Want IHG Platinum Elite status, all years without stress? Sign up for the Intercontinental Ambassador program

The IHG One Rewards loyalty program has come firmly onto our radar this year. The reason is that InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's largest hotel chains, has decided to completely overhaul its loyalty system, becoming a viable antagonist to Bonvoy and Honors, as well as Radisson and All, smaller but not inferior to the American giants.

We have told in detail how it works and what are the benefits of IHG One Rewards and we talked about the many offerings such as the status match offered to virtually everyone this summer. Today, however, I want to talk about a stratagem, or shortcut if you want to call it that, which allows you to have the Platinum Elite level every year, even without staying even one night. This is not an illegal thing; on the contrary, it is The InterContinental Ambassador Program, which, for a subscription that costs 200$/year, gives numerous benefits, including precisely the status.

What the InterContinental Ambassador Program is.

IHG is the only hotel chain to offer a subscription for join such a membership (There are also companies such as TAP Portugal, Emirates and others that offer something similar in the airline industry.)

InterContinental Ambassador is a paid annual membership: for an annual fee of 200$, you get status and all the benefits provided by the program, benefits valid in all InterContinental Group hotels worldwide.

Benefits include one free night per year, Platinum IHG One Rewards status and many others, here they are in detail:

• Platinum Elite Status in the IHG One Rewards loyalty program, the second highest level in the IHG loyalty program, normally earned by staying 40 nights a year in the group's hotels. Among the benefits it gives: bonus points and other pampering such as a welcome drink or in-room newspaper every morning.
• Free room upgrade: based on availability you may receive upgrades to better rooms, subject to availability
• A credit of $ 20 for food and drink per InterContinental stay (not valid at Regent)
• Guaranteed late check-out at 4 pm: normally, as a Platinum Elite, you are entitled to check-out at 2 p.m., thanks to the ambassador card you will have two extra hours each stay
• Complimentary weekend night: the cost of the annual subscription pays for itself with stays, but if you're looking for an immediate reason to spend the 200$ the excuse you're looking for is the voucher for a free night that you will receive every year when you renew your subscription. To use it you will need to book 1 night at the Ambassador Weekend rate To get the second night "free."

How free night works

The free weekend overnight stay is valid for the second night of a minimum two-night stay during the weekend paid for at the Ambassador "Free Weekend Stay" rate at any InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property worldwide, except InterContinental Alliance Resorts.

The overnight stay can be used immediately upon joining the program and is automatically deposited into the member's account. However, reservations must be made in advance, and if you join the Ambassador program at a hotel, the weekend overnight cannot be redeemed for your current stay. You must present a valid ID and your membership number when checking in. Failure to do so may result in the hotel rejecting your reservation.

The free weekend overnight stay is valid only for members with InterContinental Ambassador status and is not transferable. Sale or exchange of the free overnight stay will make it void. The free overnight stay is valid only for the room and related fees.

Weekends means Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, except in the Middle East, where weekends could mean Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

In conclusion

In Italy, there are no "shortcuts" to status in the IHG One Rewards loyalty program, if you stay often, but not enough to get to the Platinum level, 200$'s investment could be a smart move in the key of better stays, more points, and at the end of the year financial savings.