Renew IHG Diamond With InterContinental Ambassador

Staff November 3, 2022

0 24 3 minutes read

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I simply signed up for the InterContinental Ambassador program, and within the course of prolonged my IHG One Rewards Diamond standing by a yr. Let me clarify.

Extending IHG Diamond with InterContinental Ambassador

IHG’s loyalty program state of affairs generally is a bit sophisticated:

IHG One Rewards is IHG’s major loyalty program, masking all lodge manufacturers
InterContinental Ambassador is a paid membership program (it prices $200 or 40,000 IHG factors per yr to enroll), and provides further perks at InterContinental properties

For years, IHG has had an unofficial however constant coverage for simply renewing top-tier standing (now often known as Diamond, however beforehand often known as Spire). Particularly, for those who register or renew your InterContinental Ambassador membership, then your standing is routinely renewed by a yr.

Let me as soon as once more emphasize that whereas this has constantly been provided, it’s not a printed coverage. I’d think about it’s not an error both, although. Enrolling for InterContinental Ambassador ordinarily will get you IHG One Rewards Platinum standing, so I think the concept is to offer present Diamond members some additional incentive to enroll.

Ambassador provides InterContinental-specific perks

I signed up for Ambassador, prolonged Diamond

Whereas I’ve recognized about this trick for years, I lastly used it for myself for the primary time, due to a few components:

Like lots of you, I lately picked up free immediate IHG One Rewards Diamond standing, legitimate by way of December 31, 2022 (this provide is now not obtainable)
There’s presently an InterContinental Ambassador enrollment provide, the place you will get 20,000 bonus factors while you enroll by December 31, 2022, and keep two eligible nights at choose properties by January 31, 2023

This appeared to me like alternative. My IHG account confirmed my standing as expiring on December 31, 2022.

My preliminary IHG Diamond expiration date

I then enrolled in InterContinental Ambassador, which is a course of that takes all of 1 minute. You are able to do this both for $200 money or 40,000 IHG factors. I worth IHG factors at 0.5 cents every, in order that’s roughly breakeven.

I then refreshed my IHG account, and it instantly confirmed my standing being prolonged by a yr, by way of December 31, 2023. I additionally obtained an electronic mail confirming that my standing had been prolonged.

Is that this really value it, although?

Some will little doubt see the instant worth on this, whereas others will possible marvel if it’s value parting with $200 or 40,000 IHG factors to reap the benefits of this. Right here’s how I view this:

At a minimal I’m intrigued by IHG One Rewards Diamond standing, and I wish to expertise the perks for extra stays, to see how useful it’s; having the ability to get perks like free breakfast, 100% bonus factors, and extra, may actually add up
InterContinental Ambassador membership has the potential to pay for itself for those who keep at InterContinentals with any frequency, and provides a assured improve, a $20 credit score per keep, and a complimentary purchase one get one free weekend evening reward, amongst different perks
If I can keep two eligible nights by January 31, 2023, I’ll earn 20,000 IHG factors, which I worth at $100, in order that recoups half of my InterContinental Ambassador enrollment value

I don’t assume that is some slam dunk worth that everybody ought to reap the benefits of, particularly in case you are centered on different packages. However I additionally assume there’s a whole lot of worth available right here for the proper of particular person.

I also needs to point out that you could obtain IHG Platinum standing only for having the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit score Card (overview) or IHG® Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card (overview), and you’ll earn IHG Diamond standing by spending $40,000 on both card in a calendar yr.

Ambassador members get a weekend evening reward

Backside line

It’s unofficially doable for present IHG Diamond members to increase standing by a yr when enrolling or renewing an InterContinental Ambassador membership (which prices $200 or 40,000 IHG factors).

Since many individuals lately picked up short-term IHG Diamond standing, and since there’s presently an InterContinental Ambassador enrollment promotion, I figured this chance was value masking. I simply enrolled for InterContinental Ambassador, and my Diamond standing is now legitimate for a further yr, by way of December 31, 2023.

Let me as soon as once more emphasize that this coverage has been in place for a very long time, but it surely’s unofficial. I’m solely sharing my expertise, however after all I can’t assure it will proceed to be doable perpetually, and many others.

Some other IHG Diamond members enrolling in InterContinental Ambassador in an effort to prolong standing?

(Tip of the hat to Tito)