InterContinental Ambassador: elite status you can buy

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Now that IHG One Rewards has a decent elite program (see Tim’s post: Is IHG Diamond Status Elite? My Experience Over 10 Stays At 5 Brands), you might think that the parallel InterContinental Ambassador program has become irrelevant, but I think it is now more interesting than ever.  In some ways the two programs complement each other.  Ambassador status doesn’t offer free breakfast outside of China. IHG Diamond status offers free breakfast for two pretty much everywhere.  IHG Diamond status doesn’t guarantee 2PM late check-out.  Ambassador status guarantees 4PM late check-out at InterContinental hotels.  IHG Diamond status is earned through stays or credit card spend.  Ambassador status is bought and can be used to extend your Diamond status.

Recently, I renewed my Ambassador status for $200.  In exchange, I’ll get all of the usual perks of Ambassador status plus 15,000 IHG points.  Most importantly, my IHG Diamond status was automatically extended for another year.  Before renewing my Ambassador status, my IHG Diamond status was set to expire 12/31/2023.  Immediately after renewing, my IHG account shows that my Diamond status is valid through 12/31/2024.
This post has been updated with a new working link to search for free weekend nights before joining the Ambassador program.  I’ve also removed benefits that no longer apply at Regent and Kimpton hotels.

Intercontinental Ambassador Elite Status

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is a single brand within the much larger International Hotel Group (IHG), the latter of which also includes brands such as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, Regent, Six Senses, and more.  IHG has a rewards and recognition program that spans all of these brands: IHG One Rewards.  Confusingly, while InterContinental hotels are part of the IHG One Rewards program, they are also part of their own elite status program: InterContinental Ambassador.  In this post you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Ambassador program.

In my opinion, the Ambassador program offers solid value that can be worth paying for if you make good use of the free weekend night certificate.  See this post for a real world example where I got fantastic value from a single trip: The InterContinental Ambassador Experiment.  Guaranteed room upgrades and 4pm late checkout can also be quite valuable under the right circumstances.  I also like the fact that the $20 per stay food & beverage credit can be used on award stays.  This makes our points and free night certificates just a wee bit more valuable.

How to join Intercontinental Ambassador

The InterContinental Ambassador elite status program has two levels: InterContinental Ambassador and Royal Ambassador. Royal Ambassador is invitation only.  InterContinental Ambassador is a pay to play program: pay either $200 or 40,000 IHG points for 12 months of membership.  If you pay with points and you have the old IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card (no longer available to new applicants), you’ll get 10% of your points back for a net cost of 36,000 IHG points.

You can join InterContinental Ambassador online here (This is an affiliate link by the way. Thank you!).  Benefits are available instantly upon joining.

How to renew Intercontinental Ambassador

When you sign up for Intercontinental Ambassador status, benefits are available for 12 months after enrollment.  As then end of your 12 months nears, you should receive an email from Ambassador@mc.ihg.com with a subject heading that’s something like this: Renew InterContinental Ambassador for personalised service and additional luxuries.

You’ll generally be given two options for renewing:

  • Pay $200 and get 15,000 IHG One Rewards points
  • Pay 40,000 points.

I think that the $200 option is much better.

Tip: If you try to renew online and if pressing the final Renew Now button doesn’t work, try editing the credit card information (even if you put in the exact same info that was in your account already).  That was the only way I could find to get my renewal to process.

Ambassador Benefits

IHG Platinum Elite Status (IHG-wide benefits)

InterContinental Ambassador offers complimentary IHG Platinum status.  This status offers the following benefits across all IHG brands:

  • 60% Bonus Points on paid stays
  • Complementary Upgrades (Platinum and Diamond Benefit): Free upgrades can include suites, but hotels aren’t required to offer them.
  • Points or Drink/Snack Welcome Amenity: Choose points or a drink / snack at check-in.
  • Reward Night Discount: It’s not clear to me what exactly this benefit is or if it has been implemented yet in IHG’s program.  IHG’s website states “IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite Members will receive exclusive access to discounts on Reward Nights at participating hotels.”
  • Guaranteed Room Availability
  • Early Check-In: Based upon availability

IHG Diamond Elite Renewal (IHG-wide benefits)

If you already have IHG Diamond status, signing up for or renewing Ambassador status has the effect of renewing your Diamond status for another year.  This seems to happen even if you have Diamond status from a status challenge, credit card spend, or whatever.  This isn’t a stated or guaranteed part of the program, though, so I can’t promise that this will happen for you.  Diamond elites are eligible for the following benefits over and above those available for Platinum elites:

