Whereas IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program for InterContinental Lodges Group (IHG), there’s individually the InterContinental Ambassador program. This could trigger some confusion, since typically individuals don’t actually get the excellence between IHG One Rewards and InterContinental Ambassador. On this submit I needed to take a more in-depth take a look at that.
What’s InterContinental Ambassador standing?
The InterContinental Ambassador program is a paid visitor recognition program supposed particularly for frequent visitors of InterContinental inns. InterContinental is one in every of IHG’s premium resort manufacturers, and when you keep at InterContinentals with any frequency, then a membership ought to pay for itself.
This standing is separate from IHG One Rewards Platinum and IHG One Rewards Diamond standing, so it may make sense to purchase into this program even you probably have these standing ranges. Equally, qualifying for IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards is unbiased of the perks supplied to Ambassador members.
How do you get InterContinental Ambassador standing?
InterContinental Ambassador is solely a paid program. Any IHG One Rewards member can purchase a 12-month Ambassador membership for both $200 or 40,000 IHG One Rewards factors. I worth IHG factors at 0.5 cents every, so to me it’s breakeven whether or not it is sensible to pay with factors or money (by which case I’d pay with factors).
The 12-month membership yr doesn’t should coincide with the calendar yr, so I’d solely advocate signing up shortly earlier than your first deliberate keep. Notice that typically there are additionally promotions for brand spanking new InterContinental Ambassador members, by which case it may make sense to enroll then.
What are the advantages of InterContinental Ambassador standing?
What are the advantages of InterContinental Ambassador standing? When staying at InterContinental inns, you obtain the next perks:
- Complimentary weekend evening reward; I’ll share extra particulars on that beneath
- A assured one class improve; this excludes membership entry and sure suite varieties, and isn’t assured on award stays
- A $20 credit score with every keep to make use of towards the resort’s restaurant, bar, or minibar
- Assured 4PM late check-out; this is applicable at each metropolis inns and resorts
- A devoted check-in space
- Complimentary web and mineral water
- Single room charge for double occupancy
- IHG One Rewards Platinum standing; you additionally obtain this standing only for having the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (overview) or IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (overview)
I believe most of those advantages are fairly simple. I’d say the complimentary weekend evening reward is probably the best worth perk right here. For these interested in how that works:
- It’s legitimate for 12 months from the date of concern, and it’s issued as quickly as you join this system (or renew)
- It’s legitimate for at least a two evening paid weekend keep, utilizing the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Evening Fee at any InterContinental property (this may present as “AMB Certificates” when reserving)
- Weekend nights are outlined as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, besides within the Center East, the place inns might outline the weekend as Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- The weekend evening certificates can be utilized for most leeway varieties, together with many suites and membership rooms
- For those who’re curious to see what charges are like utilizing this profit however don’t but have a certificates, you’ll be able to search the charges at this hyperlink; as you’ll see, this charge is typically a bit greater than the common finest accessible charge, however not by a lot
Notice that InterContinental Ambassador members additionally obtain choose perks at different premium manufacturers:
- InterContinental Ambassador members obtain advantages at choose Six Senses properties, although they differ from what you’d get at InterContinentals
- InterContinental Ambassador members don’t obtain perks at Kimpton properties, however somewhat Kimpton has its personal Interior Circle program; in addition they don’t obtain perks at Regent properties, which is one in every of IHG’s different luxurious resort manufacturers
What about InterContinental Royal Ambassador standing?
Along with the paid InterContinental Ambassador program, there’s additionally the InterContinental Royal Ambassador program, which is invitation-only. Because it’s described, that is prolonged “solely to a small share” of visitors primarily based on their spending and keep actions at InterContinental and Kimpton.
That is invitation solely, however you’ll be able to typically anticipate that you simply gained’t get an invite when you don’t spend at the least $12,000 or so per yr with these manufacturers (and even that isn’t a assure).
What are the advantages of InterContinental Royal Ambassador?
- A assured two class improve
- Assured 10AM early check-in and 4PM late check-out
- Membership InterContinental lounge entry the place accessible, and complimentary day by day breakfast for 2 at properties and not using a lounge
- A free evening certificates at an IHG property
- IHG One Rewards Diamond standing
- A complimentary minibar credit score of as much as $50 per day
- A selection of a savory or candy snack, or fruit
Sure, InterContinental Ambassador standing might be price it
For those who keep at InterContinentals with any frequency, then shopping for Ambassador standing is sort of actually price it. The free evening certificates alone ought to greater than justify the annual payment for many. On prime of that, you’ll be able to simply recoup your membership payment with a keep or two, because of the assured improve, late check-out, $20 meals & beverage credit score, and extra.
For those who like InterContinentals, this program is completely for you. Personally I haven’t been a member in a few years, just because InterContinentals don’t enchantment to me a lot. To me the model has no character, and looks as if it’s caught within the early 2000s. What precisely is the promoting level of InterContinental as a model?
That’s to not say there aren’t good particular person properties, nevertheless it simply looks as if the model lacks a imaginative and prescient. Personally I’m rather more enthusiastic about IHG’s different upscale and luxurious acquisitions lately, together with Kimpton and Six Senses.
IHG’s loyalty recognition is a sizzling mess
Let’s begin on a constructive word. I’m impressed by the relaunch we noticed of IHG’s loyalty program again in 2022. IHG One Rewards is lastly aggressive with different resort teams, and we’ve seen the introduction of free breakfast for elite members, confirmed suite upgrades, membership entry memberships, and extra. All of that’s implausible.
Nevertheless, for my part it’s now time for IHG to harmonize the IHG One Rewards program and the Ambassador program. How is the common member speculated to make sense of the distinction between the 2? The educational curve is just too nice for this to make any sense to customers.
Larger image, I’d wish to see IHG make three modifications to actually make IHG One Rewards much more aggressive:
- It’s time that each one manufacturers owned by IHG absolutely be a part of IHG’s loyalty program; for instance, many Six Senses properties nonetheless don’t belong to IHG One Rewards
- It’s time that each one elite perks apply on each money and award stays; IHG has the one main loyalty program that doesn’t honor all elite perks when redeeming factors
- It’s time that IHG create a single loyalty program that correctly rewards stays in any respect manufacturers; there shouldn’t be separate applications for choose luxurious manufacturers, as that takes away from the inducement to be loyal to IHG total
For instance, personally I’d most likely be invested in IHG’s loyalty program if my stays at Kimptons, Six Senses, Regent, and many others., had been all absolutely rewarded in the identical means, somewhat than all these separate applications, many properties not taking part, and many others. I simply have a tough time getting enthusiastic about any particular person IHG model, primarily based on how advantages are at the moment executed.
Backside line
InterContinental Ambassador is a paid program that gives additional advantages for stays at InterContinental properties. You possibly can sign-up for simply $200 or 40,000 IHG factors per yr. I’d say this might symbolize a implausible deal, between the free evening certificates, assured upgrades, late check-out, meals & beverage credit score, and extra.
I’m curious to listen to from OMAAT readers — what do you make of the InterContinental Ambassador program?
