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Are ‘Your Rate’ and cheap breakfasts undermining the InterContinental Ambassador free night?

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InterContinental Ambassador is a special loyalty scheme which is ONLY valid at InterContinental hotels.  It works alongside IHG Rewards Club and you still receive points for your stay as usual.

Ambassador has two differences to the usual loyalty scheme:

First, you need to pay to join ($200 or redeem 32,000 IHG Rewards Club points) but there are no stay requirements

Second, Ambassador benefits are guaranteed and non-negotiable by the hotel except on reward nights where they can – but rarely do – block them.  Benefits include a guaranteed 4pm check-out, a guaranteed upgrade, free fruit and mineral water and a free Pay TV movie

InterContinental Ambassador review

You can find out more in this HfP article and on the Ambassador website here.

One of key elements of the InterContinental Ambassador package is the ‘free weekend night’ voucher which comes with your membership kit and also when you renew.  On the face it, the voucher makes the $200 Ambassador annual fee a no-brainer.

When you book a two night weekend stay at any InterContinental, one night will be free when you use your voucher.  That’s your $200 back right there – in theory.

Recent changes to the way that InterContinental price their rooms have started to undermine its value, however.  There are two issues which are starting to concern me:

the launch of cheaper ‘Your Rate’ deals for IHG Rewards Club members

the inability to add a heavily discounted breakfast to your booking

Let’s take InterContinental Paris Le Grand for 29th to 31st July, and assume I want an Eiffel Tower View Superior Room.

Using the voucher, the cost is €442.50 for two nights.  Breakfast is NOT included and there is no way of adding it later.  If you want to eat breakfast in the hotel it is €40 per person per night and you will need to pay it on both nights.  Your total cost for two nights with breakfast for a couple is therefore €602.50.

Let’s assume, instead, you pay cash.

The same room on a Weekend Escape package with breakfast is €343.35 per night.  That is a total cost of €687.10.  Your voucher has only saved you €85.  I admit that the Weekend Escapes rate is technically non-refundable but as you can book it up to two days before arrival that is unlikely to be an issue.

But let’s forget that and concentrate on an exact ‘like for like’ booking.

Using my 2-4-1 voucher, I am paying €442.50 per night, albeit the 2nd night is free, plus €80 per day for breakfast.  The total cost for two nights is €602.50.

Because IHG now discounts ‘Best Flexible Rates’ for IHG Rewards Club members, calling them ‘Your Rate’, the alternative for booking exactly the same Best Flexible package for cash looks like this:

Best Flexible ‘Your Rate’ – €398.25 (compared to €442.50 cost when using the voucher)

Breakfast – €35 for two when added at time of booking (compared to €80 when using the voucher)

Total cost for 2 nights:  €398.25 x 2 + €35 x 2 = €866.50

You are still making a saving of (€866.50 – €602.50) €264 when using your Ambassador free night voucher.  However, the saving is considerably short of the €442.50 you think you are saving.

What should Ambassador do?

I think there are two changes which need to be made to the 2-4-1 voucher if Ambassador members are to continue to treat it as valuable:

the price charged must be the Best Flexible ‘Your Rate’ and NOT the standard non-member Best Flexible Rate

there should be an option to add breakfast to the booking for the standard rate, and so benefit from a free breakfast on the 2nd night as well

Make these two changes and the Ambassador package will continue to be valuable.  Leave things as they are and the benefits will start to look more and more like a swizz …..

IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering 2,000 bonus points for every two cash nights you stay (not necessarily consecutive) between 1st April and 31st May 2024. You can read our full article here and you can register here.

New to IHG One Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.

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Comments (70)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • PGW says:
    20 Jul20 July 05:44

    I’ve been an Ambassador for years but have been thinking along the same lines recently. I’ve also noted that more rates are specifically excluding using the 2-4-1 voucher and the $ exchange rate makes membership that bit more expensive. I’ll give it more thought when my membership expires but I might not bother renewing when that time comes.

  • Our_Kid says:
    20 Jul20 July 06:49

    Hi Raffles from IC O2!

    I’m due to renew at the end of August – the $200 offer for me includes 15K IHG points plus 10% rebate on reward stays using points. This seems pretty good on top of the 2 for 1 I reckon.

    Would be interested in your view

    • Ed says:
      20 Jul20 July 07:31

      Is the 10% rebate a standard/common benefit and does it apply to all Ihg reward stays or just IC rewards?

      • Rob says:
        20 Jul20 July 09:13

        I have done this for the last 2 years, it is only offered on renewals. It applies to ALL redemptions at any brand. It has been excellent value for me – I will get 12k back from my 2 nights at The Barclay for a start.