  • 100% Bonus Points on paid stays
  • Dedicated Diamond support
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star® status
  • Free breakfast: Diamond Elite Members’ Welcome Amenity choice includes Free Breakfast at full-service and select-service brands (REGENT, InterContinental, Hualuxe, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Even, Holiday Inn, and Kimpton)

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Benefits

Ambassador status offers the following benefits for stays at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts:

  • Free weekend night: Valid on the second night of a paid weekend stay on the Ambassador Weekend Rate (“AMB Certificate”) at InterContinental Hotels (excludes InterContinental Alliance Resorts).  The free night is available immediately upon enrollment in the Ambassador program. Only one free night certificate is issued per 12 months.  Valid only for the member who has InterContinental Ambassador status.  The weekend is defined as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except in the Middle East where hotels may define the weekend as Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  TIP: You can check for free weekend night prices and availability before joining the Ambassador program (click for details).
  • Guaranteed room upgrade: Guaranteed one category room upgrade on paid stays.  Upgrades include suites, but exclude lounge access unless you booked a room with lounge access from the beginning.  Room upgrades are not guaranteed on award stays.
  • Guaranteed 4PM late checkout
  • $20 food & beverage credit per stay: Can be used at most InterContinental hotel restaurants, bars and minibars. Not applicable to in-room dining (weird).
  • Complimentary mineral water daily
  • Complimentary highest internet access
  • Single room rate for double occupancy
  • In greater China only: Complimentary breakfast for one, each night you stay (Valid in Mainland China only)

InterContinental Alliance Resorts

Ambassador status offers the following benefits for stays at InterContinental Alliance Resorts:

  • Complimentary water will be provided on the day of arrival and will not be replenished daily.
  • Royal Ambassador: Minibar credit will be capped at USD50 per day and USD100 per stay.
  • InterContinental Ambassador one category and Royal Ambassador two category room upgrades are subject to availability.

The following benefits are not applicable when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts:

  • Complimentary Weekend Night
  • InterContinental Ambassador Restaurant and Bar credit up to USD20 for Ambassador Platinum members when staying at InterContinental Alliance Resorts, Macao
  • Royal Ambassador Club InterContinental lounge access/alternate experience access
  • Royal Ambassador breakfast for two when staying at The Venetian Resort and Palazzo at The Venetian, Las Vegas

The benefits Guarantee is not applicable at InterContinental Alliance Resorts

Regent Hotels & Resorts Benefits

Ambassador status no longer offers benefits for stays at Regent Hotels & Resorts.

Six Senses Benefits

Ambassador status offers the following benefits for stays at participating Six Senses Hotels & Resorts:

  • Free breakfast for two: Benefit not applicable at Six Senses Residences.
  • Complementary one category room upgrade: Subject to availability (excludes residences and 2 bedroom or greater suites/villas)
  • 4PM late checkout: Subject to availability. Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador & Kimpton Inner Circle members. Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.
  • Early check-in: Early check-in subject to availability. Guaranteed for Royal Ambassador & Kimpton Inner Circle members and in circumstances where the room is not available at 10 am, the member may be checked into another available room until the original booked room becomes available. Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.
  • Signature Amenity: Signature Amenity of either a complimentary 50 minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or local experience once per stay. The Signature Amenity varies by resort, is subject to availability and confirmed on arrival. Not applicable with corporate or negotiated rates.
  • Complementary Internet Access
  • Wellness Platter: Wellness Platter welcome amenity on day of arrival. Benefit always subject to availability for all tiers at Six Senses Residences.

Kimpton Benefits

Ambassador status no longer offers benefits at Kimpton hotels.

Benefit Guarantees

IHG backs up Ambassador benefits with cash, credits, or points if they are not able to offer certain benefits during your stay:

a screenshot of a menu

Royal Ambassador benefits

Royal Ambassador is an invitation only program which offers all of the benefits listed above, plus the following at InterContinental Hotels:

  • Guaranteed two category room upgrade
  • Complimentary Club InterContinental lounge access (or free full breakfast for two)
  • Free Night at an IHG Hotel: Good for any hotel that costs up to 70,000 points per night
  • Guaranteed Early check-in of 10 a.m. on day of arrival
  • Minibar credit of $50 per night, up to $200 per stay
  • In-room welcome amenity choice of fruit, sweet or savory snack on day of arrival
  • Waived Amenity or Destination fees
  • Single-room rate for double occupancy
  • Guaranteed room availability for member’s room with 24-hour advance reservation

InterContinental Ambassador FAQ

Do benefits apply to award nights?

