IHG Rewards (which was Priority Club) and its kin, Ambassador status, gets all too confusing. The reason they turned into two status programs is because they want Ambassador Status to be something that is good only at InterContinental branded hotels and IHG Rewards to be the rewards and points system for all IHG hotels (which includes InterContinental as well as Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites).
Let me take a minute to explain each status, the easy and the hard way to earn each status, and the real perks.
IHG Rewards
You earn IHG Rewards Points and spend them regardless of what the brand. All the aforementioned hotels fall under the IHG hotel umbrella and are part of this points earning system. (Forget about Ambassador status for a moment). This is no different than any other hotel chain in which you earn and redeem points at any of its properties.
As a basic Club member, (which is what you become after simply signing up) you start out earning 10 points per dollar. After the basic Club member status there are two other tiers in the IHG Rewards program.
Gold Elite
How to earn: by staying 15 nights or earning 20,000 IHG Rewards Points.
Benefits:
- Free internet
- Earn 10% more IHG Rewards Points
Platinum Elite
How to earn: by staying 50 nights or earning 60,000 IHG Rewards Points.
Benefits:
- All Gold Elite benefits
- A 50% bonus from club.
- Elite Rollover Nights
- Complimentary Room Upgrades
- Guaranteed Room Availability
The better way to earn elite status
- As I mentioned in the post, Earning IHG Rewards Points On Steroids, earning status via earned points is easy. 60,000 points can be earned in less than 10 stays/nights for someone real savvy.
- You get Platinum Status for having the credit card.
- You can status match from other loyalty programs easily. If you have Marriott Platinum Status (for free) or another top tier status, then call and do a status match with IHG.
- You get Platinum Status when you upgrade to Ambassador Status free (which we’ll talk about in a minute).
- Fast Track to Platinum Elite is 40 qualifying nights at 4 different brands.
Just to clarify, points earned from bonuses (like credit cards, bought points, transfers, etc…) no longer go toward elite status. However, points earned from stays, even if it’s from promotions, do go towards elite status.
To prove it, I want to show the points I earned from a 1 night stay. Note how it is a “qualifying stay”. Award nights are marked, “non-qualifying stay”.
Perhaps, you should read that post on earning IHG Rewards points. And that was before the big win promotion.
My first thought is to tell you how worthless Platinum status is. It can be had so easily and none of the benefits are that great. It can’t remotely compare to other hotel chains’ top tier statuses.
I have gotten upgrades because of it. Got a big old suite at the Holiday Inn Chiang Mai and the Holiday Inn Auckland Airport. But even at Crowne Plaza hotels, it doesn’t do much. Generally they give a view or something, but not always. Finally, it basically does nothing at InterContinental hotels other than a “Thank you for being a Platinum elite”.
InterContinental Ambassador Status
Something unique to InterContinental is that they have a status that is only good for one brand: InterContinental Hotels. It’s by far their nicest hotel brand; it’s their Ritz Carlton (except usually not as nice), and there are relatively few hotels across the world.
Another odd thing is that you buy Ambassador status. I think it’s $200 now or 32,000 points. And it’s slightly cheaper to renew.
Benefits:
- Water! Not a joke
- Fruit upon arrival – the most expensive apple you’ve ever had.
- Guaranteed room upgrade – usually one category only
- In-room gift
- 4 pm check out
- “A free weekend night” – it’s a bogo certificate, so if you buy a saturday you get a sunday free for example.
- 5,000 points
- and IHG Platinum status
If my bias isn’t showing, I don’t think this is a worth while status for most people. It only works at the InterContinental brand and it mostly gives you things with very little value. Then again that’s speculative for upgrades. Well… actually it isn’t.
The fruit could put someone out a dollar, the water a dollar (unless you got it from the hotel minibar), etc… But the real benefit for most people is the upgrade, which has a value that can be measured.
Most room upgrades from the cheapest room are like $10 more and tend to be a room that looks similar but has a different name. Sure, if you got 20 upgrades you’d make back your $200… But I wouldn’t have spent $200 to guarantee a superior room instead of a classic room. I just wouldn’t.
However, you can easily tell the value by looking at the room prices for your desired hotel. For example lets look at a popular hotel, the InterContinental Paris Le Grande. For the weekend dates I’m looking at, the lowest cash rate for a basic classic room is €311, while the superior room is €336. In this case you are actually saving €25. Which is like $33. So you’re getting more for your money. Right?
