IHG Top One Percent Member Letter

[markh]

Hi all !

Received this very nice letter in the mail in the last week thanking me for being in the top 1% of their Priority Club members worldwide !

I would have thought that I was a small fish in a very big pond in the grand scheme of the Intercontinental's chain of hotels ...

Just means that I will be waiving this letter in the face of the checkin at my next stay at an IHG chain to get their best room !!

I was just interested if anyone else has had a similar letter ?

 

[Mal]

Has been a lot of chatter about it over at Flyertalk for the last couple of years:

Top 1% Letter - FlyerTalk Forums

Personally, I don't know anyone who has received it - so you're definitely special !

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi all !

Received this very nice letter in the mail in the last week thanking me for being in the top 1% of their Priority Club members worldwide !

I would have thought that I was a small fish in a very big pond in the grand scheme of the Intercontinental's chain of hotels ...

Just means that I will be waiving this letter in the face of the checkin at my next stay at an IHG chain to get their best room !!

I was just interested if anyone else has had a similar letter ?

yeah i got one, stayed at CP AKL of all places. quite touching. QF would never do such a thing!!

cheers

SPRUCE

 

[esquire]

I received one of these a few weeks ago as well. I have done 40 nights this year with ICH (mainly CP/IC).

Nice gesture , however would have also preferred some changes to the program to bring it in line with the other large hotel chains.

Maybe they should ask their top 1%ers how the program could be improved for example:

• Points for $ spent at IC, rather than a stay (which means I usually only ever stay one night...). This is a major fault of the program where Hyatt and Hilton win out. Never understood this one...
• Consistency for room upgrades... and less excuses with "based on availability". Like other chains, offer something else if they are not available like points or b'fast or welcome amenity etc
• Club lounge access at ICH and CP (that have them)
• The ability to easily use points to upgrade to suites etc
• Being treated like a loyal customer when using points or promotions on free stays - elite members at not entitled to any benefits or recognition on these stays.
• Offer their top 1%ers free membership of the Ambassador program.

Aside, I have also received letters from Hyatt GoldPassport thanking me for my continual support (40+ nights) along with free upgrade certificates and $100US discount vouchers for future stays... another idea for top PC members?

 

[NYCguy]

QF would never do such a thing!!

I'm pretty sure that they do... I'm pretty sure I read it here!

 

[Hawkeye]

I'm pretty sure that they do... I'm pretty sure I read it here!

Indeedy they do. The first edition of AIR magazine was accompanied by a cover letter thanking the recipients for their continued patronage, and outlined that you were in the top 1% of FF's.

It has been previously mentioned that the ultra FF's received Xmas pressies such as a couple of bottles of Grange, and the like. That was some years ago under a previous regime, however.

 

[markh]

I received one of these a few weeks ago as well. I have done 40 nights this year with ICH (mainly CP/IC).

Nice gesture , however would have also preferred some changes to the program to bring it in line with the other large hotel chains.

Maybe they should ask their top 1%ers how the program could be improved for example:

• Points for $ spent at IC, rather than a stay (which means I usually only ever stay one night...). This is a major fault of the program where Hyatt and Hilton win out. Never understood this one...
• Consistency for room upgrades... and less excuses with "based on availability". Like other chains, offer something else if they are not available like points or b'fast or welcome amenity etc
• Club lounge access at ICH and CP (that have them)
• The ability to easily use points to upgrade to suites etc
• Being treated like a loyal customer when using points or promotions on free stays - elite members at not entitled to any benefits or recognition on these stays.
• Offer their top 1%ers free membership of the Ambassador program.

Aside, I have also received letters from Hyatt GoldPassport thanking me for my continual support (40+ nights) along with free upgrade certificates and $100US discount vouchers for future stays... another idea for top PC members?

Yeah, great points ! You don't seem to get anything for being in their top 1% except for the letter - like the idea of another category of membership - with consistent benefits like esquire's ideas ...

 

[markis10]

Its pretty easy to forget that there are two programs under the same umbrella, and that their hotel chains cover a range of catergories. free ambassador has been offered for the last two years, all you had to do is 3 nights at an IC.

 

[markh]

Its pretty easy to forget that there are two programs under the same umbrella, and that their hotel chains cover a range of catergories. free ambassador has been offered for the last two years, all you had to do is 3 nights at an IC.

My Priority Club Rewards Platinum Elite card (blue & silver card) expired a month ago and I have not received a new one, so I went to request a new one and clicked on the "Print Member Card" button and it only gave me the Intercontinental Ambassador grey card ...

I would still like to have a Priority Club card as the Intercontinental card is not recognised at Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza etc ...

EDIT: Just looked at my new IC Royal Ambassador card I got a month ago and on the back it has the Priority Club Rewards logo and a note "As a Royal Ambassador you will also enjoy all the benefits of a Priority Club Rewards Platinum Elite member .... "

 

[smart1999]

Yep, I got the same letter in the mail a few weeks ago. Nice touch and I'll keep it for a rainy day

Don't think I'll renew my RA status this year. Didn't really make much use of it anyway as most my stays were at CPs and HIs in Australia. Only leisure IC stays which were usually at SYD IC.

 

[markis10]

Yep, I got the same letter in the mail a few weeks ago. Nice touch and I'll keep it for a rainy day

Don't think I'll renew my RA status this year. .

You dont get the option to renew as a Royal Ambassador, its done by ICH at their discretion if you meet their criteria for no charge, perhaps you meant Ambassador which comes at a cost? I have certainly found myself staying at more Intercontinental hotels after making RA, the extra $20 or so it costs over a CP or HI after you take advantage of PP discounts is absorbed by the upgrade to club and the free mini bar, love the Moet in Syd!

 

[smart1999]

You dont get the option to renew as a Royal Ambassador, its done by ICH at their discretion if you meet their criteria for no charge, perhaps you meant Ambassador which comes at a cost? I have certainly found myself staying at more Intercontinental hotels after making RA, the extra $20 or so it costs over a CP or HI after you take advantage of PP discounts is absorbed by the upgrade to club and the free mini bar, love the Moet in Syd!

No, I meant Royal Ambassador. What I meant was that I won't be staying as often in the next 10 months to renew my RA status. I had over 60 nights last year but don't think I'll be close to that by next July.

Well, most of the CPs and HIs are already over $200/night, so I'll have a hard time to justify the additional expense of an IC to my company. They'd rather pay another $30 for breakfast but if I stayed at a more expensive hotel I would get in trouble.