EXPIRED - How you can extend IHG Diamond Status through 2023 without staying a single night

If you took advantage of the now dead IHG Status Challenge last month, there are many people who have reported having their Diamond Status extended through December 31st 2023 just by paying to join the InterContinental Ambassador Program. This is not a published guarantee, but many people have confirmed that their status was instantly extended after joining the Ambassador Program. While it costs $200 or 40,000 IHG points to join the Ambassador program, in exchange you get guaranteed upgrades at all InterContinental properties, a free weekend award night (this could easily pay for itself), and right now, if you stay 2 nights before 1/31/23, you will also receive 20,000 bonus points. These points are worth at least $100, so if you have a stay planned at a InterContinental property before the end of the year, this could make this offer even better.

I decided to pay for the Ambassador Program to be able to give IHG Diamond a try for the next year and see for myself if the new program is worthwhile. Perhaps it could be used for status matches to other programs like I have used my Choice Diamond Status, my Caesars Diamond Status, and Hilton Gold Status in the past. I have a stay coming up at a the Kimpton Angler's in South Beach over Thanksgiving and will report back on any perks coming from joining the Ambassador program as well as whether the Kimpton award night stay qualifies as a qualifying stay for the 20,000 bonus points.

Paying $200 to extend a hotel status certainly is not for everyone, but with free breakfast, guaranteed late checkout, and early check in(subject to availability), using these perks only a few times in a year will easily be worth more than $200. Let us know if you decide to give the Ambassador program a try and what your experience is with it.