Jan 1, 2015, 7:35 am
Last edit by: TravelinSperry
Signed-in FT members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost.
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG ?)
If a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or non-Starwood mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night (up to a maximum of three rooms); or (2) 2,000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay (up to a maximum of three rooms).
BRG Wiki on Flyertalk
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim with one exception if the rate difference is within 1%.
"Starwood may deny claims where the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent; provided that Starwood will not use the fact that the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent to deny such claims if the cancellation policy for the Competing Rate is more favorable to the guest than the cancellation policy for the rate on the Starwood Website."
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG (only exception is when there is no availability on the Starwood website)
• Only one claim may be submitted per reservation number (If your first claim is denied, you may submit a new claim for that reservation if you find another lower rate after you receive the denial email)
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• You can BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. In other words, if expedia is offering a room for $100 prepaid, and spg.com shows a prepaid room for $150 or a flexible room for $200, you can book the FLEXIBLE spg.com rate and BRG it against the PREPAID $100 expedia rate. And you will receive the flexible cancel terms if the BRG is approved.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation, if it is within the cancellation deadline.
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Practicalities During/After Stay
• Reconfirm your rate at check-in; normally the hotel will have the correct BRG rate in your reservation, but sometimes you will need to remind them.
• If you choose points, they will be credited after the stay; check in one week to see if they have posted. If not contact the BRG office to arrange to have them posted.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG ?)
If a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or non-Starwood mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night (up to a maximum of three rooms); or (2) 2,000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay (up to a maximum of three rooms).
BRG Wiki on Flyertalk
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim with one exception if the rate difference is within 1%.
"Starwood may deny claims where the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent; provided that Starwood will not use the fact that the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent to deny such claims if the cancellation policy for the Competing Rate is more favorable to the guest than the cancellation policy for the rate on the Starwood Website."
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG (only exception is when there is no availability on the Starwood website)
• Only one claim may be submitted per reservation number (If your first claim is denied, you may submit a new claim for that reservation if you find another lower rate after you receive the denial email)
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• You can BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. In other words, if expedia is offering a room for $100 prepaid, and spg.com shows a prepaid room for $150 or a flexible room for $200, you can book the FLEXIBLE spg.com rate and BRG it against the PREPAID $100 expedia rate. And you will receive the flexible cancel terms if the BRG is approved.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation, if it is within the cancellation deadline.
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Practicalities During/After Stay
• Reconfirm your rate at check-in; normally the hotel will have the correct BRG rate in your reservation, but sometimes you will need to remind them.
• If you choose points, they will be credited after the stay; check in one week to see if they have posted. If not contact the BRG office to arrange to have them posted.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) 2015 : *now 20% off*; Success, failure & discussion thread
Jan 5, 2015, 11:41 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Mods please merge with the main thread, thanks.
Jan 6, 2015, 12:44 am
#17
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
20% is a game changer I must say. 
^
^
Jan 6, 2015, 1:49 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,021
I don't read the main thread normally, so actually this post has been useful to know as a headline update.
Thanks for sharing donotblink
Thanks for sharing donotblink
Jan 6, 2015, 4:16 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
Jan 6, 2015, 5:03 am
#20
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,032
Jan 6, 2015, 6:38 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
Sorry, I hadn't seen that this was already posted and only noticed it when I was filing claims. :|
Jan 6, 2015, 6:50 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
20% is welcomed news indeed.
Jan 6, 2015, 8:11 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: BA Gold, Asiana Club Dmnd (*G), AA plat, Alitalia FA, SPG Plat, Accor Plat, HGP Dmnd, HH Dmnd
Posts: 145
+1 - well done SPG
now how about increasing those starpoints as well
now how about increasing those starpoints as well
Jan 6, 2015, 9:52 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,746
Now if only they wouldn't reject mine as a matter of course, forcing me to call in and have someone look and say "oh, yeah, I guess that does qualify..."
5 times this week, same process.
5 times this week, same process.
Jan 6, 2015, 2:12 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
Jan 6, 2015, 3:16 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Titanium (LTT)
Posts: 2,272
I do not think theyre going to make it harder to approve brg claims as we (spg.com'ers and dedicated brg'ers) are not their target group or the reason why they are making it now 20%. If we were, then they would have increased the points as well.
Expedia, agoda, etc. charges as high as 25% commission per booking. So instead of giving online travel agencies that amount, theyre just giving the customer the discount by booking through spg.com. And by giving 20% off by booking through spg, then theyre enticing more customers to become members and get their loyalty.
I mean if theyre going to make it harder to approve brg claims, then people will just continue to book via expedia, etc and theyll be getting the 15-25% commission. So to the hotel, i dont think itll make a difference to them if the customer or the online agency gets the discount.
On a side note, anyone lately had successful brg claims in HKG? IME properties there are so hard to brg...
Expedia, agoda, etc. charges as high as 25% commission per booking. So instead of giving online travel agencies that amount, theyre just giving the customer the discount by booking through spg.com. And by giving 20% off by booking through spg, then theyre enticing more customers to become members and get their loyalty.
I mean if theyre going to make it harder to approve brg claims, then people will just continue to book via expedia, etc and theyll be getting the 15-25% commission. So to the hotel, i dont think itll make a difference to them if the customer or the online agency gets the discount.
On a side note, anyone lately had successful brg claims in HKG? IME properties there are so hard to brg...
Last edited by supatight80; Jan 6, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Jan 6, 2015, 5:01 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 64
Hotel Name: Le Meridien Philadelphia
Arrival Date: January 11, 2015
Number of Adults : 1
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type: Classic
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate : $137.20 (AAA Rate+Breakfast)
Other Company room provider :www.booking.com
Competing rate : $99
Actual confirmed rate: $99USD plus tax
2000 pts - expensed through work, so would take the points regardless of cost savings.
Arrival Date: January 11, 2015
Number of Adults : 1
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type: Classic
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate : $137.20 (AAA Rate+Breakfast)
Other Company room provider :www.booking.com
Competing rate : $99
Actual confirmed rate: $99USD plus tax
2000 pts - expensed through work, so would take the points regardless of cost savings.
Jan 6, 2015, 5:09 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,120
Had to make a change:
Le Meridien Etiler, Istanbul
Arrival Date: January , 2015
Departure Date: January , 2015
Room Type: Deluxe room with breakfast for one adult
Actual confirmed rate: 145.78 EUR plus VAT, per night
vs €199 on SPG
Took 2000 points
www.skoosh.co.uk
Le Meridien Etiler, Istanbul
Arrival Date: January , 2015
Departure Date: January , 2015
Room Type: Deluxe room with breakfast for one adult
Actual confirmed rate: 145.78 EUR plus VAT, per night
vs €199 on SPG
Took 2000 points
www.skoosh.co.uk
Jan 6, 2015, 6:20 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Effective today, January 5th, we have increased the BRG reward percentage to 20. This is another way we’re making Starwood channels the best place to book your stay for the most attractive rates and rewards like free wifi, which we announced last month. All claim processing will be business as usual in accordance with the new terms and conditions.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
I just used the BRG which I never really bothered to check at the 10% rate since it was so difficult to get approval for. I still had difficulty getting approval but finally did - and it was worth it at 20%. Saved just over $200 total. Lovely.
Jan 6, 2015, 6:23 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Totally agree. This is why I stopped using BRG in the past. Got one approved today although they still gave me the run around. Initially denied. Emailed back to have them re-check and they then approved. Funny they went out of there way to specifically state I was correctly denied initially (although I wasn't). Rate was avail yesterday and today as well. Yesterdays rep didn't find it - todays did. But whatever, as long as they accept it's worth it at 20%.