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It might seem like an odd time to be writing nice things about IHG… even if the redemption changes aren’t as bad as first appeared. But IHG has brought back a promotion that is potentially quite appealing…

The promotion incentivises you to sign up for Intercontinental’s Ambassador programme. You can also participate if you are renewing your Ambassador status.

All you must do is:

• Sign up (or renew) Ambassador between April 15th and July 31st, 2021  (i.e. WAIT a few days)
  
• Complete ONE paid stay at an Intercontinental, Kimpton or Regent hotel before August 31st, 2021

You will then receive a free night certificate valid for ANY IHG hotel (except Six Senses or Mr & Mrs Smith), up to a maximum of 40,000 points. The reward night must take place before November 30th, 2021.

For those of you who are somewhat familiar with Ambassador, this free night certificate is separate and IN ADDITION to the free weekend night certificate that you automatically receive when joining the Ambassador programme.

The Highlights of Ambassador

Signing up for Ambassador costs $200 or 40,000 IHG points.

You immediately become a Platinum member with IHG Rewards, as well as receiving the following when staying at Intercontinental hotels:

I could not find a landing page for this promotion. Details are simply buried in the standard Terms & Conditions for Ambassador membership.

InterContinental^® Ambassadors who enrol in the programme or renew their programme between 15 April 2021 – 31 July 2021 and then complete one Qualifying Stay at InterContinental^® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton^® Hotels & Restaurants, or Regent^® Hotels by 31 August 2021 will be awarded a Reward Night redeemable for a Reward Night priced at 40,000 points or less. The Reward Night will be deposited into the Free Nights section of the member’s account within 72 hours after check-out from the qualifying, paid stay and will be valid until 30 November 2021. This Reward Night is in addition to the complimentary weekend night that is already included as an InterContinental Ambassador member benefit. Ambassador benefits are not honored at Kimpton^® Hotels & Restaurants globally or at Regent^® Hotels & Resorts in Greater China.

The Reward Night must be consumed by 30 November 2021 and cannot be extended or transferred. The number of points required for a Reward Night at IHG hotels varies by date, brand and individual hotel and is subject to availability. Taxes, fees and Resort Fees apply and the member may be required to pay such taxes and fees even for a Reward Night. IHG^® Army Hotels, Mr and Mrs Smith properties, and Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas are excluded from this Offer.

This Offer is not valid for InterContinental^® Ambassador membership enrolments or renewals obtained on a complimentary basis or using the IHG Employee discount. Ambassador members must be within their standard renewal window in order to take advantage of this Offer. A Qualifying Stay is defined as a paid, minimum 1-night stay booked under a Qualifying Rate, with total spend exceeding US $30 per night.

Reward Nights do not count as Qualifying Stays. A Stay is defined per IHG^® Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions as one night or consecutive nights at the same hotel, regardless of frequency of check-in/out. Only one room per member per Qualifying Stay will be eligible to earn the member a Reward Night under this Offer. If more than one member checks into the same room, only one member may use it as his or her Qualifying Stay for this Offer. No credit will be awarded for Stays completed prior to the member’s enrollment or renewal.

This Offer is subject to standard IHG^® Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions and earning structure, which can be obtained here, as well as the InterContinental Ambassador Membership Terms and Conditions. IHG reserves the right to remove a member’s Reward night award or cancel a member’s account if fraudulent use of this Offer is detected. To the extent permitted by applicable law, IHG reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify this Offer at any time with or without notice, and IHG reserves the right of final interpretation of this Offer. Members must make any inquiries relating to this Offer by 60 days from the last date on which the Reward Night can be consumed (30 November 2021).

BUYER BEWARE!

Although it seems like an attractive deal – stay once to earn a free night certificate roughly equivalent to the 40,000 points needed to join Ambassador (and enjoy those perks for a year or longer) – there are two major caveats that you should keep in mind:

1. This same promotion ran in 2020, however IHG was unwilling to extend the validity period of the free night earned (or the Ambassador status), despite many Europeans in particular being completely locked down and unable to travel
2. Because of the recent reward pricing changes, nobody has any clue whatsoever as to when/where you will be able to use a certificate capped at 40,000 points per night within such a relatively short period of validity