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One of the more major benefits of the InterContinental Ambassador program just became more valuable – the free weekend night certificate that all Ambassador members are given as part of their benefits pack can now be used at Kimpton properties worldwide and, to make things even better, the Kimpton bookings are not restricted to weekends!
Use Your Ambassador Free Night At Kimpton Properties
Although InterContinental properties are part of the IHG portfolio, InterContinental Ambassador status (which you can buy) is only recognized at InterContinental properties around the world so, historically, the free weekend night certificate that the program offers has only been useable when booking InterContinental stays. Not any more.
As BaldThoughts pointed out over the weekend, when someone with InterContinental Ambassador status logs in to their account and attempts to make a booking with their Ambassador free weekend night certificate, they are now presented with the chance to book Kimpton properties as well as the InterContinental properties they’ve been able to book all along.
Here’s what I see when I search for Ambassador free night availability in Los Angeles for the weekend of 11 – 13 September:
As you can see, the city’s two InterContinental properties are offered at the top of the search results, but a whole host of Kimpton properties are offered too…including the very popular Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood.
Use Your Ambassador Free Night At Kimpton’s Midweek
The news that the InterContinental Ambassador free weekend night can be used at Kimpton properties is great news all on its own…but there’s more good news here. The free night is no longer just valid on weekends.
If I repeat the search I use above but with midweek dates, these are the results that I’m offered:
As I would have expected, the two InterContinental properties now have a message above them which states that rooms are not available to book using the Ambassador free weekend night certificate but, completely unexpectedly, all the Kimpton properties still show as being bookable.
Not only can InterContinental Ambassador free weekend night certificates be used at Kimpton properties, but they can also be used at Kimpton properties during the week.
Quick Thoughts
This is nothing short of fantastic news for members of the InterContinental Ambassador program and makes the annual fee of $200 (new members) or $150 (renewals) a lot more palatable (note: you can also buy membership for 40,000 IHG Rewards points).
The fact that the certificate is now useable at Kimpton properties worldwide means that Ambassador members have an additional 76 properties at which they can now use their free night certificates and the fact that these certificates can now be used midweek (at Kimpton properties) makes them considerably more useful and valuable.
It’s true to say that the overwhelming majority of Kimpton properties (66) are to be found in the United States (there are just 7 in Europe, 3 in the Asia-Pacific region and 1 in Central America) so this is news that’s likely to be celebrated more in North America than elsewhere, but this is still an exciting enhancement (of the good kind!) to the Ambassador program and one that makes it a lot more likely that I’ll be renewing my Ambassador status when the time comes.
Bottom Line
InterContinental Ambassador free weekend night certificates can now be used at Kimpton properties as well as at InterContinental properties worldwide. On top of this, when using the certificates at Kimpton properties, Ambassador members are no longer restricted to weekend bookings only – the certificates can be used for midweek Kimpton bookings too.
Featured Image: Kimpton Canary Hotel Santa Barbara courtesy of IHG
Currently, successful new applicants for the 
The Kimpton Seafire resort in Grand Cayman is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in. Also great for elite upgrades and the wine/cocktail hour can’t be beat as the prices for food and drink are crazy.
[…] program is looking a lot more interesting than it has for a while. First, we get the news that the InterContinetal Ambassador free night benefit can be used at Kimpton properties (and midweek) and now we’re seeing the program expanded (albeit on a trial basis) to select Regent […]
[…] Ambassador status became noticeably more valuable in the past couple of months as IHG first made the free weekend night benefit available at Kimpton properties (midweek and at weekends) and then extended InterContinental Ambassador benefits to Regent […]