  • Dominic says:
    20 Jul20 July 06:50

    Another thing that is undermining use of the Ambassador voucher is actually getting it. I renewed some while ago, but have yet to receive my new Ambassador pack, and I gather this is far from uncommon. I am not sure I am going to bother with it in future years…

    • chris says:
      20 Jul20 July 07:10

      @Dominic – 6 months no kit this year for me. The Ambassador helpline is utterly hopeless when you question them about it.

      • dgsupersonic says:
        20 Jul20 July 07:21

        Still waiting for mine since September last year. I’m gradually moving my stays to Hilton and Marriot/SPG as I’m struggling to trust IHG group these days.

      • Genghis says:
        20 Jul20 July 07:47

        Wow! I only signed up a few days ago to use 241 next Easter. I was told 6-8 weeks for delivery of the pack. Sounds like it could be a S75 claim after 3 months…

        • Yuff says:
          20 Jul20 July 09:32

          I joined in January, got the benefits in Jan from a stay at park lane IC. Got the pack in May and the membership is until end of March.

      • marly says:
        20 Jul20 July 09:38

        Ditto

    • Leo says:
      20 Jul20 July 08:18

      I’ve never seen my pack. But I did redeem my AMB night with the assistance of the helpline the AMB team just liaised with the hotel and I followed up with the IC BKK myself. They did also credit me the 5000 points and after a bit of continued moaning on my part extended my membership year by 2 months as a good will gesture. Which will actually come in handy for the IC Bali in March. So overall I’ve done okay out of it – got me late check out in NYC if nothing else. I agree it’s been a faff but overall I’d renew – it’s only 27000 points to renew after all.

      • dgsupersonic says:
        20 Jul20 July 10:05

        Free night vouchers are often popping up for sale on ebay. The average price for new ones is £60-£70.
        The ones nearing expiry date can be sold for as low as £20. That would be good value for money for someone looking for a last minute stay.

        • Rob says:
          20 Jul20 July 12:10

          Some people have had their IHG accounts closed down for using multiple certificates. Not 2, I admit. Using multiple certs at the same hotel would be very silly as it would be easy to spot and, as you are defrauding the hotel of revenue, they would report it.

          • Waribai says:
            20 Jul20 July 14:20

            On the subject, I’ve got a 5 night stay coming up at IC Hua Hin I was thinking of using two of my free nights at the hotel but they are from two different IHG accounts. Is this risky?

          • Rob says:
            20 Jul20 July 14:56

            Yes, I think so.

    • Nick says:
      21 Jul21 July 06:31

      Funnily enough I received my pack yesterday via UPS air courier.

      Having complained several times since renewal last September, I’ve received 15,000 in goodwill IHG Reward Club points, one lot of 5,000 and one of 10,000.

      Having finally received the pack I was pleased to see that the usual enclosed letter had a code, not for the expected 5,000 IHG points for renewal, but for 15,000 points. The AMB weekend certificate expires at the end of May, 2017.

      So, overall, some grief, but it’s actually ended up ‘paying me’ an extra 6,000 points (renewal was 24,000 points).

  • Jonty says:
    20 Jul20 July 06:55

    Pretty poor analysis Rob.

    You assume that one would actually pay €160 for breakfast over two days, when anyone with half a brain would just wander down the street to a cafe and have breakfast for €15-20.

    • Kipto says:
      20 Jul20 July 07:35

      i think the ambassador programme needs to amend its terms and conditions so that reward nights have guaranteed upgrades as well. I have found that inter continental hotels are content to hide behind this. I have a reward stay coming up in Los Angeles century resort inter continental and emailed the hotel who replied saying they don’t upgrade reward night stays.

      • Kipto says:
        20 Jul20 July 07:45

        Amendment to the above, Los Angeles Century City, not century resort

      • Nick says:
        20 Jul20 July 08:01

        Singapore expect you to move rooms if you have part of your stay in a non-upgraded room and part of it in an upgraded room paid in cash. Fortunately, most IC properties are more sensible

      • marly says:
        20 Jul20 July 09:43

        Yes they do, I have always been upgraded may it be on rewards or pay stays. I guess the Spire status may have something to do with it…

    • John says:
      20 Jul20 July 07:57

      I can’t understand the mindset of people who would pay €602.50 for 2 nights in a hotel, and I don’t think anybody is saving €442.50 anywhere.

      • DAZ says:
        20 Jul20 July 08:08

        I’ve paid that price for 1 night at the Raffles in Singapore. For breakfast we walked out the back, crossed the road to the McDonalds for a $20 mega meal! Now that’s a bargain 😉

      • Rob says:
        20 Jul20 July 09:21

        I had lunch with one of the regular posters on here recently who was about to head off for a £40,000 holiday. I bet you that the average income of HFP readers is higher than, for example, any national newspaper website.

        • Whiskerxx says:
          20 Jul20 July 09:47

          More money than sense then eh. Seems to be the inference

          • dgsupersonic says:
            20 Jul20 July 09:55

            I presume this regular poster did not bother with the recent avios promotions on ink cartridges, etc.. Or any to be honest since money is not an issue.

