Hotel Choice - IC vs Park
Aug 26, 2014, 2:44 am
#16
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
There are often many rates available through ANA's IHG site that aren't available through the global IHG site (e.g. the discounts given to AMC members). I assume, however, there are rate codes available that should allow the same savings/benefits to be had when booking through the global IHG site.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:04 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
Aug 26, 2014, 12:35 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: YVR
Posts: 304
First time was denied because I booked a rate through an IHG telephone rep instead of through the website (even though the rep booked me the best rate available).
So then I made a second booking using the website, but was denied because IHG quotes in JPY and getaroom quotes in USD.
Ok fair enough-- both of those rules are clear in the T&C.
Here's the best part. Let's say getaroom did quote in JPY. If I submitted a BRG claim, then the BRG people would magically pull up the anaihghotels.co.jp website and say "Since the lower rate is also available on an IHG owned web site your claim won’t qualify for the Best Price Guarantee".
Funny how the BRG claim centre is quick to mention the japanese booking site, but nobody in reservations ever mentioned it to me.
This is unfortunately not an unusual phenomenon. I read both English & Jpn, and all the time I see certain packages & offers being offered only on the Jpn websites. I think it depends on the hotel, though. I've seen such price discrepancies many times at Kobe's CP. In fact, just a few months ago I alerted another FTer about how he had booked a much higher rate at one of the Associa hotels than what he would've gotten if he had used the hotel's Jpn reservation engine. I'm not sure if IHG's central reservations would have access to the same rates & promotions found through the hotel's Jpn search engine. Likewise, the local hotel staff may not have access to the internet rates, or at least they may be trained to say that they don't have such access.