IC Ambassador worth it?

[Cruiser Elite]

Its up to the Hotel basically, keep in mind in China status has extra benefits:

Gold Member:
-Welcome drink
-15% off difference in room rates to upgrade to Club Floor or suites (Club Lounge access when upgrading to Club Floor)


Platinum Member:
-Welcome drink
-Free upgrade to next room category
-30% off difference in room rates to upgrade to Club Floor or suites (Club Lounge access when upgrading to Club Floor)
-In-room amenity
-

Thanks mate - will continue to make myself at home then.

 

[dairyfloss]

Anyone have any knowledge / experience with IC Ambassador or other IHG benefits (Platinum) being carried through or honored on 3rd party bookings? I'm in London in May, and there are equivalent pre-paid rates on IHG and QF for my preferred IC London Westminster, with QF including a bonus ~10,000 points for the trouble of booking via them (plus whatever I'll get on the Citi Signature for paying). This is great, if no loss or impact to recognition at the property, but not worth it - IMO - if it does impact... I presume I'd also need to contact the hotel seperately to add AMB/IHG number after booking as well, if taking the QF route...

Cheers.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I seem to remember that you could purchase Ambassador membership for points, about 35,000 if I remember correctly. I can't see this on the website at present, probably because I don't have that many points left in my account.

Is the points option still available and do they sometimes have a special deal on this?

Thanks,

JV

 

[markis10]

I seem to remember that you could purchase Ambassador membership for points, about 35,000 if I remember correctly. I can't see this on the website at present, probably because I don't have that many points left in my account.

Is the points option still available and do they sometimes have a special deal on this?

Thanks,

JV

Its 32000 points, which is pretty much $200 worth, after easter they also often have a stay three nights and get it for free deal.

The fee for new members for 12 months of membership is US $200. IHG® Rewards Club members may also purchase membership for 32,000 points. After 12 months, members can renew their membership for an annual fee of US $150.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Its 32000 points, which is pretty much $200 worth, after easter they also often have a stay three nights and get it for free deal.

The fee for new members for 12 months of membership is US $200. IHG® Rewards Club members may also purchase membership for 32,000 points. After 12 months, members can renew their membership for an annual fee of US $150.

Thanks Markis10, I can always rely on you for the good oil.

I have a trip to Europe coming up later in the year and have pretty much booked all our accommodation leaving me with only 22,000 points at present so I can't actually see the amount of points on my account pages. I also have the double points buy offer so I could buy 5,000 and get 10,000 for 5 x $13-50 ($US67-50). That would give me enough to become an ambassador.

I have 2 reward nights (W, TH) at the IC in Vienna and got to thinking that I may be able to use a BOGO for Friday and Saturday for the price of one, assuming they are valid in VIE in October. Also get some benefits and have one BOGO left.

Of course if I could get it for free on the stay 3 deal you mention, then better still.

JV

 

[TonyHancock]

From memory I think you get a certificate for 5000 points when you receive your welcome pack. (Not that it helps you get to the 32,000 in the first place, but it does reduce the cost.)

 

[Jacques Vert]

From memory I think you get a certificate for 5000 points when you receive your welcome pack. (Not that it helps you get to the 32,000 in the first place, but it does reduce the cost.)

yes; that is still on the website. Good point. It also says you get a weekend night certificate; I thought I read somewhere that there were two. Oh well.

The IC in VIE is 35,000 points for a night so at 32,000 - 5000 it isn't a bad deal.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

From memory I think you get a certificate for 5000 points when you receive your welcome pack. (Not that it helps you get to the 32,000 in the first place, but it does reduce the cost.)

I recently renewed my AMB for US$150 and received 10000 points. For those like me who throws away the junk, please be aware the bonus points are a redemption code on the letter....don't turf it out before you activate it!

 

[markis10]

I recently renewed my AMB for US$150 and received 10000 points. For those like me who throws away the junk, please be aware the bonus points are a redemption code on the letter....don't turf it out before you activate it!

There have been some interesting renewal offers around, one involved using points but came with a ten percent points back on rewards redemptions for a year.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There have been some interesting renewal offers around, one involved using points but came with a ten percent pints back on rewards redemptions for a year.