          • Bob says:
            20 Jul20 July 11:36

            It seems quite common for people to think money isn’t an issue for people who have a lot of it – when of course they would probably never have accumulated it if penny-pinching wasn’t an ingrained habit.

        • Fenny says:
          20 Jul20 July 17:14

          That’s the thing about averages, though. As many below as above.

    • Waribai says:
      20 Jul20 July 08:10

      Not necessarily so. With very young kids in tow and/or at IC resort type properties. The local caff is often not an option!

    • Rob says:
      20 Jul20 July 09:16

      That’s not how it works in the real world. Take your partner to a luxury hotel and then suggest you go the local cafe because you’re too tight to pay for the huge hotel buffet and see how long that relationship lasts ….. 🙂

      On my own, I agree. My wife won’t stand for that nonsense though (’why are we staying here if you’re moaning about paying for breakfast?’ etc) and when there are kids involved as well don’t even think about raising it ……

      Do you remember me writing about my £95 breakfast bill at the IC 02?! Even my 5 year old had to pay full whack (although he eats like a pig to be fair 🙂 )

      • Genghis says:
        20 Jul20 July 09:35

        Mrs Genghis is much better trained!

      • DAZ says:
        20 Jul20 July 10:51

        Whilst you can get some amazing breakfast buffets in the hotels we tend to vary where we eat, especially if you stay in the same hotel a lot.

        My relationship is still going strong because I vary things Raffles 😉 . The hotel might be great, great location, brilliant facilities but menu fatigue soon sets in for me and I crave something different like chicken curry and paratha, sitting on a broken plastic seat felling like a local and my young daughter loves the immersion in to something totally alien – Once the local thing has worn off I’m back to the la la land of luxury sipping a cocktail by the pool.

      • xcalx says:
        20 Jul20 July 13:11

        “That’s not how it works in the real world. Take your partner to a luxury hotel and then suggest you go the local cafe because you’re too tight to pay for the huge hotel buffet and see how long that relationship lasts ….. :-)”

        Done that many a time. 40 years married next July.

        • mrtibbs1999 says:
          20 Jul20 July 18:27

          MrsTibbs went and got me a Mcdonalds breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh last week and brought it back to the room. She is way too sensible to pay £21 for a breakfast. We once paid full whack at the Cavalieri WA in Rome and it was a disappointment. A Lovely breakfast but not worth the price of lunch.

          • Nick says:
            20 Jul20 July 22:17

            You missed out on the breakfast at the WA Edinburgh? It’s a wonderful buffet breakfast everytime I’ve been. I do get it free though as I’m diamond.

      • James67 says:
        20 Jul20 July 21:43

        The problem I have with your rationale is that it’s almost always a buffet breakfast which in my view spells mediocre at best regardless of the hotel. My partner and I always prefer a local cafe, a beachside restaurant or anything with some charm that can cook a breakfast to my specific requirements.

        • harry says:
          20 Jul20 July 21:58

          feck me all these partners these days – respect & good luck to you all.

          myself? – 3 kids & a moany wife lol.

          I can quite see why divorcés mostly prefer a cocker spaniel next time round 🙂

        • Rob says:
          20 Jul20 July 22:37

          To be honest, €35 for two at InterCon Le Grand in Paris – which is what they charge as the ‘add on’ to a cash booking – is an outstanding deal, even with the current rubbish exchange rate, unless you are just popping in for a yoghurt.

          I also point you to my photos of Park Hyatt Hamburg and its brekky from earlier in the week which, in proper German fashion, also comes with unlimited champagne!

          • James67 says:
            20 Jul20 July 23:18

            …red-faced confession time – I forgot how much I was enjoying my free buffet breakfasts that came with Hilton diamond!

      • RIccati says:
        21 Jul21 July 08:57

        That’s way too determined, “since we came here then we must have eat here.”

        • Rob says:
          21 Jul21 July 09:37

          Why pay €400 a night for a hotel if you intend to spend every waking moment including breakfast somewhere else?!

    • The_Real_A says:
      20 Jul20 July 09:45

      I wander down the street and eat for 5euro with great coffee 🙂 for some people its just not a consideration, but i guess Rob has a point that if you balk at the high breakfast price then perhaps a more economical hotel would be a better choice.

    • Mr Dee says:
      20 Jul20 July 22:09

      It comes down to what is acceptable to each person and their budget, if your budget allows you to pay for an expensive hotel and breakfast then fair enough. The prices of these hotels are what they are for a reason and because people have and are willing to pay the prices (In most cases) and you will have business customers who will give the bill to their company.

