UPGRADE TO INTERCONTINENTAL® AMBASSADOR
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/us/en/loyalty
Notice: InterContinental Ambassador program membership fee will increase on October 2, 2024.
Experience the world like never before with InterContinental® Ambassador at more than 200 hotels and resorts in unique destinations across the globe.
- Guaranteed one category room upgrade
- Extended 4pm check-out
- Complimentary weekend night
- Platinum Elite status in IHG® One Rewards
- Restaurant & bar credit of up to USD20 for every stay
- And more perks to enhance your travels
Enhance Your Travels, Enrich Your Life
Explore the world with the indulgences you deserve and let InterContinental Ambassador ensure each stay leaves an everlasting memory. Revel in the refinements of the luxury sojourner and enjoy sought-after destinations with upgrades to match.
Elevated Recognition
- Platinum Elite status in IHG® One Rewards, and the corresponding IHG One Rewards benefits
- Dedicated check-in area
Stay Enhancements
- Guaranteed one category room upgrade
- Complimentary premium internet
Refreshing Provisions
- Restaurants & bars credit of up to USD20 for every stay**
- Complimentary mineral water
Luxury of Time
- Guaranteed extended 4pm check-out
- Complimentary Weekend Night*
FAQs
What is InterContinental Ambassador?
InterContinental Ambassador is a loyalty program that delivers benefits exclusively at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide.
How do I obtain InterContinental Ambassador membership?
You can join online or by calling the Ambassador Service Centre at:
US & Canada: 1 888 211 7996
UK: 01950 499034
Rest of World: +44 1950 499034
You can also join at any InterContinental Hotels & Resorts location.
What are the benefits of InterContinental Ambassador?
- Guaranteed one category room upgrade
- Guaranteed extended 4pm check-out
- Complimentary weekend night*
- Platinum Elite status in IHG® One Rewards, and the corresponding benefits
- Restaurants & bars credit of up to USD20 for every stay*
- Complimentary mineral water
- Complimentary internet
- Dedicated check-in area
- Single room rate for double occupancy
- Mainland China Only: Complimentary breakfast for one each night you stay
* Terms & Conditions Apply. See Full Terms & Conditions.
What is the cost of InterContinental Ambassador membership?
The fee for 12 months of membership is USD200. IHG® One Rewards members may also purchase membership for 40,000 points.
After joining, how soon can I enjoy the benefits of InterContinental Ambassador?
Upon enrollment, you can start enjoying the benefits immediately.
Is my guaranteed room upgrade provided upon booking?
Your room upgrade is provided upon check in at the hotel; however, the upgrade may be shown in your reservation prior to arrival.
As an InterContinental Ambassador, will I receive the same benefits at all properties within the IHG® Hotels & Resorts family of brands?
Ambassador benefits only apply at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. However, your IHG® One Rewards benefits apply to the entire IHG family of brands.
How long is my Complimentary Weekend Night valid?
The Complimentary Weekend Night is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
How do I use my Complimentary Weekend Night certificate?
The Complimentary Weekend Night is valid on the second night of a minimum two-night paid weekend stay on the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate at any InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property worldwide, excluding InterContinental Alliance Resorts.
The night is immediately available for use upon enrollment in the program and is automatically deposited in the member’s account, however, advance reservations are required and when joining the Ambassador program in hotel, the Weekend Night cannot be redeemed for the current stay.
To book your complimentary weekend night please login to your IHG® One Rewards account online. Please ensure that bookings are made on the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate (“AMB Certificate”). The certificate is not valid on any other rate.
A valid ID & member number must be presented at time of check-in or the hotel may decline the booking.
The Complimentary Weekend Night is valid only for the member who has InterContinental Ambassador status, and is not transferable. Sale or barter of the complimentary night will render it void. The complimentary night is valid for room and tax only.
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.
How do I know if my Complimentary Weekend Night is available for use?
Immediately upon enrollment or renewal of an InterContinental Ambassador membership, a complimentary night, valid for the second night of a paid weekend stay will be credited to the member’s IHG® One Rewards account and viewable within account management when logged into the members IHG® One Rewards account.
US & Canada: 1 888 211 7996
UK: 01950 499034
Rest of World: +44 1950 499034
What is Royal Ambassador status and how do I achieve it?