But would you have spent the money for a “superior” room?
However the room difference at the IC Bora Bora for one upgrade from basic (what you get with points) is over $100 a night. Actually, the big difference is that the upgrade is to an overwater bungalow! So if you stay 5 nights, you could save serious money if you would have preferred an over water bungalow.
At that point, the other perks would be icing on the cake.
For those of you who do pay cash, one way to use this guaranteed upgrade is to book the room under the room you want. Or if there is a big different in normal rooms and suites, book the room 1 under the suite.
However, two disheartening things about this status are:
1) It does absolutely nothing at 4,500 chains.
2) If it was empty, you probably would have gotten the same room as a platinum member.
That being said, the nicest IC hotels don’t really seem to be empty.
InterContinental Royal Ambassador Status
This is the invite only status. It’s said that only the top 1% of members get invited to be Royal Ambassadors. Others guess you need 60+ nights and multiple IC stays. Although the truth is, it’s inconsistent, unpublished and no one truly knows.
If you are chosen by IHG, you get to invite another person to be a Royal Ambassador too. These referral certificates sometimes go for $700 – $800 on ebay. O_o
Whatever.
The extra benefits would include:
- Free Minibar – technically it’s for drinks only, but some hotels give free access to everything.
- 8 am check-in
- “An upgrade to an Executive room, Club InterContinental room or a Suite for Royal Ambassadors at check-in is guaranteed. “
Before you get too excited, let me break down the benefits.
- Notice that “executive room” is included in the upgrades guaranteed. That’s just a room with a fancier name as far as I’m concerned.
- They never give club rooms.
- No benefits on award stays. The only loyalty status to make this stipulation.
And before you get too excited about the free minibar. Please think for one second. IHG is the only top tier status to not guarantee the access to Club Lounge (or give breakfast). So yes, you’ll be sipping juice alone in your executive room, because you are not going to the club lounge to enjoy evening hors d’oeuvres and champagne.
It’s true but I don’t want to go on a long rant about that… today. Soon.
In conclusion
Platinum status, you’ll get it quickly if you want. Is it comparable to other programs’ top tier statuses? Not even close. It’s almost a joke. With other programs you get breakfast, lounge access, guaranteed suite upgrades (with hyatt and spg), etc… With IHG Platinum, you don’t get much. But again, it’s free.
Ambassador status is worth it perhaps for die hard IC stayers (in which case you might as well get RA/ probably will get it). Or, it’s good for a specific room – like the overwater bungalow upgrade in Bora Bora.
Royal Ambassador is a bit of a joke now. That being said it is the top tier status for IC hotels. And IHG does have a lot of good things about their program. Mainly earning points and spending them on sales like PointBreaks. Their points system is awesome. Their Royal Ambassador status needs a serious looking at.
If you are choosing a status to go for simply for benefits and not based on points earning, consider that every other hotel status comes with lounge access, breakfast and gives benefits on award stays. IC does not. Also consider that it is an unpublished status, so you may try really hard to earn it and then end up not getting it. So… don’t waste your time, imo.
In short, IHG and IC are about free nights. Earning points and spending them. It is not about the perks of status. However, I won’t lie, it is nice to have some sort of status when you spend a lot of time at a hotel. It just isn’t comparable to any other top tier status. Not even close.
Thanks for your blog. It’s great and has helped a lot. Question regarding the IHG Best Rate Guarantee (I know this isn’t that post, but didn’t want my question missed by putting in an old post). Do you still earn points when you get a free BRG room? If so how long does it take for points to post? Was able to get one this past weekend, but haven’t seen any points post. I also registered for a bunch of IHG promos after booking the room, but before staying so I’m not sure if I should expect seeing those fulfilled or not as well… ? Thanks for your help.
Unfortunately you don’t get credit/points. That’s the downside of IHG’s BRG. However… send me an email. I’ll forward you the newsletter on it. I did a newsletter on it recently. You might find helpful. 😉
I think I saw that one. I did book the stay the day of the stay(Just a few hours before check in, in fact) and they were able to adjust the room to zero. So no points, etc. unfortunately. I have another stay coming up in November that I’m trying to get IHG’s BRG on, but haven’t had success yet. Hopefully I can get it before day of, but we’ll see if I can get it at all. Thanks for your help.
