InterContinental Ambassador status is one of my loyalty status programs next to Hyatt Gold Passport and Starwood Preferred Guest. It is a unique program with exceptional benefits. From free weekend night certificates, to room upgrades, the benefits are valuable.

It is a very unique program in that you actually have to pay for initial membership in the program. The initial fee is $200 USD, but you can re-qualify by purchasing the status for 32,000 priority club points or paying $100 USD. The pinnacle of the program is the Royal Ambassador access where you get extra benefits including a club lounge and complimentary mini-bar privileges. The Royal Ambassador qualification threshold is not advertised, but is well reported to be based on number of stays across the Priority Club brands including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Crown Plaza.

Ambassador Benefit Overview

• Guaranteed room upgrade (not guaranteed on award stays)
• Fresh fruit and mineral water
• Complimentary weekend night on two night stay
•  4 p.m. late check-out
• Complimentary Pay TV film per stay
• Instant Check-Out
• Earn your choice of points or airline miles
• Ambassador Accelerator^† – Earn 20,000 bonus points every 15 nights.
• Redeem points for merchandise or free Reward Night

Kit & Contents

The Ambassador status kit comes with a nice letter including a 5,000 point bonus code. You can redeem the code online for 5,000 Priority Club points. You will also receive a free night certificate good for the second night on a two night weekend stay. There is also a luggage tag and status card included in the kit.

How I’ve Leveraged Ambassador Status

I’ve leveraged the Ambassador status for stays from the InterContinental Tampa, to the InterContinental Montreal and to the InterContinental Bora Bora. In 2011 I used two free weekend night certificates for nights I would have otherwise paid for in cash. The free weekend night certificates are redeemable for a free second night during a weekend stay. In 2010, I took advantage of the 4,000 per night promotion to earn enough points for a 7 night award stay at the InterContinental Bora Bora. We were upgraded to an over the water bungalow based on Royal Ambassador status. If you are a Royal Ambassador you’ll receive free mini bar access, except on award stays, boo! But this year the ominous downgrade from Royal Ambassador to Platinum Ambassador was inevitable.

Bottom Line

While InterContinental Ambassador status is not my only loyalty elite status program, it is worth going for it if you frequently stay in InterContinental hotels. But don’t just take it from me, straight from the website, the members say it best.

I wonder what it takes to elevate to being on that page?

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