Pre buy Ambassador program? Or sign up at hotel staying?

[celetrum]

Hi there

Just wandering as we are thinking of staying at our first intercontinental and like the idea of the ambassador program.
Should I pre sign up? Or do they have sign up offers available if you decide "spur of the moment" to sign up at the hotel?

 

[plugster2011]

I'm not aware of any special offers by signing up at the hotel versus online. Plus you possibly won't get the ambassador benefits on that stay (free movie, welcome gift, one category room upgrade) - especially if the category of room above the one booked is not available.

So imo I'd be signing up before hand. And if you've already made the booking I'd be calling the hotel prior to check in to ensure they recognise your ambassador status because I know of instances where bookings made prior to joining were not properly recognised in the system and service recovery was difficult.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Agreed with plugster2011 100%.

As an aside my renewal comes up in September and when I checked in to a hotel in Japan 4 weeks ago they offered and asked if I would like to renew Ambassador for another year right then and there at the hotel. I did not as not convinced i will renew and also i like to choose the renewal option. But this was a first for me at a property to be offered a renewal service then and there.

 

[workingman]

Well I did both!! I signed up in advance, mainly to make sure of an upgrade. When I arrived at the hotel and they seemed to know nothing about my ambassador membership, and after being put through to membership handling who could find no trace of me, lucky I had a copy of the confirmation email from when I joined, then I signed up again there and then. I still got the upgrade etc, but the staff, Intercon Manila, did say that if you sign up on the day you may not get an upgrade if no room is available.