I agree, Ambassador is well worth the upgrade, plus once you become a member, you can use your points to renew your status. 

My favorite part is the late check out.

Scotto,

Would you be willing to trade in points to obtain Ambassador status? New members can trade-in 24,000 points to become an Ambassador member.

It's great traveling due to business and being able to reap the rewards!!!

Amanda Kehoe

Scotto!

Just for future reference, try visiting www.priorityclub.com/ambassador

The easier ambassador website was recently launched to include easier navigation & a FAQ page.

New members cost is $150 USD or 24,000 points. The annual requalification to remain an Ambassador currently stands at $100 USD. It is not required to renew once first joining. Ambassador status is not earned through stays, it is an extra privelege one pays for. Once joining, one will receive a new card and maintain he or she's current level. Scotto, if you are currently a Platinum Elite member, than you will receive your Platinum level benefits at Holiday Inns, Crowne Plaza's, etc and receive Ambassador benefits at InterContinental Hotels ONLY.

Ambassador membership benefits travelers who tend to stay at InterContinental Hotels now or in the future. It will not be a cost benefit if you are a traveler who tends to stay in Holiday Inns or other IHG properties.

I only recommending using points to pay for the membership if you are willing to call the Ambassador number, 1-800-462-6686.

Points will be deducted immediately once becoming an Ambassador member. Re-log in to your account to see points used. Below is what my account page looked like after redeeming my points for renewal. Hope this helps.

Scotto,

Renewal  for Ambassador  status is a no brainer.  It cost $100, but you get the voucher for a weekend night and 5,000 Priority poiints.

At an IC you will get an upgrade to a better room.  Sometimes it will be a suite; other times you will wonder if it really is  an upgrade.  The management will send up a welcome gift which might fruit, and bottled water, though some will also send up chocolates, cookies or wine. You also will cet a free moviie of TV from that group that you normally would pay a fee for.

I am a "leisure" traveler so I am not clocking in as many   nights on the road as  business travelers. Yet the Ambassador program has been a very good deal for me, and I renewed again for the third year.

Welcome aboard.

Marlene

Probably not, unless you would like to enjoy three different IC's a a leisure break and have the upgrades the mini bar etc.

Hi

Having been an Ambassador for a year and a Platinum PC Member for longer than I care to remember, it should be made clear to the OP that the Ambassador status will only be recognised at Intercontinental Hotels and an no other brand in the chain. So if you are hoping for higher status at CP,HI, HIX etc. then don't waste your points - you are at the Pinnacle of the lower levels of the brand !

Hope that helps

Mark

I agree, not being recognized as a Platinum member is a put off , They did for the most part a year or so ago, not now

Christina,

Those of us that are Ambassador members feel it is well worth the cost because we travel extensively, internationally, etc and enjoy the recognition and benefits that comes with the program. Because Ambassador privilages apply to stays at InterContinental hotels, you will often find many Ambassador members staying in an InterContinental.

Hope that clarifies..

Thanks,

Amanda Kehoe

When we have stays exceeding 100PA I just do not understand the reluctance to take Ambassador. Yes it costs $150 to sign up but so do all the other premium cards. but look at what you get back. A weekend free night voucher  than can be worth many 100's$$, points voucher and with stays of 100 nights almost guaranteed RA status which is free. Those who say they do not stay at IC's to get their RA status why not give them a go as a treet for your nearest and dearest. It seems that the Europeans are much more  likely to go for this and it is perplexing me.

Hi Stanley,

I need to clarify:_

Yes you can spend points 24000 to get Ambassador, Royal Ambassador can then be earned by Ambaassodors on a number of nights putting them into the top 1% of ambassador membership, provided that at least 3 of those nights are in three different IC hotels. You will also have reached Platinum plus by haveing achieved 60,000 points, so all those benefits would apply.

JBa what a very excellent post. Achieving platinum is for me quite quick using the tools available. You mentioned the recognition aspect of Platinum in Hotels and there were numerous comments on the previous forum a number of us where involved with and the exchange resulted in IHG looking at "consistency" It seemed to be in the first stage IC hotels only and RA  do now seem to get recognition  of right. We always Email the hotels prior to arriving to state my level and [preferences, a non reply gets a follow up. I now use a template to save time. I include bed type, room position away from the lifts etc.

I believe that those who have  a significant number of nights should consider Ambassador as it really does pay for itself if you enjoy a bit of luxury by paying for IC s for special family treats.

Please let me know where you get your knowledge from.

Looking at the PC web site it states the following:

Intercontinental Ambassador is more than a club. It's a status. It delivers exclusive privileges. It opens doors.

It sets you apart.

Valid at over 140 Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts worldwide, Ambassador status also automatically elevates you to Gold Elite level of Priority Club Rewards. So every  time you stay ............

It does not state anywhere that you automatically will be Platinum, but you will be Gold.That is mine and a lot of other frequent travelers experience. Now once you become Royal Ambassador you also have Platinum status with Priority Club. RA cannot be bought and is by invitation only. You might find a friend who has a RA certificate and if he gifts it to you, you can purchase RA status. IHG becomes more selective with these certificates and I hear that the gifted RAs do not receive the certificates in their welcome package.

IO don't believe there is a status of "Platinum Plus"  I have over 200K points and still just a Platinum Ambassador.....

Hello

I to am struggling to understand all the advantages of the ambassador status in regard to the other hotel types in the chain.

When on business I mainly stay in Holiday Inns etc (due to locations) but when on vacation I prefer Intercontinentals.

My question is - would the bonus points (I think I read somewhere you get a 20,000 points bonus every 15 nights?) for ambassador status be earned at Holiday Inns or do these only apply at Intercontinentals?

Thanks

First wanted just to say Hi as I am new here, and do hope to benefit from your wealth of info and

experience.

I have been Gold status for the last 5-6 years, but since I have also stayed during my business travels with Hilton and Marriot have not excelled beyond 40K points / calendar year.

Next year I am going to do most of my stayes with IHG (average of 70 - 80 nights) , and wanted to know if  can buy my way to Platinum status by the end of 2009 so I can enjoy the benefits of elite status for 2010, I currenty have 33K points and with my next 2 stays should have around 42K. If I purchase 18K points will I get the desired Platinum status?

I thank you and welcome any advice.

Alan

Thanks for the list, bloobell. As most of these codes are fairly old I already have used these promos back in 2008 and beginning of this year. Be advised that most of the codes you can use only once. Also, all these codes are extensivly discussed over at flyertalk. But it's a great list for someone who just starts with PC or never has done promos.

Been there and done it. PC is getting better and after they introduced the My Offer Status, the success average declined drastically. Common average for a stay costing me less than $100 is 5000 points. And that includes IC stays.

I believe so Alan but the Points are not credited immediately when you buy them so don't leave it too late

Mike

It wouldn't last only a couple of weeks; you would maintain platinum status for the next year.

Amanda Kehoe

Yes, you can purchase them.

Amanda Kehoe