Yea, definitely a YMMV. Good luck on the next one. The gold mine sites for finding brgs are kind of obscure. Some of the sites above can find those sites but for some reason not all the time.
Getting the upgrade in Bora Bora when having Ambassador Status: is that something that can be confirmed after booking/before check-in, or do they hold out until one arrives to give themselves every chance to sell the overwater bungalows?
Thanks for the article – very helpful!
Well, it’s not confirmed like you book into it. Whenever they preallocate the rooms, they bump you up. So it’s not on check in. I imagine they do it early with as few rooms as they have.
However, it is guaranteed. Look at the terms and conditions for that part. Guaranteed room upgrade is much different than the “complimentary upgrades,” which are based on availability.
Short: you’ll get an OWB.
I bought Ambassador status precisely for this reason – staying at IC Bora Bora for 6 nights and we got a 2-tier upgrade, presumably because the regular overwater bungalows were booked. Well worth it. For the 200$ we saved well over 700$ on our stay.
Well, if we are going with some slightly off topic questions, I have one too. I have some Expedia BRG’s to use. I need 4 nights including 2 booked through the mobile app or website to get my “Big Win” bonus. Can I book the other 2 nights through Expedia with the BRG and get credit towards the Big Win?
Should be fine unless it’s like a priceline bid or hotwire mystery hotel thing.
Are you talking about booking through Expedia with $50 cpn and the stay should be counted as a qualifying stay by IHG?
It shouldn’t be any different with a coupon, they either post points from 3rd part sites or don’t, unless it’s a bidding site.
I see. I guess the most important thing is be sure adding you frequent guest # to the third party reservation, either call the hotel in advance or add it when check-in/out? Otherwise you cannot pull such reservation from your frequent program account.
Sure. Sometimes I even email the hotel ahead of time. But for sure make sure they have it on file at check in.
honestly it’s a weakness in my knowledge, as I never book them. But I’ve been told that as long as you add your account, you should be fine. And then you should try buying something from the minibar or something. 😉
oh, and to use with the coupon you have to ‘pay now’ to Expedia, while if you choose pay at the hotel, you will pay when c/o to the hotel rather than Expedia. I guess the two different procedures may matter whether it counts as elite qualifying stay?
From IHG:
http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/customer-care/faq/points
“Can I earn points when I book on third-party sites?
Most rates booked through most third party web sites, complimentary hotel stays and any other rates not defined as a Qualifying Room Rate are not eligible for points.
Thanks for the reply Joe. I asked IHG and the verified that “most third part websites” = all. You can not earn points.
Or I rather should not*. I can verify that both, I have received points before on 3rd part sites. And gotten benefits. I hear that having a bill to pay may set this off. So charge something to the room I hear.
Agreed that their program as far as elite perks is a bit of a joke, but I think that having Platinum status is better than nothing. It is easy to get by having the credit card and you can easily recoup the low annual fee with the free room certificate. In my experience, hotels outside the US tend to do more for Platinums – whether it is a room with a nice view/size or a few drink certificates for the bar. Doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does I appreciate it for the small of effort it takes to keep the status.
I agree, free things are better than no free things. 🙂
Just in comparison, as a gold at Hilton and Club Carlson… well at the now Radisson Blu Philly, they gave every person in my party a drink voucher and breakfast. Hilton, get drink vouchers and breakfast. IHG, never breakfast. CP recently gave drink… and that’s it for me.
But no, I agree. Maximizing is never bad. And honestly, I do love a room with a view, just not enough to pay. :-p
Just completed a 3 night stay in Amsterdam at the IC Amstel. Am a platinum elite but they upgraded me to a suite! Apparently miracles do happen
Wow. Well, first of all, nice. And so … yea. wow. My first thought is, “so it’s official, there is no reason to have Royal Ambassador status.” :-p
Haven’t hit that hotel yet, but I hear it’s top.
I don’t think some of this post is completely accurate, but I guess things may have changed. I agree it’s difficult to not have guaranteed benefits on award stays, but there are properties that do grant full benefits to RAs on award stays. Earlier this year, I received upgrades and Club access at the IC SF Mark Hopkins, Paris Le Grand, Vienna and Frankfurt on points. I believe that outside of Japan and HK, the ICs in Asia are fairly generous as well, but it is largely property-dependent. However, since the Club is more exclusive at some ICs, the quality and comfort level are generally higher…e.g. both IC HKs have excellent Clubs with high quantity and quality, and several services per day.
