InterContinental Hotels Group, usually called IHG, has an IHG One Rewards loyalty program + two guest recognition ones of InterContinental Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle.
The InterContinental Ambassador program has an invitation-only level of Royal Ambassador that requires roughly $10K to $12K spent in a calendar year in IHG’s luxury brands (Regent, Six Senses, InterContinental & Kimpton).
You can access IHG’s page for the Ambassador program here.
READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Royal Ambassador Renewals for 2024:
IHG InterContinental Royal Ambassador Upgrades & Renewals For 2024 (Share Yours)
InterContinental Royal Ambassador comes with the following benefits:
- Two-category upgrade at InterContinental hotels (previously always a suite)
- Guaranteed 10 AM check-in and 4 PM check-out (previously 8 AM)
And now we come to the Royal Ambassador benefits change:
Previously, Royal Ambassador members got complimentary minibar beverages for the duration of their stay (for personal consumption only), refreshed daily. This was watered down to a maximum of $200 credit per stay and up to $50 per day.
The minibar benefit has now been removed, effective January 1, 2024, and replaced with 25 $20 Food & Beverage rewards that can be used for F&B expenses at many IHG hotels, not just InterContinentals.
Twenty-five Food & Beverage Rewards valued up to USD20 each, to a maximum value of USD500. Members can redeem a Food & Beverage Rewards for credit against applicable food and beverage charges on the member’s folio during a hotel stay at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts. Each Food & Beverage Reward can only be used once, even if the Member’s applicable charges total less than USD20 (e.g., redeeming a Food & Beverage Reward for USD15 of applicable charges will provide a credit of USD15 only). The Royal Ambassador Food & Beverage Rewards are valid for 12 months.
The $50 per day & maximum $100 per stay minibar credit will stay in place for stays at InterContinental Alliance resorts.
IHG introduced Food & Beverage Rewards in 2022 with the program refresh, and members can choose them as their Milestone Rewards option.
Food & Beverage Rewards
- IHG One Rewards Food & Beverage Award Delay – Expiry Extended Through December 31, 2023 (December 2022)
- IHG Food & Beverage Rewards Now Available At Select US & Canada Hotels (February 2023)
- Reader Question: When Can IHG Food & Beverage Rewards Be Used In the UK & Europe? (May 2023)
- IHG Food & Beverage Rewards Now At Select Brands Worldwide + Select Service Hotels Soon (May 2023)
- IHG’s Misleading Email About Food & Beverage Rewards (May 2023)
- IHG Food & Beverage Rewards Redemption Process: Case Regent Hong Kong (June 2023)
- IHG Food & Beverage Rewards And Qualifying Spend (June 2023)
- Compensation Clinic: IHG Deposits Points Due To Unable To Use F&B Rewards (August 2023)
- IHG Extends December Expiring Food & Beverage Rewards By 6 Months (For The Second Time) (November 2023)
Conclusion
The complimentary minibar beverages were a unique feature of the Royal Ambassador program, and previously capping it at a maximum of $200 was a significant change. Now, removing it altogether and replacing it with 25 Food & Beverage Rewards is a considerable downgrade.
I certainly have fond memories of enjoying minibar beverages at lovely InterContinentals back in the day when I was drinking alcoholic beverages.
So, the only stay benefits left with the Royal Ambassador program compared to Ambassador are guaranteed 10 AM check-in and two category upgrades instead of one?
