IC Ambassador worth it?

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I have a week-long stay coming up at IC Singapore. Do you all think Ambassador is still worth joining? I used to be IHG Gold, but haven't stayed at IHG properties for a while.
Do you still get IHG Gold as part of Ambassador? I can't see it listed on the Ambassador site.
The free night could be of use later in the year.


IHG® Rewards Club members who have not achieved Gold Elite status will be automatically upgraded to the Gold Elite membership level. A non IHG® Rewards Club member who purchases InterContinental Ambassador status will automatically be enrolled in IHG® Rewards Club at the Gold Elite membership level.
 
I have a week-long stay coming up at IC Singapore. Do you all think Ambassador is still worth joining? I used to be IHG Gold, but haven't stayed at IHG properties for a while.
Do you still get IHG Gold as part of Ambassador? I can't see it listed on the Ambassador site.
The free night could be of use later in the year.
I'd say yes it is worth it, but I'd temper that by also saying when we stayed in January, I was platinum ambassador and also paid for a club room. I have no idea if platinum over gold means anything at IC SIN (if they're like ICs in Oz, the answer is no benefit at all) but ambassador will give you a one room upgrade. For me, club makes all the difference so I'd be inclined to forget paying for amb and just buy club access. The room we were given was apparently good as it was part of the "old" hotel (2nd floor, same as the club lounge with some fancy name......floorboard rooms or something I didn't quite understand) but the room was big and nice.

Here are some room photos (bear in mind we had an extra trundle bed in there)

entry.jpg
Foyer
bedroom.jpg
Bedroom

Minibar.jpg
Minbar


Bathroom.jpg
Bathroom


TV.jpg
TV and through to wardrobe/luggage area
 
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The room we were given was apparently good as it was part of the "old" hotel (2nd floor, same as the club lounge with some fancy name......floorboard rooms or something I didn't quite understand)

Those are the "shophouse" rooms, I believe. I really like them.
 
I'd say yes it is worth it, but I'd temper that by also saying when we stayed in January, I was platinum ambassador and also paid for a club room. I have no idea if platinum over gold means anything at IC SIN (if they're like ICs in Oz, the answer is no benefit at all) but ambassador will give you a one room upgrade. For me, club makes all the difference so I'd be inclined to forget paying for amb and just buy club access. The room we were given was apparently good as it was part of the "old" hotel (2nd floor, same as the club lounge with some fancy name......floorboard rooms or something I didn't quite understand) but the room was big and nice.

Thanks swanning_it.

I agree with you, but due to a corporate rate I can't change the rate to a club room. I gather that an ambassador provided upgrade is unlikely to get club access (particularly from a base "deluxe" room) so maybe it's not worth it as all my bookings at an IC will always be the base room.
 
Thanks swanning_it.

I agree with you, but due to a corporate rate I can't change the rate to a club room. I gather that an ambassador provided upgrade is unlikely to get club access (particularly from a base "deluxe" room) so maybe it's not worth it as all my bookings at an IC will always be the base room.

I'll let others more attuned to IC/IHG answer, as I'm not a good knowledge base. I suspect you are right in your thinking though.
 
maybe it's not worth it as all my bookings at an IC will always be the base room.

I'd be inclined to go for it if you've got a one-week stay coming up... certainly a good test of whether it's worth it, anyway. But I reckon you could get USD150 of value out of it.
 
I'd be inclined to go for it if you've got a one-week stay coming up... certainly a good test of whether it's worth it, anyway. But I reckon you could get USD150 of value out of it.
Yes go for it. Status of Gold or Platinum in IHG is effectively meaningless in our experience. A number of tines as platinum were were told that benefits and upgrades were only available to Ambassadors. So much for IHG loyalty. We've taken their advice and changed loyalty.
 
Thanks swanning_it.

I agree with you, but due to a corporate rate I can't change the rate to a club room. I gather that an ambassador provided upgrade is unlikely to get club access (particularly from a base "deluxe" room) so maybe it's not worth it as all my bookings at an IC will always be the base room.

Howdy - I've asked the IC SIN about upgrades for Ambassadors in the past, and they said to book the King Business room, which already includes bfast and a few other perks, and you should get the IC Club King, with club access... I guess there's no guarantees, but that was from the property itself, so a pretty good chance it's what would happen.

