InterContinental will soon be increasing the cost of its paid Ambassador program. As far as price increases go, this is hardly unreasonable…
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InterContinental Ambassador will cost $225 or 45,000 points
InterContinental Ambassador is a paid rewards program that offers extra perks at InterContinental properties, separate from the IHG One Rewards program. For years, a membership has cost either $200 or 40,000 IHG One Rewards points annually. That will soon be changing.
As of October 2, 2024, the annual cost of an InterContinental Ambassador membership will increase to either $225 or 45,000 IHG One Rewards points. So regardless of whether you pay in cash or points, the cost is increasing by 12.5%.
It has been many years since the cost of an InterContinental Ambassador membership has increased, so I’d hardly consider a 12.5% price increase after all these years to be unreasonable.
So far this price change has only been communicated internally, but it’s expected to be announced publicly as of August 2, 2024, two months ahead of the price increase (thanks to Verylvke for flagging this). Keep in mind that you can renew your Ambassador membership up to 90 days in advance, so you could always lock in your membership now, to get the lower price.
Is InterContinental Ambassador status worth it?
For those not familiar with the InterContinental Ambassador program, it offers the following perks every time you stay at an InterContinental:
- A guaranteed one category upgrade
- A $20 credit to use toward the hotel’s restaurant, bar, or minibar
- Guaranteed 4PM late check-out
- Complimentary internet and mineral water
- Complimentary weekend night reward
- A dedicated check-in area
- Single room rate for double occupancy
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
I’d say the program could be well worth it if you stay at InterContinental properties at least a few times per year. Alternatively, the membership pays for itself if you can use the weekend night certificate on even a single stay. For those curious about the weekend night certificate, here’s how that works:
- It’s valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and it’s issued as soon as you sign up for the program (or renew)
- It’s valid for a minimum of a two night paid weekend stay, using the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate at any InterContinental property (this will show as “AMB Certificate” when booking)
- Weekend nights are defined as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except in the Middle East, where hotels may define the weekend as Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- The weekend night certificate can be used for most room types, including many suites and club rooms
- If you’re curious to see what rates are like using this benefit but don’t yet have a certificate, you can search the rates at this link; as you’ll see, this rate is sometimes a bit higher than the regular best available rate, but not by much
Bottom line
As of October 2024, the cost of an InterContinental Ambassador membership is increasing by 12.5%, whether paying with cash or points. The new cost will be $225 or 45,000 IHG One Rewards points. While no one likes a price increase, this one doesn’t even keep up with inflation, so it’s hardly that bad.
The program continues to be valuable, but only if you frequently stay at InterContinentals, or can use the weekend night certificate.
Where do you stand on the value of InterContinental Ambassador?
Complimentary weekend night is a rip off as you need to pay a higher rate than the normal full flex rate to get it. This rate has no extra advantages other than being eligible for the "free night" so it's not like your paying for flexibility, breakfast or other perks. So you're effectively paying extra to get a free night which effectively turns one free night into 0.6 free night or similar :D and you...
Complimentary weekend night is a rip off as you need to pay a higher rate than the normal full flex rate to get it. This rate has no extra advantages other than being eligible for the "free night" so it's not like your paying for flexibility, breakfast or other perks. So you're effectively paying extra to get a free night which effectively turns one free night into 0.6 free night or similar :D and you can't even combine this on one booking if you're continuing your stay into the week.
Ambassador is still worth it even without the free night, but I strongly dislike being lied to or ripped off so I probably won't renew it.
My Ambassador status got me upgraded from the lowest level king room to a one bedroom suite at an Intercontinental in London for a month long stay. The annual $200 fee gave me a room that costs $250-300 more per night. It is an amazing deal. I love being able to sleep with the internal door closed, essentially totally blocking out all hall noises (slamming doors, maids, kids, etc). The extra space brings home-like comfort...
My Ambassador status got me upgraded from the lowest level king room to a one bedroom suite at an Intercontinental in London for a month long stay. The annual $200 fee gave me a room that costs $250-300 more per night. It is an amazing deal. I love being able to sleep with the internal door closed, essentially totally blocking out all hall noises (slamming doors, maids, kids, etc). The extra space brings home-like comfort to the hotel. My wife can be in the other room without us hearing each other—great if she is up before me or one of us has a call to take. All for $200/year! $225 is no different to me. I’d pay $1000, possible even more.
