Pic: My InterContinental Paris Le Grand – Royal Suite Bedroom (March 2011)
Twitter is my number one internet and mobile phone application since 2007. It has provide me with some incredible value in the past four years. Here’s an example on how twitter created travel value for me. After checking out at the InterContinental Seoul Parnas last month, I tweeted my disappointment about the high bill for internet access and minibar usage. One of my fellow twitter followers responded with an incredible offer. He had achieved Royal Ambassador status (highest elite status at IHG) in 2010 and was offering me his InterContinental Royal Ambassador Referral Certificate. The qualification criteria to become an InterContinental Royal Ambassador are unpublished, but anecdotal evidence indicates Ambassador members need to stay 50 to 60 nights in one year at IHG hotels (Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites) with at least 3 hotel stays at different InterContinental Hotels. That’s quite a challenge! Once you achieve the Royal Ambassador level, you can also invite one member. Thanks to my tweets I was invited by a very generous Royal Ambassador follower.
Pic: My room at the InterContinental Shenzhen, China. (January 2010)
It took IHG a while to process my Royal Ambassador Referral Certificate, but today I finally unlocked the InterContinental Royal Platinum Ambassador badge. That one word ‘Royal’ comes with some great additional benefits:
• Guaranteed two level room upgrade (i.e. Executive Room, Suite or Club Room)
• Complimentary mini-bar: unlimited mini-bar beverages free of charge
• Guaranteed early check-in (8 am)
• Free internet access
• Complimentary Platinum level membership in the Priority Club program which is applicable to the other brands of the InterContinental portfolio (Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Starbridge Suites and Candlewood Suites)
• 1000 Priority Club Royal Ambassador Bonus Points per stay
Pic: My room at the InterContinental Hua Hin, Thailand (February 2011)
As an InterContinental Ambassador I already had these benefits:
• Guaranteed room upgrade
• Guaranteed late check-out (4 pm)
• Free movie – One complimentary Pay-TV film per stay
• Fresh fruit and mineral water – in your room upon arrival
• Guaranteed room availability with 24-hour advance reservation
• Complimentary newspaper each morning
• Complimentary use of health club facilities (fitness gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi etc most hotels)
• Welcome gift upon arrival (often something reflecting the local culture at participating Hotels)
• Complimentary weekend night
Pic: InterContinental Hua Hin lobby, Thailand (February 2011)
As I’ll be staying at the InterContinental London Park Lane tomorrow, I’ll have the opportunity to benefit my Royal Ambassador status from day one. 🙂
Bart Lapers 
Bart,
Thx to your tips i learned allot about traveling.
I’m now planning my honeymoon in Bali and was thinking of staying a few days at the intercontinental because i have IHG platinum status. Do you think i get much value out of becoming IHG ambassador or is it not worth paying the 200 dollar? Also would you suggest paying extra for the “Club” room and it’s benefits?
Thx in advance.
Does the referred royal ambassador membership begin once you send in the application form?
My application form says it expires on 7/2013 and I just received it in the mail, after getting it from someone else?
Hi Joshua, yes it does. As soon as you submit the referral form, you will be upgraded to Royal Ambassador status. But keep in mind, it only runs until the end of your current Ambassador membership, so if your membership expires in November and you submit the RA referral form now (April) you will only enjoy RA perks for 7 months. I haven’t been successful in renewing my Ambassador status before expiration date to ensure l could enjoy the full 12 months of RA perks. :s
Hi Bart, didn´t you get yourself some RA-Referrals as well btw?
Juergen, no I didn’t. If you get referred by a RA, you don’t get a referral certificate yourself. Otherwise it would be an endless chain. 🙂
Well in the “early years” of RA it has been that way, therefor I asked, because I have once gotten a Ref-Cert from my Dad and then received my own Certs for Referrals. (which then, being a Student, I auctioned off for good Money).
Best regards from Vienna, Goede avond and thanks for the fast reply!!!
True, read those stories, the good old days of loyalty programs. 😉 Have a nice evening! Greetings from a TK CIP lounge Suite at IST!
On your way to Asia from WAW i guess 😉
Yes, indeed. You’ll notice me doing some unconventional F routings the next couple of days. 🙂
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Thanks Herman!
nice record for your blogging and twitter traveltips! Enjoy the royal treatment.
A “royal treatment” is something else I’m afraid. 😉