Royal Ambassador status is extended by invitation only to a small percentage of InterContinental Ambassador members, based on their activity at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
Everything you should know about InterContinental Ambassador membership
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/intercontinental-ambassador-program/
If you’re looking for perks at InterContinental hotels and participating Six Senses resorts, you may find value in the InterContinental Ambassador program. In this guide, I’ll describe the program and help you decide whether to join.
To become an InterContinental Ambassador, you must pay an annual fee of $200 or 40,000 IHG points. TPG’s June 2024 valuations peg the value of 40,000 IHG points at around $200. However, I usually get more value when redeeming IHG points and recommend paying cash instead of points for your membership. When I used my IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card for the purchase, the membership fee coded as “Office & shipping.”
You can join the program online, at any InterContinental property or by calling the IHG Ambassador Service Centre. Within 48 hours of paying for InterContinental Ambassador, your account will be updated and you’ll get access to Ambassador benefits for 12 months. In practice, my account was updated with my new status as soon as I logged out of my IHG account and signed back in. As such, it may make sense to enroll in an Ambassador membership shortly before a stay.
IHG occasionally offers promotions for the InterContinental Ambassador program, so it’s worth watching for new member and renewal offers. For example, if you have an Ambassador membership about to lapse, you may get an offer for 15,000 bonus points if you pay $200 to renew.
InterContinental Ambassador members get the following benefits when staying at InterContinental hotels and resorts:
- Guaranteed one-category room upgrade. However, you aren’t entitled to an additional upgrade if you apply a confirmable suite upgrade Milestone Reward to your stay. You aren’t guaranteed an upgrade on reward nights and free nights, and this benefit excludes lounge access and some suite types.
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
- One complimentary weekend night on the second night of a paid stay when booking the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night rate at InterContinental hotels and resorts. You must book online, and the Ambassador member must stay in the room. Most hotels define the weekend as Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, but hotels in the Middle East may define the weekend as Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
- Upgrade to IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status.
- A $20 credit per stay for use in select hotel restaurants, bars and minibars. In markets that don’t use dollars, you’ll receive either a predetermined amount or a credit based on the day’s exchange rate (depending on the property’s location). This benefit isn’t offered in mainland China, where the member gets a full breakfast daily in the main restaurant.
- Daily mineral water.
- Highest internet access in guest rooms (when available for purchase).
- No extra charge for a second guest.
Ambassador benefits at InterContinental Alliance Resorts
At InterContinental Alliance Resorts, Ambassador members only get access to the following benefits:
- Complimentary water upon arrival (not replenished daily)
- One category room upgrade, subject to availability
Ambassador benefits at Six Senses
At Six Senses properties that participate in IHG One Rewards, InterContinental Ambassador members get the following perks:
- Complimentary breakfast for two each morning in the main restaurant
- A signature amenity once per stay consisting of a complimentary 50-minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or a local experience (excluding corporate or negotiated rates)
- Complimentary one-category room upgrade, subject to availability (excluding residences and two-bedroom or larger suites and villas)
- 4 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability
- Early check-in, subject to availability
- Complimentary internet access
- Wellness platter on your arrival day
These perks — especially the choice of a 50-minute Six Senses Spa massage for two as a signature amenity — are extremely valuable. They may help you justify buying an Ambassador membership even if you only have one Six Senses stay during your membership year.
You’ll only get these perks at participating Six Senses properties when you book directly with IHG, at the hotel or through an authorized travel agent (which excludes most online travel agents).
When are you eligible for Ambassador benefits?
Although you usually need to book directly with IHG to receive elite benefits, this isn’t always true for Ambassador benefits. IHG only excludes select rates, such as those for airline crew and employees.
However, there are several notable exceptions:
- InterContinental hotels and resorts in French Polynesia booked through third-party websites or tour operators don’t qualify for guaranteed upgrades or late checkout.
- To get InterContinential Ambassador perks at participating Six Senses properties, you must book directly with IHG, the hotel or an authorized travel agent.
- You won’t get Ambassador benefits at IHG Residence properties.
Benefits guarantee
InterContinental Ambassador members are guaranteed select benefits. You may be eligible for compensation as follows if a hotel is unable to fulfill select perks:
- Room upgrade: A restaurant, bar or spa credit of $50 or 10,000 IHG points once per stay (but no compensation on reward nights or free nights)
- 4 p.m. late checkout: A restaurant, bar or spa credit of $50 or 10,000 IHG points once per stay
However, IHG doesn’t guarantee the InterContinental Ambassador benefits during select periods. These periods include:
- New Year’s Eve
- Lunar New Year in Greater China
- Ramadan and Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Finally, the benefits guarantee does not apply to bookings through a third-party website, tour operator, wholesaler or as part of a group block or reservation.