Some benefits apply to free nights booked with points or with free night certificates…

Ambassador benefits that apply to award nights:

  • 4PM late checkout
  • $20 food & beverage credit per stay
  • Complimentary mineral water
  • Complimentary internet service

Royal Ambassador benefits that apply to award nights:

  • Guaranteed 10am early check in
  • Guaranteed 4pm late checkout
  • Free in-room amenity
  • Complimentary mineral water
  • Complimentary internet service
  • Waived amenity or destination fees

Do benefits apply to 3rd party bookings?

Yes?  This is somewhat surprising and I don’t consider it confirmed, but the terms & conditions specifically say that the Benefit Guarantees do not apply on 3rd party or tour operator bookings.  This implies to me that most benefits may be offered, but that there’s no way to enforce it.

The terms specifically call out room upgrades and 4pm late checkout in French Polynesia as benefits that are not guaranteed on 3rd party bookings: “At InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in French Polynesia (InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea, and InterContinental Resort Tahiti), upgrades to the next room categories and a 4 p.m. late check-out are not guaranteed for any member that books through a third-party website or Tour Operator.”

The fact that they went out of their way to state that certain benefits are not guaranteed on these bookings in French Polynesia makes me think that they do expect these benefits to be offered elsewhere.

Free weekend night questions

Competitive price?

Not really.

In order to book your free weekend night, it is necessary to apply the Ambassador Weekend Rate to your reservation.  If this rate is available, you can book the weekend stay at that rate.  The Ambassador Weekend Rate tends to be the same as the hotel’s standard weekend rate before any discounts.  For example, you won’t get a sale price, a member discount, or a prepaid rate.  That said, sometimes the weekend rate is only slightly higher than other options and so it can offer great value in those cases.

TIP: You can check for free weekend night prices and availability before joining the Ambassador program (click for details).

Always available?

No. You can (and should) check for free weekend night prices and availability before joining the Ambassador program (click for details).

Which nights count as weekend nights?

The weekend is defined as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except in the Middle East where hotels may define the weekend as Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Except with some hotels in the Middle East, this means that you can search for a two night stay for Friday and Saturday night or Saturday and Sunday night.

Book a suite?

a white background with black text

Yes, you can book a suite at the Ambassador Weekend Rate and get the second night free.

Book with lounge access?

a screenshot of a web page

Yes, you can book a room or a suite that includes club lounge access at the Ambassador Weekend Rate and get the second night free.

Search for free weekend nights before joining Ambassador

  1. With this link, you can check for free weekend night prices and availability before joining the Ambassador program (This is an affiliate link by the way. Thank you!).
  2. Change the Rate Preference drop-down to “Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night”
  3. Make sure to search for two weekend nights (e.g. search for Friday and Saturday night or Saturday and Sunday night)

When you search for a two night weekend stay, you should see results like those shown below. The first two results have available free weekend nights, but you can see that the rest of the results do not because there is a grey bar stating “Rooms are not available for Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night on one or more of the selected dates.  View available dates.”

a screenshot of a hotel website

When you click through to one of the hotels that do have free weekend night availability, you can pick from any room description that includes the following text “Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night available.”

Guaranteed Upgrade Questions

Upgrade to lounge access?

Ambassador: No.  Royal Ambassador: Yes.

Regular Ambassador status does not include free upgrades to Club InterContinental lounges.  You might think there’s a workaround: book a room 1 level below a room that includes lounge access and then get a free 1 category upgrade.  Unfortunately, the Ambassador terms & conditions say that if you get upgraded to a room that usually includes lounge access, you still won’t be given that access.

Royal Ambassadors are usually guaranteed lounge access, but not during the following dates and places:

  • New Year’s Eve, December 31 – Location: Global
  • Chinese New Year, beginning on the 1st day of the lunar year for a 10-day period – Location: Greater China
  • Ramadan, beginning on the 1st day of Ramadan for a 30-day period – Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Upgrades to suite?

Yes.

If you book the top non-suite room, you should be upgraded to a suite.  Unfortunately, if that suite normally includes lounge access, you are not guaranteed that lounge access with your upgrade.  That said, I expect that some hotels will grant it anyway.

Upgrade to Presidential suite?

Sometimes

If a hotel has an incredible top level suite, can you book the next to top-level in order to get upgraded to the best of the best?  In some cases, yes.  Unfortunately, many specialty suites are explicitly excluded from the guaranteed upgrade benefit.  You can find a full list of exceptions here.

Upgrade exclusions?

In addition to the specialty suite exceptions described above, guaranteed upgrades are also subject to certain blackout periods:

  • New Year’s Eve, December 31 – Location: Global
  • Chinese New Year, beginning on the 1st day of the lunar year for a 10-day period – Location: Greater China
  • Ramadan, beginning on the 1st day of Ramadan for a 30-day period – Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Terms & Conditions?

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

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