Bugger......that would have returned me about 17000 points, but my 10k were deposited up front which meant I could then spend them straight away! :mrgreen:

 

[markis10]

I am due for renewal in June, this will be the first time I have to pay for it as I previously used the three night promo then bubbled between RA and normal ambassador, will be interesting what offer comes through.

 

[james1]

There have been some interesting renewal offers around, one involved using points but came with a ten percent points back on rewards redemptions for a year.

Mine this year was 24,000 to renew with a 10,000 point deposit via the welcome letter as well as the 10% rebate for points used during this membership year. Negotiated with the AMB centre via phone. Best renewal offer I have ever had.

 

[doczim]

Access to IC Lounges restricted to Ambassador Members is that correct? Like a lowly Platinum Elite like myself technically should not get Lounge access?

Aha! I did get something at the same time as e-mail No.1 that you reference, but it was just like a 'mailer daemon' error message, and didn't have anything I could do with it... I bet that's it! Might need to contact the dreaded IC Ambassador service center. It's pobably wrong that I'm dreading them before I've even enrolled [successfully], but I've heard bad things about how slow they are to react to anything. IHG in general have never been real quick.

Cheers!

did both the emails come at the same time? I got the first one bit haven't got a second one in any folder spam or otherwise. I thought maybe they had to process the payment first so thought that might take a day or two given time differences if it wasn't just automatic.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I am the first to admit I am not the sharpest pencil in the tin - but IC's lounge access policy to me seems like it was written by drunks on a bender.

Every time I check into IC in NKG staff just never seem to know whether I should / should not / can / cannot have lounge access even with Premium Elite staus. I have overcome it most times simply by asking for Manager at check-in and requesting it and in same breath telling them Sheraton always put me on executive floor with lounge access - that usually but not always works.

 

[markis10]

I am the first to admit I am not the sharpest pencil in the tin - but IC's lounge access policy to me seems like it was written by drunks on a bender.

Every time I check into IC in NKG staff just never seem to know whether I should / should not / can / cannot have lounge access even with Premium Elite staus. I have overcome it most times simply by asking for Manager at check-in and requesting it and in same breath telling them Sheraton always put me on executive floor with lounge access - that usually but not always works.

There are no formal benefits from IHG Rewards applicable at ICs for status members, they only recognise Ambasssadors and only RAs have lounge access.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

IC's lounge access policy to me seems like it was written by drunks on a bender.

It's different, but can still be useful.

IC's only tend to reward with club access as an incentive to stay more if you can reach the undefined level of Royal Ambassador. Thankfully the points have been reviewed for the better, but apart from RAs, club access is only available with a purchase (unless you're lucky). Normal Ambassador is a bought subscription rather than a reward for loyalty and does not normally include club access unless you buy a club room. Normal Ambassador does however, guarantee a one level upgrade, which I tend to use for a suite purchase just below club level which then means I get a suite with club access as the upgrade. That's Ok but of course not as good as say Hilton when they do come through with a suite upgrade from a base level booking.......but that is not guaranteed. So horses for courses. I've been using IC in SYD and have found Amb is worth the purchase as Hilton is too hit and miss in SYD. In other AU locations where the two compete, Hilton wins hands down IMHO.

 

[markis10]

In other AU locations where the two compete, Hilton wins hands down IMHO.

I would not agree with that in ADL (and previously PER) in mind.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I would not agree with that in ADL (and previously PER) in mind.

Ah yes, I was too flippant. PER Hilton shoots itself in the foot in my opinion by being too expensive for an old hotel without a lounge.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

There are no formal benefits from IHG Rewards applicable at ICs for status members, they only recognise Ambasssadors and only RAs have lounge access.

Yep exactly what I said - a policy written by drunks on a bender.

Platinum Elite at IC - highest status you can achieve right? Yet no lounge access - give me a break.

 

[markis10]

Yep exactly what I said - a policy written by drunks on a bender.

Platinum Elite at IC - highest status you can achieve right? Yet no lounge access - give me a break.

No, Platinum Elite is not a status at ICs, only Ambassador and Royal Ambasador, and if you do more than two nights a year in an IC you would be nuts not to do Ambassador, it's reward night rebates are very handy.