It’s no secret that one of the easiest ways to earn IHG Platinum status is by purchasing an InterContinental Ambassador Membership.

Recently, IHG announced a price increase for the program. However, you can still get it at the old price of $200 until October 1st, 2024. Thereafter, the price will rise to $225—not a huge jump.

The InterContinental Ambassador membership offers several benefits, including an instant upgrade to IHG Platinum status. If you stay at InterContinental properties for even 2 or 3 nights a year, the membership is a no-brainer.

But today we’re answering a reader’s question: is it worth paying for the Ambassador membership just for the Platinum status?

Let’s break down the key benefits of IHG Platinum Elite Status and see if it’s worth your money. You can view the complete list of benefits here.

60% Bonus Points

IHG Platinum status gets you 60% bonus points per stay. At most IHG hotels, you earn 10 points per USD spent. With platinum status, you’ll earn an extra 6 points per USD, totaling 16 points per USD.

Considering that 1,000 IHG points are worth around $7:

• To recover your $200 fee, you’d need to earn an extra 28,000 points.
• That’s equivalent to spending about $4,700 at IHG hotels in a year.

Even if you only recover part of that amount through bonus points, there are other perks to make up for it.

Upgrades for Elites

Complimentary upgrades are often the biggest draw for retaining elite status with any hotel loyalty program. While upgrades might be less common in the U.S., they’re more frequent at international locations.

With IHG Platinum Elite Status:

• You have better chances of getting complimentary upgrades outside the U.S., especially in Asia.
• Upgrades can include suites worth $100 or more per night.

In my experience, I’ve seen an average upgrade rate of about 40% outside the U.S., with occasional suite upgrades even on points bookings.

Award Booking Discounts

Every few months, IHG offers discounts (usually around 15%) on points and cash bookings exclusively for members with IHG credit cards, and members with Platinum or Diamond elite status.

We cover these promotions here as and when they are available. Consider subscribing to our newsletter, or follow our Telegram Channel to stay updated.

Welcome Amenity

Platinum elite members receive a welcome amenity at each stay:

• This could be raid-the-bar credit (Kimpton), snacks, drink vouchers for two people, or bonus points (250/500).

Since the amenity is only offered once per stay, this benefit adds more value if you have multiple short stays throughout the year.

Early Check-in and Late Check-out

All IHG Elite members qualify for late check-out until 2 pm (subject to availability). In addition, Platinum and Diamond Elite members also qualify for early check-in.

For international travelers arriving early or departing late, this can be invaluable—I’ve checked into a room as early as 7:30 am several times!

On Road to Diamond

If you’re aiming for Diamond elite status with IHG, it is worth starting with a Platinum status for $200.

The reason is pretty simple. You are anyway going to spend a good amount of money (or points) with IHG hotels. Why not collect 60% extra points, occasional upgrades, and welcome amenities on the way?

Bottom Line.

Although IHG Platinum Elite status is relatively easy to obtain, it still provides decent value.

Having said that, in case your stays with IHG are limited, paying $200 (or $225) for the status might not be worthwhile.

As a general guideline, if you plan to spend $2,000 or more at IHG hotels in a year, with a few stays outside the US, paying for the status would be justified.

If you are planning to spend $4500 or more at IHG hotels in a year, just take the membership.

In conclusion, assess your travel plans and spending habits before making your decision!