Reply To: InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace

[Andrew M]

I had five nights booked at the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace for a stay in April. It was booked during a “flash sale” at 40,000 points per night. I made three seperate reservations of one night, three nights and a further one night which would me to change my dates slightly and keep the “flash sale” rate. I received the call and was offered a rebooking at the same hotel on any date in the future. I enquired how long that would be open for and was told it was indefinate – a note would be put on my account to that effect.

As an alternative, the agent suggested the booking could be cancelled and 40,000 points offered as compensation. I mentioned that was far short of the difference between the normal rate and the “flash sale” rate so I would be out of pocket if I rebooked. After some back and forth the agent offered 40,000 points as compensation for cancelling for each of the seperate bookings that comprised the trip – so 120,000 points for the five day stay. I accepted this offer and was told it would take around two weeks for the points to arrive in my account.

The points did not arrive so after two weeks I contacted IHG and enquired when I would receive them. I was told the 120,000 points exceeded the allowed compensation and should not have been offered. They agreed however that since I had been primised them, the points would be given. They arrived a few days later.

I should add that even 120,000 points is less than the difference between the “flash sale” rate and the normal rate for a five night stay, however I much prefer the flexability of points which I can use on any IHG hotel at any date in the future.