The IHG Rewards Club had a separate program for the InterContinental hotels for the longest time I know, called the IHG Ambassador program, which allowed for various benefits at InterContinental hotels. This is a paid program, and comes with the following benefits:
- Guaranteed room upgrade to one category higher than purchased each time you stay.
- Choice of sweet snack, savoury snack or fruit on arrival and mineral water
- Complimentary weekend night certificate valid across InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
- 4 pm late checkout
- One complimentary pay-TV film per stay
- In-room welcome gift
- Instant checkout
The program has been available for sale for the first year at 200 USD and then one could renew membership at 150 USD every year. If you were using points, the membership would cost you 32000 IHG Rewards Club points in the first year, and 24000 IHG Rewards Club points to renew.
Personally, I’ve benefited from the program, having used the free night at some great properties including InterContinental Hong Kong, InterContinental Mumbai Marine Drive, InterContinental Dublin and InterContinental Saigon amongst others.
The program has been in continuous cutback mode since last year, however. IHG first removed the 5000 points that used to come inside the package for a lot of their members, and this year, there is another un-announced change which went up overnight.
IHG Rewards Club has changed the number of points required for their members to be able to buy or renew their membership for points. The new requirement is 40,000 IHG Rewards Club points for buying afresh (25% increase), and for renewals it went up 66%.
Honestly, this is completely out of whack, because no notices were sent out to existing members for the change. And just so that IHG knows, such announced changes are not appreciated!
What do you think about the new changes made to the IHG Ambassador program? Will you be a buyer at 40000 IHG Rewards Club points?
If you received an email reminder to upgrade like I did, look into its T&C. You may still be able to renew according to its T&C noted in the email, like I did. My expiration date is Jan 31.
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Terms and Conditions
*Renewal price of $150 USD or 24,000 IHG® Rewards Club points is valid until your membership expiration date.
Ajay wrote, “he new requirement is 40,000 IHG Rewards Club points for buying afresh (25% increase), and for renewals it went up 66%.”
Hey idiot, just say 40,000 per year, rather than sound like a pussy with “it went up 66%”. The “Oh my God” factor can be shoved.
Its daylight Robbery . It really is ridiculous as members renewing shortly should be given at least 60 days notice. IHG and the major chains are a law onto themselves .
So if they just raised the price of points purchases then I’m guess that the $200 fee will go up to about $250 for first time and $200 to renew.
Just renewed my Ambassador a few weeks ago for 24000 and got the 5k redemption code. Don’t know where you get your info from but it seems not reliable.
Well well, I just went to their website and did see that they changed point cost… Hmmm I got a deal then… hhh