Membership extension
The InterContinental Ambassador program offers two types of membership extensions. Members can use each extension type no more than once per lifetime, and you can’t use both extensions during the same membership year.
You can ask for a two-month extension if you:
- Have an active membership
- Have not used a two-month extension in the past
You can ask for a six-month extension if you’ve:
- Maintained an active membership for more than a year
- Have not previously used a six-month extension
However, these once-in-a-lifetime extensions won’t apply to your complimentary weekend night certificates.
What is InterContinental Royal Ambassador?
Royal Ambassador is an invite-only status offered by IHG to select Ambassador members. IHG selects members based on their qualifying activity at InterContinental hotels and resorts, though the specific qualification criteria aren’t shared publicly.
Royal Ambassador members get the following benefits when staying at InterContinental hotels and resorts:
- Guaranteed two-category room upgrade. However, you will receive a one-category upgrade if you book a suite (and this benefit excludes some suite types). Plus, this benefit is not guaranteed and is subject to availability on free and reward nights. Finally, you aren’t entitled to an additional upgrade if you apply a confirmable suite upgrade Milestone Reward to your stay.
- Lounge access at hotels with a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge for the member and a guest staying in the member’s room. If the hotel does not operate a dedicated Club InterContinental lounge, the member and one guest will get a full breakfast in the main restaurant each day. (However, choosing breakfast as a Diamond Elite welcome amenity will not get you more than two breakfasts per day.) This benefit is not guaranteed at hotels without a dedicated lounge.
- Guaranteed early check-in of 10 a.m.
- Guaranteed late checkout of 4 p.m.
- One complimentary weekend night on the second night of a paid stay when booking the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night rate at an InterContinental hotel or resort.
- In-room welcome amenity fruit or snack on your day of arrival.
- Daily mineral water.
- Highest internet access in guest rooms (when available for purchase).
- Waived amenity or destination fees (excluding taxes and resort fees).
- No extra charge for a second guest.
- Guaranteed room availability with 24-hour notice.
Royal Ambassador members also get Kimpton Inner Circle status, 25 IHG food and beverage rewards (each worth up to $20) and one free night at an IHG hotel (excluding IHG Army Hotels and Six Senses properties) bookable for 70,000 IHG points or less.
Bottom line
InterContinental Ambassador status is a must-have for some travelers. Suppose you can get good value from the complimentary weekend night benefit or benefits during a stay at a participating Six Senses hotel or resort. In that case, it may be worth enrolling, even if you don’t frequently stay at InterContinental hotels and resorts.
IHG Ambassador Status: How Do I Earn It, and Is It Worth It?
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/is-ihg-ambassador-status-worth-it
InterContinental Ambassador membership costs $200 for a 12-month membership. Or, if you’re an IHG One Rewards member, you can purchase membership for 40,000 points. With it comes benefits ranging from small conveniences like complimentary mineral water to potential money-making freebies like free weekend night certificates.
What does IHG Ambassador status include?
Benefits at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Among the best benefits of IHG Ambassador status is a complimentary weekend night certificate. The complimentary weekend night is valid on the second night of a minimum two-night paid weekend stay, based on the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night Rate at most InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide. In most parts of the world, weekend nights are considered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.
That free weekend night can be worth it right there. If you were already planning on staying at an InterContinental Hotel on a weekend — and that hotel room would otherwise exceed $200 — then joining the InterContinental Ambassador program is a money-maker right there.
Other benefits of the InterContinental Ambassador program include:
- Guaranteed one category room upgrade.
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status.
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
- Complimentary mineral water and internet.
- Single room rate for double occupancy.
These benefits are exclusive to stays at InterContinental hotels, so they do not apply for reservations at other IHG brands. Though, through Dec. 31, 2021, Ambassador benefits also apply to participating Regent Hotels & Resorts.
In 2020, IHG extended the complimentary weekend night so that it could be redeemed at Kimpton and Regent properties as well. Plus, the free weekend night is actually more flexible at these other brands because at Kimpton and Regent, you are not restricted just to the weekends.
