Jul 8, 2013, 11:43 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
Recent discussion (After January 01, 2016) could be found in this thread.
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
May 2, 2012, 4:22 pm
#1501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,092
This trick won't work because the third-party website must use the hotel currency (MYR in your case) to quote and book in order to fulfill the BRG requirement.
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
May 2, 2012, 4:39 pm
#1502
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Programs: PC-Plat AMB
Posts: 10
This trick won't work because the third-party website must use the hotel currency (MYR in your case) to quote and book in order to fulfill the BRG requirement.
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
May 2, 2012, 4:44 pm
#1503
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Programs: PC-Plat AMB
Posts: 10
Every time I was on the phone with them they seem really friendly and helpful, they don't care in the least giving free rooms away.
Last edited by GlobalExpat; May 2, 2012 at 4:48 pm Reason: Addition
May 2, 2012, 6:12 pm
#1504
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
You might want to copy paste the url after kayak directed you, i.e. don't just type: www.xxxxx.com, instead www.xxxxx.com/xxx=loew
May 2, 2012, 6:22 pm
#1505
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
To be precise, you are changing "your location" to Malaysia but not just the currency. If you are using the US website, you will still see the words "You will be charged in US Dollar" on the page for entering travelers' information and credit card details.
Last edited by samwkchan; May 2, 2012 at 6:34 pm Reason: Updated to avoid confusion
May 2, 2012, 10:42 pm
#1506
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Programs: PC-Plat AMB
Posts: 10
Ok, that one I do know, I got a lower price once at bookings.com and on the checkout page it has: Total Price: US$ XXX.XX MYR XXX.XX the guy on the phone only cares about the local currency.
May 3, 2012, 2:26 pm
#1507
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
HTB.
May 3, 2012, 3:22 pm
#1508
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
There was one time that an agent approved my claim on phone at first, but revoked his decision some hours later by email. It was because of a service fee charged on a refundable room when refunded. The agent and I overlooked that when we were on the phone.
Luckily, I got a "backup" website selling rooms in the same hotel which satisfies the BRG. The only issue was that the "backup" website doesn't have suites but just double rooms. Eventually, I cancelled the reservation of the suite and reserved a double room for BRG. It went through smoothly and didn't affect my trip much.
May 4, 2012, 12:13 pm
#1509
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,092
Don't know, never tried that. Normally I prefer filling the online form, then call. This time I didn't bother calling because they seem to be very unfriendly when I called. I filled out the online form and got a reply in about 7 hrs or so with an approval.
May 10, 2012, 12:07 pm
#1510
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA
Posts: 814
I haven't done a BRG claim in a few months--wow has it changed.
Anyway, I am seeing a one bedroom suite rate at 3rd party sites for the IC I want, but the IC website does not show one bedroom suites at all, either AP or Flex. The highest they go is a studio suite. Do you think it would be worth it to call IC to see if there is a rate for a one bedroom suite I can book by phone? Will a reservation made by phone be OK for BRG claims?
Anyway, I am seeing a one bedroom suite rate at 3rd party sites for the IC I want, but the IC website does not show one bedroom suites at all, either AP or Flex. The highest they go is a studio suite. Do you think it would be worth it to call IC to see if there is a rate for a one bedroom suite I can book by phone? Will a reservation made by phone be OK for BRG claims?
May 11, 2012, 9:30 am
#1511
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: united 1k
Posts: 186
I called the cs and the claim is accept with a confirmation code given during the phone call.
after that no email for several days. so what do I expect to follow?
after that no email for several days. so what do I expect to follow?
May 13, 2012, 3:51 pm
#1512
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: united 1k
Posts: 186
DID a BRG last week, claim is accepted and confirmation code is given. But after that nothing happens.... what to expect ?
May 14, 2012, 4:07 am
#1513
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
Well, the hotel has to adjust the rate by accepting the claim. Then you will get another email confirming all this.
But never mind, with the claim accepted by the BRG Desk you got your free night. What might happen is that the hotel does not accept, charged the night and you then get refunded by the BRG Desk/Guest Relations.
May 14, 2012, 9:18 am
#1514
Used to be highman123
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,541
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
I just claimed and was approved for 2 rooms in the intercontinental San Francisco. It took me a while to get all parameters right but after all what a great deal. I'm a big fan of marriotts/Starwood/Radisson BRG but I think I'm switching allegiances now 
May 14, 2012, 9:39 am
#1515
Join Date: Jun 2002
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Celebrity Cruises Elite Plus
Posts: 1,259
Did you have to file a separate claim for each room? Several months ago I was denied BRG for two rooms (1 room free, 2nd room rate-match), so I booked each separately and was ultimately successful.
Congrats on your success.
