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For those who like extra perks at luxury hotels, the InterContinental Ambassador program might be up your alley. In a sense, this program offers you elite status-like benefits — but at a cost.
In this post, we'll explore the ins and outs of the InterContinental Ambassador program to help you decide if it's worth signing up.
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What Is the InterContinental Ambassador Program?
InterContinental Ambassador is a stand-alone buy-in loyalty program that provides certain guaranteed benefits to guests staying at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties — one of IHG's luxury hotel brands. Some benefits also apply to IHG's newer (and even more luxurious) Six Senses properties.
Membership in the InterContinental Ambassador program can be purchased using IHG points or cash. You can't earn your way into this program like you can earn other tiers of IHG One Rewards elite status.
After a recent price increase, a 12-month membership costs $225 or 45,000 points. AwardWallet users redeem IHG points for 0.68¢ apiece, on average. So, at the time of writing, the points required to pay for membership are worth a little over $300. You only get a redemption rate of 0.5 cents per point by redeeming 45,000 points for $225. In other words, you're much better off paying with cash.
InterContinental Ambassador Program Benefits
If you stay at IHG properties regularly but not enough to earn a mid-tier of IHG elite status, you may find outsized value in the InterContinental Ambassador. Here's a look at the perks on offer:
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Enrollment in the Ambassador program automatically secures the member IHG Platinum Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program. This status comes with great benefits, such as bonus points, discounts, late checkout, room upgrades, and welcome amenities.
It's worth noting that Platinum Elite is a staple benefit on two IHG credit cards: the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. Thus, if you're purely chasing Platinum Elite status, it's cheaper to pay the $99 annual fee than purchasing InterContinental Ambassador.
You'll keep your status as long as you keep your card open. Plus, you'll get perks like an annual IHG free night certificate and a fourth night free on award stays.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member
- Earn 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
InterContinental Ambassador exclusive benefits
In addition to the Platinum Elite benefits, InterContinental Ambassador program members also receive these valuable, exclusive benefits:
- Guaranteed one-category room upgrade.
- Guaranteed extended 4 p.m. checkout.
- Complimentary weekend night*.
- Restaurants & bars credit of up to $20 (U.S.) for every stay*.
- Complimentary mineral water.
- Complimentary internet access.
- Dedicated check-in area.
- Single room rate for double occupancy.
- Mainland China Only: Complimentary breakfast (for one guest only) each night of stay.
*See terms and conditions for use
Limitations on the complimentary weekend night benefit
One of the main perks of InterContinental Ambassador is the “complimentary weekend night.” However, there are some important caveats to this benefit. First, you must book at least a two-night stay to apply this free night. That means it works more like a buy-one-get-one-free certificate rather than just a free night.
In addition, to apply the certificate, you must book a special Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate, which is often higher than the cheapest available rate. So, you likely won't even get a full 50% off a two-night stay.
A weekend night benefit is available on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night — except in the Middle East, where the “weekend” could apply to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Members can't combine free weekend nights with reward nights or other promotions.
The complimentary weekend night benefit is not applicable when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts.
Finally, you can only have one open reservation using a certificate at a time, regardless of how many complimentary weekend night certificates you have in your IHG One Rewards account.
Benefits at Six Senses properties
At Six Senses properties that participate, InterContinental Ambassador members can enjoy select benefits on stays, including:
- Complimentary breakfast for two in the main restaurant each day. Not applicable at Six Senses Residences.
- A complimentary 50-minute massage for two OR a local experience (once per stay).
- One category room upgrade (subject to availability and excluding residences and 2+ bedroom suites/villas).
- Extended 4 p.m. checkout (subject to availability). Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members.
- Early check-in (subject to availability). Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members.
- Complimentary internet access.
- Wellness platter welcome amenity on the day of arrival. Subject to availability at Six Senses Residences.
It's worth noting that benefits are available only to the Ambassador member's personal room, and you won't get these benefits if you book through third-party sites. In addition, most benefits at Six Senses properties come with a “subject to availability” note. Before booking a stay at one of these luxury properties, I would contact IHG or the property directly to confirm details.
InterContinental Royal Ambassador
An InterContinental Ambassador membership offers a whole lot of benefits to members. However, for the brand's “most valued guests,” there is an even more elite loyalty tier. Royal Ambassador status is offered by invitation only, and the selection criteria aren't publicly available. I think it's fair to say that you must do a lot of business with IHG to get this invitation.
Royal Ambassador benefits
If you do find yourself with an invitation to Royal Ambassador status, here are some of the benefits you can expect:
- Free weekend night on the second night of a paid stay.
- Guaranteed two-category room upgrade at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
- Diamond Elite status in IHG One Rewards, including the corresponding IHG One Rewards benefits.
- Complimentary Club InterContinental lounge access for the member and one guest (if there is no lounge, breakfast for the member and one guest for each night of the stay).
- Free Night at an IHG Hotel, valued up to 70,000 points, and available after 8 weeks of attaining Royal Ambassador status. Not valid at IHG Army Hotels and Six Senses properties.
- Guaranteed early check-in at 10 a.m. and late checkout at 4 p.m.
- 25 food and beverage vouchers, worth up to $20 each, for a total of $500.
- In-room welcome amenity of fruit or snacks on arrival.
- Complimentary highest internet access where available.
- Waived Amenity or Destination fees, excluding mandatory government fees/taxes and resort fees.
- Kimpton Inner Circle membership status for stays at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
- Dedicated check-in area.
- 24-hour room guarantee at InterContinental Hotels and Resorts for reservations booked before noon 24 hours before the intended arrival date.
- Single room rate for double occupancy.
- The Royal Ambassador Free Night and Kimpton Inner Circle status might not extend to every invited Royal Ambassador.
While Royal Ambassador status is a bit of a mystery, it's definitely worth reading up on all the details surrounding benefits, terms, and conditions on the IHG website if you ever receive an invitation to join.
How To Renew Your IHG Ambassador Membership
IHG One Rewards members with InterContinental Ambassador membership can renew (an oddly specific) 92 days before their Ambassador membership expires. As long as you pay the fee before your annual Ambassador membership expires, your membership will continue without a gap. Renewing your membership costs $225 or 45,000 points for per year.
You can only purchase InterContinental Ambassador membership through IHG directly, so check out the website, call the central reservations office, or contact them through the IHG One Rewards WeChat.
Is InterContinental Ambassador Worth It?
IHG's InterContinental Ambassador program offers some serious perks. However, with the unique benefits generally limited to high-end properties, is it worth the $225 price tag? Depending on who you are and how you travel — and if you can replicate some of these benefits by having elite status — the answer is “maybe.”
If you are planning a stay at InterContinental property on an upcoming weekend, the free weekend night alone could be worth more than the cost of membership. Likewise, if you're headed to a Six Senses property, the guaranteed benefits of InterContinental Ambassador will likely make it worth the cost.
Will you stick with InterContinental Ambassador membership now that the annual fee has increased? Tell us what you think!
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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