I am an IHG Diamond Elite member organically.
But for some reason I still buy the Ambassador program each year.
However the “Free” Weekend Night voucher is misleading as it is charged out at full rack rate. You are sometimes better off not to use the Free night voucher and buy a discount weekend rate.
The free night rate is actually higher than the full rack rate. You can get full flex rate for a lower price if you don't use the pseudofree night.
I consistently struggle to find a good value with the Ambassador second night free and my certs expire more often than not.
Does anybody know if paying for Ambassador still elevates Platinum to Diamond? I heard it didn’t work that way anymore but renewed it anyway along with qualifying for Diamond, and got Diamond through the end of 2025.
It never did. At least not intentionally. It did extend status for Diamonds for a while, but it wasn't meant to.
Even using the current 100% bonus points offer, it’s still less expensive paying cash as opposed to buying points.
the free night is a bit of a "scam" if you have any type of CORP discount, the free night costs more than booking and paying for free nights.
I signed up for it in the fall of 2022 after seeing the promotion and knowing the one free night would pay for itself.
Since then, I've been lucky that my IHG Platinum Elite has been extended through 2025 for some reason. I've used that status to match to other hotel chains for specific trips and two different rental car companies.
Overall, it's paid for itself and then some if you know how to work the system a bit and plan to travel some.
I've been an Intercontinental Ambassador for about 10 of the last 20 years. I've also been an IHG Diamond and an Intercontinental Ambassador. It's just not worth it anymore. The domestic Intercontinental lounges are barely better than a Marriott lounge, except alcohol is included. And even then the wine is pretty low-end ($7-$12 wine). With no guaranteed benefits at Kimpton, Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn, I don't see the value in Ambassador status. I'll revert...
I've been an Intercontinental Ambassador for about 10 of the last 20 years. I've also been an IHG Diamond and an Intercontinental Ambassador. It's just not worth it anymore. The domestic Intercontinental lounges are barely better than a Marriott lounge, except alcohol is included. And even then the wine is pretty low-end ($7-$12 wine). With no guaranteed benefits at Kimpton, Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn, I don't see the value in Ambassador status. I'll revert to IHG Platinum, thanks to a co-branded credit card. It's not much but is enough status for the 20-25 nights a year I have to spend at a Holiday Inn Express when I'm in the middle of nowhere and the only options are a Holiday Inn Express or Best Western.
No, the benefits aren’t guaranteed at those properties but nearly every time I’ve stayed, I’ve been recognized as a Platinum member and received a nicer room without asking.
uhhhhh....yall do know a person can only redeem the InterContinental Ambassador weekend night ONCE per 12-months, right???? Anyways, IHG already nerfed several key benefits this year and making it medicore....and now theyre theyre steeply raising the cost? HARD PASS. Their also fustrating wrinkles of the Ambassador/InterContinental hotels partnership.
Better off doing amex FH&R, or THC (or Cap1's version) than wasting $$ on IHG Ambassador/InterContinental hotels program. And lets be real...no reason to stay at...
uhhhhh....yall do know a person can only redeem the InterContinental Ambassador weekend night ONCE per 12-months, right???? Anyways, IHG already nerfed several key benefits this year and making it medicore....and now theyre theyre steeply raising the cost? HARD PASS. Their also fustrating wrinkles of the Ambassador/InterContinental hotels partnership.
Better off doing amex FH&R, or THC (or Cap1's version) than wasting $$ on IHG Ambassador/InterContinental hotels program. And lets be real...no reason to stay at an IHG property (anymore), unless its airport adjacent.
Not sure I’d call this increase “steep”. It’s $25 or $2 a month. Most properties Ben reports on charge about $25 for a dirty martini
I'm Platinum with 300K points and find this underwhelming. Platinum gets me most of these (2pm not 4pm, but that's never needed). Since the vast majority of my stays are at Staybridge or Candlewood, there are no upgrade rooms, no weekend night participation (as best I can tell), no restaurant/bar for the allocation, and I travel alone.
I'm Platinum with 300K points and find this underwhelming. Platinum gets me some of these (2pm not 4pm, but that's never needed). Since the vast majority of my stays are at Staybridge or Candlewood, there are no upgrade rooms, no weekend night participation (as best I can tell), no restaurant/bar for the allocation, and I travel alone.