I have stayed at one CP where Plat is very useful: Crowne Plaza HK Causeway Bay…where I got breakfast, happy hour at their roof-top bar, slight upgrade, and internet on an award stay. Plus, the location is very good…near an MTR station and plenty of dining.
Sure. I’ve stayed at many properties that treat it the same on award stays and points.
I will admit that I have no been to Asia since being an RA. Look forward to being in Asia… because it’s awesome anyways but for the hotels too. :-p
But I am told that there was a shift in July. Management at two hotels told me last month that IHG has been really pushing not to upgrade award stays. Furthermore, in Europe many properties have decided to upsell lounge access. No club even on paid stays.
I’m not saying there aren’t hotels that do give lounge access. I’m saying it’s the only hotel chain that doesn’t always give lounge access. I really think IHG has slipped in this regard and are far behind.
I think you’ll get better treatment as a toptier Hyatt, SPG, Hilton or Marriott. You get breakfast, lounge access, and equal treatment on award nights. In terms of status, I think it’s a joke in comparison. In terms of free nights. It’s the best.
And I’ll have to check out the CP HKG then. :-p
Oh…I saw this statement “2. They never give club rooms.” and misunderstood. I guess you meant strictly by ToC, but there are times when properties are redemption-friendly. I’m really surprised about the lack of Club on paid stays at some props.
I do find that it is a lot of work to stay at ICs…a lot of variables to consider: benefits on $ vs pts stays, FF rates, BOGO nts, BRG, etc. SPGs and Hyatts do make planning easier. I did like finding the BOGO bargains and being able to depend on that 2 category upgrade. The minibar benefit was nice on some stays…especially when my sister was around. My parents appreciated the use of the players lounge at the Palazzo in Vegas, as they prefer a light breakfast.
Oops on the CP HK, it’s now 45K/nt. I think it used to be 25K. Looking at your IC review, you might just want to stay on that side of the harbour for 50K.
Actually, that probably wasn’t the best wording. Or what I meant. Yes, I meant to say, it is never a benefit. For sure, I just finished a stay at the IC Vienna. Oh my, great hotel. Lounge access and all (on a BRG) and the lounge was as fine as a lounge gets.
But yes, no club lounge on paid stays at many properties now. The dumbest thing I ever heard. Not remotely competitive.
Yea, certainly. I think they like the game aspect, as I’ve mentioned before. Or rather, they want people to like the game aspect. Put in the promo codes and stay.
LeGrand was a bad example to pick. The Classic rooms are so small you can basically stretch out your arms on the bed and touch both walls. Unworkable for 2 people or 1 person for more than a night, in my view. The extra space in a Superior is well worth it.
The 4pm check out, which is guaranteed, is also very handy on weekend breaks. As is the free pay TV film.
Renewal is an even better deal. One option now is $200 for renewal, 15000 points AND a 10 per cent rebate on redemptions for a year. Effectively makes AMB free with a few redemption nights.
You make great points about renewal being cheaper.
But I guess the upgrade thing is totally preference, eh?
I just would never pay $35 or whatever it is, to have a slightly bigger room. But I would also never pay $400 for a hotel room. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but simply, I could never afford it. :-p
And regardless. Sure, it’s not the best example to prove my point, as many hotels are $10 upgrades to second tier.
I do use the 4pm check out, but I generally find hotels are generous about that anyways. Many other chains give 2pm when I ask. I think you’ll get VERY similar results as a platinum. Jay above said he got a suite upgrade at the IC Amstel. I bet if he was an Ambassador he would have gotten one room cat upgrade. :-p
To me, I just can’t justify Ambassador status. It’s just things I don’t see value in. Slightly bigger rooms, sweet talking, etc…
Is there a comprehensive list of all IHG properties somewhere without having to hunt by brand? I live in the middle of nowhere and am trying to plan to complete the big promotion for this quarter and this would help. Any tips? Thanks!
Yea, I actually check this out sometimes. Too bad it’s not in map form. http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/hd Go down to browse locations and select middle east.
Thank you! I live in the US, but I’ll keep the middle east in mind :).
I’m a RA.. I stayed at IC Kowloon and used just points. I got upgrade to Jr Suite and club access. So benefits were given with award stay.
Well, some update will be in order once we fully learn of what the new SPIRE elite level fully delivers.