Loyalty Programs: some of them are worthy, not all

Is not advertising that I am doing, many usually make advertisements through their blogs but that is not my idea. So sorry if you think the opposite because that is not the case.

A very good friend from my home country is coming to visit me very soon and he told me about a small trick so he may have a better stay during his holidays.

He booked a Hotel from the IHG Group (Intercontinental Brand Group) in which he is going to stay proximally 8 nights and 9 days. The hotel room that he booked is a standard one that cost a total amount of almost U$S 4500 including breakfast and taxes for the total of 8 nights. The next category of room for that specific Hotel is a Suite that costs a total of U$S 5300 including breakfast and taxes.

What he told is that he issued his membership for the “Intercontinental Ambassador” for U$S 200 per year and he automatically got:

- Guaranteed room upgrade

- 4 p.m. late check-out

- Fast track / priority check in

- Complimentary voucher weekend night: if he stays a weekend he gets a night free that he can choose that could be Friday or Monday.

And some none important amenities such as: fresh fruit and mineral water.

So he may go to the Suite paying the standard room U$S 4500 plus the U$S 200 of the membership and saves a total amount of U$S 600. It is a very good deal.

As he is a frequent traveler that tends to stay a lot in IHG Group hotels he told me that he might get the “Royal Ambassador Status” (that is only by invitation) in which he gets the following benefits:

- Guaranteed upgrade to an Executive Room or Suite

- Fast track / priority check in
- Complimentary Mini Bar for unlimited use (including alcohol)
- Guaranteed room availability with 24-hour advance reservation
- Guaranteed late check-out (4 pm)
- Guaranteed early check-in (8 am)
- Welcome gift upon arrival
- Free movie of pay TV per stay
- Free Weekend Night Certificate
- Fruits and mineral water in your room upon arrival
- Complimentary newspaper each morning
- Complimentary use of health club facilities
- Single-rate for double occupancy
- Complimentary Platinum membership in the Priority Club program (includes the following
hotel brands: Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Hotel Indigo,
Candlewood Suites)
- Double Priority Club Points per stay
- Free Internet for Royal Ambassadors at all InterContinental Hotels Resorts

So yeah, sometimes actually the loyalty programs from Hotels and Airline can really come to your benefit really fast and simple.

The only bad thing is that: IHG Group stipulates that bookings must be made directly through them to use the “Ambassador” benefits, that is not entirely true. My friend usually makes his bookings through a third party traveling agency or in booking.com and then he just shows his “Ambassador Card” while doing the check in and he gets all the benefits.

Also, to get the “Royal Ambassador Status” you must earn between 50 and 80 qualifying nights and not all of the Intercontinental Hotels might provide that, so check beforehand if they do (if you would like to sum up qualifying nights to reach that status).

(I don´t own the above picture)