InterContinental Ambassador Status Price Increasing

Hotel elite status can be difficult to earn, especially for those who don’t travel often. Sure, you can open up credit cards that offer status to cardholders, but IHG offers something different: the ability to purchase status. Although it’s still possible to purchase InterContinental Ambassador status, the price is going up. Let’s check out the price changes and figure out whether Ambassador status is still worth the investment.

Ambassador Status Pricing

In the past, it’s been possible to purchase InterContinental Ambassador status outright for $200 or 40,000 IHG One Rewards points. Those with existing status could choose to renew before their membership lapsed and could score an additional 15,000 bonus points.

Now, the cost of Ambassador status is rising. Beginning October 2024, the cost will be increasing to $225 or 45,000 IHG points. It’s important to note that this hasn’t been announced publicly, though Verylvke has confirmed this via an internal memo.

Is It Worth It?

Ambassador status comes with some pretty generous perks, even if you only stay in hotels once or twice per year. These include:

• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
• Complimentary premium Wi-Fi
• Complimentary water
• A $20 credit for the hotel’s restaurant, the minibar, or the hotel’s bar
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout
• A specialized check-in area
• A guaranteed one-category room upgrade
• A weekend night certificate

That might look like a word salad to you, but there are a few of these benefits you’ll to which you’ll want to pay special attention.

First, guaranteed room upgrades and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout can offer incredible value. While this might mean a better floor or a better view if you’re just booking the cheapest room, it also can be used to score suites by booking a room category just below the suite level.

And it’s obvious why 4 p.m. checkout is so valuable — especially when you have a late flight and want to hang out at the hotel for a little longer.

Finally, the weekend night certificate can provide more than $200 (or $225) in value all on its own. This is because it acts as a buy-one-get-one free option on weekend stays.

You’ll want to be aware that the room rate for the weekend night certificate isn’t going to be the best rate. Instead, it’s usually the “best flexible rate,” which can be a lot higher than prepaid rates available for the hotel. That being said, it still gives you your second night free, which works out to a huge savings versus paying for 2 nights.

You’ll need to be staying over a weekend to get the second night free, which includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The only exception to this is in the Middle East, where the weekend is Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night.

Final Thoughts

InterContinental’s Ambassador status offers infrequent (and frequent) travelers the ability to purchase elite status for cheap. At $200, it’s been a great value for a long time, and the same is true for when the price jumps to $225. Just be sure to take advantage of the benefits on offer, such as the free weekend night certificate.