AlanC

Do you just book the basic room for 40k per night at IC then ring them and tell them you want to activate your Suite Upgrade voucher? Trying to find somewhere to use mine. Also wondering if it’s worth paying $200 for Ambassador so I can get free breakfast included.

Paul

diamond can receive more suites upgrade.

AlanC

Thanks for the number 🙏

Talay

And you’ve the flexibility of cancelling

Talay

** 100% bonus

Skywalker

Just looking at a month long overseas stay and buying the IHG points with the 10% bonus would save me 21% versus the cash price on a lower end hotel (Express), 22% on a mid range (Holiday Inn) or 19% on a top end (intercontinental).

Skywalker

Their US presence is hopeless, I agree.
I don’t visit US with work though.

Blair Waldorf Salad

@BWS probably the other thing is at least giving the impression of generosity by giving you enough things rather than always wanting money to do absolutely anything. An omnipresent GM who gets his hands dirty is usually a very good sign.

Blair Waldorf Salad

Yes, it’s a combination of the two. The funny thing is that one maybe only appreciates it afterwards because everything about the hard product was good and in respect of service, one’s needs were anticipated and service always there without asking, so not intrusive. If anything was wrong it was fixed promptly, effectively and without fuss. That’s the art of hospitality and where I feel the likes of WA, RC and St Regis fall down because they are driven by corporate manuals and employ lower calibre GMs than say even Park Hyatt, let alone Mandarin, Peninsula, Aman etc whose success is also measured different. Four Seasons is odd in that it does employ very highly qualified GMs but their assessment metrics have pivoted from guest satisfaction to financial ones only.

NorthernLass

This is the person for whom IHG was dead after Cretaion date, 😂😂

John

It’s mainly comments from people who don’t see the point of it / didn’t make full use of it not liking it so no one else should have it either especially now the diamond extension loophole has gone.

Extending the voucher to Regents and Kimptons would improve the offer somewhat as would allowing it to me used on any two consecutive days of the week.

Lady London

At the start of the comments, @LL!

Lady London

ambassador@ihg.com

Skywalker

or rather, their lack of Accor presence!

Errol

I really like Accor, but their US presence is pants!

I do prefer Intercontinentals over Accor’s higher end properties though. I find Sofitel quality varies hugely from great to appalling. Intercontinental is generally great.

The Intercontinental Miramar in Luanda is a great addition to IHG’s portfolio.

Blair Waldorf Salad

I read this on FT but nothing was substantiated in any way. There are some arguments for ditching Ambassador, sure. But this might nothing but a baseless rumour.

Paul

I disagree. Intercontinental is the only brand with consistently good lounges and they represent a mere 5% of the IHG portfolio.

In different, hardly any Kimpton (or Vignette Collection) has a lounge. CPs outside Asia rarely have a lounge. But most of these upscale properties do offer decent breakfast so the complimentary breakfast is pretty useful. We do get most value out of it on award stays where otherwise, you would have to pay inflated walk-up prices for buffet-style breakfasts.

I also think Diamond gets room upgrade priority over Platinums. In countries such as Japan or South Korea, you have that many elites that Platinum is essentially worthless. Of course, it being East Asia, you will get the benefits you’re entitled to, but they often won’t be able to go beyond the minimum benefits guaranteed by the rules for Platinum.

revkev7

There isn’t a dedicated phone #. You just ring up the regular one, and enter your IHG One Rewards #. Then they route you differently.

I’ve been told by reps that the same agents are resonsible for both Ambs and Diamonds.

The agents certainly aren’t as well trained as, say, those answering calls for Globalists at Hyatt or Platinums at Delta. You do notice they are based in a low-cost country like the Philippines. Having said that, I do believe, as a Diamond, at least you don’t get one of the least-experienced agents. Also, hold times are pretty much nil which I cannot say for the BA Gold line (admittedly, flight-booking related issues tend to be more complex than hotel bookings).

John

Tell us more John…

JDB

Out of interest, what are the requirements of the top end of the market? I assume a mix of hard and soft product?

John

Precisely this. I’ve never had a hotel refuse to quote me a supplement to upgrade to a category of my choice (usually, but not always, difference in best flex rate). Only snag is that the supplement doesn’t accrue points.

Jodie

For Middle East, all IHG members get 25% off, with 30% for Plat and Diamond. So although it’s a great offer, the marginal value of top-end status is pretty slim.

SharonC

Contact the hotel and pay an upgrade fee if necessary. What else are you going to do with a million points

Redeeming lounge access rooms at Hilton is a big waste of points

BA Flyer IHG Stayer

And not all IHG hotels have lounges, so the lounge pass is still not as good as diamond imho.

Mike

There are rumours are that amb itself will be killed off soon

Paul

Only if you exclusively stay at ICs and CPs. And some CPs have no/crap lounges.

Mike

Afraid not! Did it for years, but not this year! Shame!