Six Continents Club becomes InterContinental Ambassador to bring more benefits for members of the world-renowned guest recognition programme
Dubai, UAE, 22 January 2004. InterContinental Hotels Group has introduced a new premium status to the hotel industry’s fastest-growing customer loyalty programme, Priority Club Rewards. Six Continents Club, the world-renowned guest recognition programme of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand, has become “InterContinental® Ambassador,” a new status within Priority Club Rewards which is currently welcoming more than 250,000 new members each month. The status combines the best of both programmes by continuing to provide the exclusive guest privileges of the former Six Continents Club, along with the point-earning potential and broader range of reward choices offered by the Priority Club Rewards programme.
“The two guest programmes we have been operating at InterContinental branded hotels – Six Continents Club and Priority Club Rewards each have unique features and privileges,” said Denis Johnson, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group, Middle East and Africa, where the company operates 71 InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts.
“Many of our guests are members of both programmes, and they found it difficult to manage two sets of membership numbers, two sets of membership cards, two sets of programme communications and so on. To simplify things, we’ve brought the two programmes together to give members the best of what both have to offer.”
InterContinental Ambassador members will continue to receive exclusive privileges at over 140 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts worldwide, including:
· A complimentary weekend night stay certificate upon enrollment or membership renewal (good at any InterContinental hotel or resort in the world)
· Guaranteed upgrades to a superior room
· Dedicated reservation line and check-in desk
· VIP greeting and welcome gift
· Fresh fruit and mineral water in room upon arrival
· Late checkout
· One free pay-per-view movie per stay
In addition, Ambassador members will also enjoy the full range of benefits available to Priority Club Rewards members, including:
- Immediate Elite status and generous Elite point bonuses
- Points that never expire
- 2,000 Priority Club points or 500 airline miles per stay at InterContinental hotels
- No blackout dates for reward nights
- Ability to redeem points for free hotel stays, retail certificates and brand name merchandise
Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free and available either online at www.priorityclub.com or by calling 1-888-211-9874 or at the front desk of any InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites hotel. InterContinental Ambassador status is available for an initial fee of $150 and can be renewed annually for only $100. Status can be purchased at any InterContinental hotel or resort, online at www.priorityclub.com/ambassador or by calling the Ambassador Service Center at +44 870 400 9099.
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Note to editors:
Priority Club® Rewards
Priority Club Rewards is the world's first and most global hotel loyalty programme spanning more than 3,400 hotels in nearly 100 countries. With more than 250,000 new travellers joining the programme each month, Priority Club Rewards is the fastest-growing hotel loyalty programme in the hotel industry. Membership has doubled over the last three years, to 18 million, with 15 percent of new members enrolling via the Internet in FY 2002.
Members earn their choice of points toward free hotel nights or merchandise, or earn frequent flyer miles with more than 40 domestic and international airline partners. The programme offers 10 points or 2.5 miles per U.S. dollar spent on eligible charges including room rate, food and beverage, telephone, laundry and in-room movies at Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites hotels. Members earn 2,000 points or a minimum of 500 miles per stay at InterContinental hotels.
The award-winning Priority Club Rewards programme recently captured top honors at the 15th Annual International Freddie Awards, based on responses from the world’s most frequent travellers. Among hotel loyalty programmes around the world, Priority Club Rewards placed first in Best Hotel Newsletter (Americas), Best Hotel Newsletter (International), and Best Hotel Web Site (International).
Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests enroll online at www.priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or at the front desk of any InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites hotel.
Editor’s notes:
InterContinental Hotels Group reservations worldwide can be made by phoning the following toll free numbers in Bahrain (800 880), Egypt (0800-4433322), Jordan (800-22666), Kuwait (473 2100 ext 6233), Lebanon (01 426-801 - ask operator to connect to 866 866 7556),Oman (800 777 999, Qatar (0800 971234), Saudi Arabia (800 897 1465),) and the UAE (800 4642). InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], owns, manages, leases or franchises more than 3,300 hotels and 515,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world (www.ichotelsgroup.com). The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites, and also has a controlling interest in Britvic, the second largest soft drinks manufacturer in the UK. InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and reservations capability on the Internet – www.intercontinental.com for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, www.crowneplaza.com for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, www.holiday-inn.com for Holiday Inn hotels, www.hiexpress.com for Express by Holiday Inn hotels, www.staybridge.com for Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn hotels and, for the Group’s rewards programme, www.priorityclub.com
© Press Release 2004