When I last booked the base / Deluxe King room there, as a Platinum Aambassador, I was upgraded to the Executive King Suite, but also got no other inclusions, except as provided by membership... i.e. welcome drink, fancy waters in room, etc. A quite nice room though!

Cheers,
Matt.
 
has been asked here before but i can't find the thread right now: looking to get a suite for 3 nights at IC Sydney later this year. What is the room type to book (as a newly minted Ambassador member) to make sure I get the larger floor area?
 
markis10 was the IHG guru but seems he flew the coop - their loyalty program if you can call it that is way too complicated for my simple mind
 
Well, it could be good value for the long weekend in Sydney, but only if i can find out the rate to book... Anyone got a solid / recent answer to this question?
 
Well, it could be good value for the long weekend in Sydney, but only if i can find out the rate to book... Anyone got a solid / recent answer to this question?
As Ambassador you get a 1 step room upgrade and that's it. And at Sydney IC, the view counts as a step. City view, East Harbour view, Opera House view. Step, step, step. Just look at the room options when you book. If you are Ambassador, you'll get the next one.
 
So if there are no Opera House rooms available to book that weekend, does that mean i am out of luck, or do they bump two levels in that circumstance? (Thanks for the help, I should also add)... :)
 
So if there are no Opera House rooms available to book that weekend, does that mean i am out of luck, or do they bump two levels in that circumstance?
Depends... The policy if they can't upgrade you is to charge you the rate of the next room category level down. So you get a (usually small) cheaper rate.
 
Ok. Might try dumping the Thurs or Sat night from the booking to see if that makes any difference to the availability chart to make sure i stick to the letter of the program.
 
Yes, dumping the Thurs night did make the rate show as available. That's a win. It's ~$550 for the night (work pays) plus $255 ish for the membership (i pay) for a 2 night stay. I guess I'll consider it a paid upgrade. I'll now have to work out where to stay Thursday night though.
 
Yes, dumping the Thurs night did make the rate show as available. That's a win. It's ~$550 for the night (work pays) plus $255 ish for the membership (i pay) for a 2 night stay. I guess I'll consider it a paid upgrade. I'll now have to work out where to stay Thursday night though.

If it helps, I can say that IC SYD in-house reservations are reasonably good to deal with. I'd suggest you telephone them and ask your question as they can handle the booking and upgrade all at once. I do like IC SYD, but I too am confused about what an upgrade actually is. I've always booked what I though was the top suite that used to be called something like The Harbour and Opera House view suite (which I think now is just the Harbour suite....as opposed to the Eastern Harbour suite which I believe does not have the Bridge or Opera House view), to secure a club upgrade which has indeed happened for me, however there have been reports they no longer upgrade to club at all.

I also see there are two higher suites on the menu now (Governors Suite and King State Suite), but I'd be guessing that they are off the upgrade menu.
 
I just asked that question to IC Sydney ...

I currently have an AMB Cert. booking, with a King Club Harbour Suite booked ...

( booked King Club Opera House View, as Plat. Ambassador )

I asked, that if I re-book for a King Club Harbour Suite ( currently @ $664. a night ), would I be upgraded to a King Club Governor Suite ?? ( which currently sells for around $1,560. a night )

Response was NO !!

They advised, that King Club Harbour Suite is the highest Ambassador upgrade ( which I have already been confirmed for ).

I still wasn't convinced, that the respondent actually understood my question though ...

That if I booked a King Club Harbour Suite as a Plat. Ambassador, using the AMB Weekend voucher ( for a weekend two night booking ) ... would the AMB upgrade be a single upgrade to the next room type, which is the King Club Governor Suite ??

Is this the correct advice I received ??
 
I still wasn't convinced, that the respondent actually understood my question though ...

That if I booked a King Club Harbour Suite as a Plat. Ambassador, using the AMB Weekend voucher ( for a weekend two night booking ) ... would the AMB upgrade be a single upgrade to the next room type, which is the King Club Governor Suite ??

Is this the correct advice I received ??

It looks like they are spot on. As per the terms and conditions (No. 11):

The type of room upgrade allocated is at the discretion of the hotel. Exceptions:
The following Suites are not included in the upgrade policy for Ambassadors & Royal Ambassadors: InterContinental Sydney: Australia Suite, State Suite and Governor Suites.
 
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