are eligible.
I contact them about this offer, "Summer promotion", but they said it's only for the 150$ renewal.
FlyingOutTLV is offline  
Old May 9, 2014, 9:28 am
  #6  
alc
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
Thought to provide my own data point:

- I renew my Ambassador with the 10% rebate options + 10K points voucher (a $200 renew fee) for the last 2 years
- I did qualify for Plat status for 2013 (have enough points and stays in 2012)
- But in 2013, I only have 5 paid stays and a 20+ nights rewards stay that started in Dec with check-out in Jan, so definitely not qualify for Plat at all
- So I expect I will be Gold Ambassador this year (2014), but I am still a Plat Ambassador as of today
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Old May 9, 2014, 9:42 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
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Originally Posted by scubaccr
Ambassadors buying part way through a year , are given Gold minimum, or Platinum if Platinum at time amb is purchased.

Then
a)If during year you reflag from Gold->Plat you get upgraded to Plat Amb
b)If Plat Amb, and you do not requal by nights/points by 31Decyyyy then you luckily keep Plat until Amb status runs out

In fact it is worthwhile for an IHG Plat who knows they will not requalify as Platinum, without multiple mattress run nights, instead buying Ambassador mid December as they then get 12 1/2 months Platinum (Ambassador) for 150/200 USD instead of losing plat 2weeks later on Jan 1st. And is way cheaper than 4+ MR nights.
Is this certain?

I was thinking of not renewing Ambassador, but if it means I will keep plat past Dec 31 2014, I'll do it for sure.
camsean is offline  
Old May 9, 2014, 10:41 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by camsean
Is this certain?

I was thinking of not renewing Ambassador, but if it means I will keep plat past Dec 31 2014, I'll do it for sure.
Trick only works for existing earned Platinums, as the Gold/Plat status associated with a new ambassador year is related to your earned IHG @Rewards status for the Jan-Dec period in which you actually purchase Ambassador status.

As such if you are qualified Platinum for Jan-Dec and buy/renew Ambassador, you currently get Plat Ambassador, for 12months, and keep Platinum Status even if your stays history would not renew non-Ambassador IHG @Rewards Platinum Status come the next January. As such can be useful for existing Plats who will drop status in January, to buy Ambassador in December and sneak Platnum status for 12months extra for the next Jan-Dec year,even if they will stay in HI/HIW/CP etc but IC branded hotels.

If you are an expiring Plat Amb, whose IHG status would be Gold (or lower) for current IHG Jan-Dec2014 year based on 2013 stay history, renewing Ambassador would drop you to Gold ambassador.

Last edited by scubaccr; May 9, 2014 at 10:53 am
scubaccr is offline  
Old May 9, 2014, 8:35 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
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Originally Posted by scubaccr
Trick only works for existing earned Platinums, as the Gold/Plat status associated with a new ambassador year is related to your earned IHG @Rewards status for the Jan-Dec period in which you actually purchase Ambassador status.

As such if you are qualified Platinum for Jan-Dec and buy/renew Ambassador, you currently get Plat Ambassador, for 12months, and keep Platinum Status even if your stays history would not renew non-Ambassador IHG @Rewards Platinum Status come the next January. As such can be useful for existing Plats who will drop status in January, to buy Ambassador in December and sneak Platnum status for 12months extra for the next Jan-Dec year,even if they will stay in HI/HIW/CP etc but IC branded hotels.

If you are an expiring Plat Amb, whose IHG status would be Gold (or lower) for current IHG Jan-Dec2014 year based on 2013 stay history, renewing Ambassador would drop you to Gold ambassador.
This would seem to be perfect for me.

My Amb expires at the end of June. I will struggle to make plat this year. So if I renew now, I will keep plat in 2015?

Sorry to labour the point, but I don't want to renew Amb if I have this wrong.
camsean is offline  
Old May 10, 2014, 11:37 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
 
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Sadly I'm going to let my Amb status expire.
mnredfox is offline  
Old May 14, 2014, 7:05 am
  #11  
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I did renew with points but it says Gold Amabassador reneweal pending.
harlequine is offline  
Old May 15, 2014, 12:19 am
  #12  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
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Originally Posted by mnredfox
Sadly I'm going to let my Amb status expire.
May I ask why? Seems like a reasonable deal just for the points and rebates, never mind the AMB benefits
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Old May 15, 2014, 12:56 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2006
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Originally Posted by uastarflyer
Seems like a reasonable deal just for the points and rebates, never mind the AMB benefits
The IHG Club is a totally uncompetitive program. I was going to drop my Ambassador status too, but finally decided to renew it for 19K points.

Usually I stay at IHG hotels for occasional reward nights (e.g. in New York during New Year's eve) or using a BOGO (which quite often is not cost-efficient now.)

Why would I want to spend money at this hotel chain which provides almost zero benefits for its "elites?"
paulmoscow is offline  
Old May 17, 2014, 10:18 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Originally Posted by paulmoscow
The IHG Club is a totally uncompetitive program. I was going to drop my Ambassador status too, but finally decided to renew it for 19K points.

Usually I stay at IHG hotels for occasional reward nights (e.g. in New York during New Year's eve) or using a BOGO (which quite often is not cost-efficient now.)

Why would I want to spend money at this hotel chain which provides almost zero benefits for its "elites?"
Well, I am upgraded on every stay at IHG hotels in China. This includes being given club access and suites from time to time.
camsean is offline  
Old May 19, 2014, 12:22 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: May 2006
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Originally Posted by camsean
Well, I am upgraded on every stay at IHG hotels in China.
I couldn't care less about China. Platinum treatment in the States and Europe is quite often pathetic. Actually IME, thanks to a "standardisation" the situation has worsened during the last year.

As for Ambassador status, it gives us exactly a one-level upgrade and 4pm check-out. I've stopped chasing RA long ago because of their opaque requirements.
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