  • Emily says:
    20 Jul20 July 07:20

    My Ambassador year ends in July but the voucher was valid until Aug, when I’m using it at Le Grand. Do you think they will honour Ambassador benefits (upgrade, late check out etc) as it’s an Ambassador weekend, or do you think they’ll be strict and not do so as my membership has technically expired?!

  • Nick says:
    20 Jul20 July 07:59

    I made a booking with my voucher yesterday and was thinking this. The rate is really quite silly: not only is the ihg member rate significantly lower, but there is also a lower rate again for bookings made on mobile devices.

    And one other whinge: why state prices before taxes and service charges? It is all calculated on a per-night basis. Come on IHG, just state the price up-front! It’s a pity that uk legislation does not require them to do this for rooms sold through their uk website at least. Bizarre that some uk properties are advertised net of VAT while most are vat-inclusive.

    It’s still the best loyalty programme out there though. after my next stay I’ll have had 30 nights at IC hotels and paid for only 5 of them (two of those are the free weekend paid nights). I don’t travel for work or regularly stay in other hotels, but picking up points and free nights seems to be a doddle.

  • Richard says:
    20 Jul20 July 08:25

    I think I’ve read before that you don’t need to wait until the voucher arrives to book the free night. Has anyone had any experience of this?

    • Rob says:
      20 Jul20 July 09:22

      Correct. Just go to intercontinental.com/ambweekend and book.

      • Genghis says:
        20 Jul20 July 10:25

        Thanks Raffles. I’m going to book an IC room using AMB in Singapore and when I do the price for both nights is coming up as part of the total.
        SGD330 of the Fri night, SGD340 for the Sat night + the taxes even though the rate type is “Ambassador Certificate”.
        Is this normal? Does this get amended at check in?
        TIA

        • DAZ says:
          20 Jul20 July 11:02

          That is one IC I wouldn’t stay at in my opinion there are many better hotels in Singapore, but if you like walking straight in to a shopping centre or Bugis then it’s “horses for courses”. Swimming pool is small , rooms are small and the road outside can be noisy,

          Then again I spend my first voucher on a weekend in the IC Madrid (this first IC to be opened in Europe in 1950s (interesting fact)). I got a great room, breakfast was a bit naff and it quite far from the city centre.

          • Genghis says:
            20 Jul20 July 11:22

            Thanks Daz. Where else would you recommend in Singapore? Happy to pay with cash, IHG points, SPG points.
            I could use the AMB night alternatively at IC Amsterdam next year.

          • Daz says:
            20 Jul20 July 12:46

            Its depends really what part of town your after.

            The IC is at the back and just down from the Raffles hotel, I stay at the Raffles hotel when a deal is on in the palm court. It’s not for everyone but I love it and love the champagne brunch on a Sunday. Expensive!

            If your looking for something similar to the IC, the Conrad is quite nice, near Suntec City and Gluttons bay. The Ritz Carlton is at the back of the Raffles and is across from Chjimes with trendy bars and food. SPG wise you have the W on Sentosa but it is out of the way of all the main attractions, the St Regis which is up the top of Orchard road way and the Shangri-la again up the top end of Orchard road is nice.

            Old school hotels: The Raffles hotel of course, The Fullerton is lovely and is near the eateries of Boat quay. The So-Sofitel is in the business district and is nice but small, it’s at the side of Lau Pa Sat hawker centre; however it can be noisy in the evening due to the road being closed and it becoming a hawker food street selling satay. Goodwood Park is another but I cancelled when they wanted $80.00 a night for a roll-away bed.

            Plenty of IHG and SPG hotels, in fact plenty of hotels to blow your mind and money. If you need a hotel at the airport use the Crowne Plaza I paid using points for a night.

            I would agree keeping the voucher for some place like the Amstel.

            Tip: If you want to walk places and the heat is to much go in to the MRT subway and you can walk all over large parts of the city in aircon most tourist don’t figure that one out.

          • CV3V says:
            20 Jul20 July 13:03

            Last year i stayed in the Holiday Inn Orchard Road and it was an excellent stay, the best in an any IHG hotel. Was booked on points, but they still wanted to upgrade me which they couldn’t do due to being fully booked. Instead they provided free breakfast for the next morning and advised i could then either upgrade the next day or keep the free breakfast for rest of stay. I chose the upgrade (i like to eat out as much as i can in Asia). So next day went to reception after a day out and they advised i would need to wait till room was cleaned. By way of apology they then gave me the free breakfast and the upgraded room! They then gave me a late checkout of 4pm.

        • Rob says:
          20 Jul20 July 12:09

          Yes, that is normal. You don’t pay for the 2nd night.

    • Leo says:
      20 Jul20 July 20:25

      See my above post – I did not have a physical certificate in March but it was dealt with.

  • Dips says:
    20 Jul20 July 09:00

    Is there any way to use the HFP IHG link to make an Ambassador certificate booking?

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