How to use your IHG Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night certificate
Your complimentary weekend night is valid for 12 months from the date of issue (and it’s issued immediately upon enrollment in the program through an automatic deposited in the member’s account). That means you could theoretically use it almost immediately upon joining, though advance reservations are required. Additionally, if you join the Ambassador program upon check-in at a hotel, you cannot redeem the Weekend Night for that current stay. Thus, it’s best to join just before booking your hotel trip.
When you book your Ambassador free night, don’t be alarmed if the full price is listed on your reservation. The second night will be manually adjusted and credited to your bill so that you’re not charged for it.
Benefits at Six Senses
IHG Ambassador status is especially valuable at Six Senses, a small chain of luxury five star hotels, resorts and spas that was acquired by IHG in 2019. As an IHG Ambassador, Royal Ambassador or Kimpton Inner Circle member, you’ll receive the following benefits at Six Senses:
- Complimentary breakfast for two in the main restaurant each day.
- A signature amenity of either a complimentary 50-minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or a local experience once per stay.
- Complimentary one category room upgrade (subject to availability).
- Extended check-out of 4 p.m. (subject to availability).
- Early check-in of 10 a.m. (subject to availability).
How to get IHG Ambassador status
Unlike most other hotel loyalty programs, IHG Ambassador status is not earned by points, hotel nights stayed or how much you spend on the hotel’s credit card. Here’s how to get Ambassador Status in IHG.
Buy it
IHG One Rewards members can buy Ambassador status by paying $200 or redeeming 40,000 IHG points per year. You can purchase it online on the IHG Ambassador page or at any IHG hotel property, and your membership is good for 12 months from the date you sign up. That said, NerdWallet values 40,000 IHG points at $360, so it might be wiser to pay $200 cash to join the IHG Ambassador, and then save your points to book rooms.
Use credit card perks, maybe
Some data points suggest that the $200 fee codes as travel, so you may be able to use your credit card’s travel credits to cover the fee. Otherwise, you can earn 10x points per dollar when you use the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Yes, that means when you pay with that card, and you’d earn 2,000 points off that purchase. NerdWallet values 2,000 IHG points at $18, so — with some mental gymnastics — think of it as more like $182 when you pay with that card.
Exclusive invitation: IHG Royal Ambassador Status
We said you have to pay for IHG Ambassador status. Ambassador status doesn’t care how many nights you’ve stayed at, or how much money you’ve spent with IHG. However, there is a higher tier of IHG royalty, and it’s appropriately called IHG Royal Ambassador Status. This level of status is by invitation only, and it’s not even clear what you need to do it. Invitations to the IHG Royal Ambassador program are determined based on an undisclosed formula that factors in qualified activities at Kimpton, InterContinental, Regent and participating Six Senses locations.
IHG Royal Ambassador status is based on a calendar year and includes the following benefits:
- Guaranteed two category room upgrade.
- Free night at any IHG property up to 70,000 points.
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out and 10 a.m. check-in.
- Club InterContinental lounge access.
- Complimentary weekend night.
- Automatic IHG Diamond elite status.
- Complimentary minibar up to $50 per day.
- Premium internet.
- Choice of snack or fruit.
- 24-hour room guarantee.
- Waived destination and amenity fees.
- Single room rate for double occupancy.
- Invitation to Kimpton Inner Circle.
Benefits of IHG Royal Ambassador status are only available at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. However, the benefits you receive as part of your automatic IHG Diamond will apply to your stays at all other IHG brand properties. Through Dec. 31, 2021, IHG Ambassador benefits are also available at participating Regent Hotels & Resorts.
The bottom line
Is IHG Ambassador status worth it? In most cases, yes. Especially if you frequent InterContinental Hotels & Resorts or Six Senses, IHG Ambassador status. generally pays for itself thanks to the exclusive perks when staying at InterContinental hotels, plus automatic IHG Platinum Elite to receive benefits at other IHG brands.
Although Ambassador status costs $200 or 40,000 points per year, the benefits outweigh the cost. Simply redeeming the complimentary weekend night should cover that upfront investment, and that’s even before factoring in other perks like room upgrades, $20 in dining credits per stay and guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out.
For IHG members who don’t typically stay at InterContinental properties but do stay at other IHG properties, you might skip the $200 fee for membership. Instead, you can receive the same Platinum Elite status automatically by having the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Between the annual free night and annual fee of $99, it’s likely the better deal for you.