Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
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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
• If a room category is available on an external website but not on Starwood, you may still make a claim. You still need to make a booking with Starwood using any other category of room - if your claim is approved the room type in the booking will be modified to match the room type you are claiming for
• 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.
• Per the FAQ, "Any questions regarding claims should be directed to [email protected] or call 1-866-500-0368." A human is available at this number beginning at 9am EST.
OTAs not eligible because they do not confirm instantly:
Special Conditions for BRG & Design Hotels
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
POSTING FORMAT
Hotel Name:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate:
Company Room Provider:
Other Company Room Provider:
Competing rate:
Comments:
Q: Are SPG benefits honored for BRG stays?
A: Yes. You should receive the same SPG elite member benefits and stay/night credit as for a normal paid stay.
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
• If a room category is available on an external website but not on Starwood, you may still make a claim. You still need to make a booking with Starwood using any other category of room - if your claim is approved the room type in the booking will be modified to match the room type you are claiming for
• 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.
• Per the FAQ, "Any questions regarding claims should be directed to [email protected] or call 1-866-500-0368." A human is available at this number beginning at 9am EST.
OTAs not eligible because they do not confirm instantly:
- AsiaWeb
- Cancelon
- Ctrip
- Elvoline
- HappyRooms
- Hoteling
- HotelsClick (Some rates on request, some instant)
- Ostrovok
- Roomertravel
- Laterooms (according to BRG team 24 Oct 2016)
Special Conditions for BRG & Design Hotels
- You may only claim against the absolute lowest rate on SPG.com, for the date(s) in question.
- The rate must be the lowest on sale on SPG.com, and is regardless of the type of room you actually want, the number of occupants, cancellation policy and the amenities provided. In all likelihood this will mean you have to use a rate for a standard room, for 1 person, non-refundable and without any amenities.
- It is not necessary for the rate on the external website to match the SPG.com rate in any way including room type and number of occupants. The only requirement for a successful BRG claim is that the rate be lower than the lowest rate on SPG.com for the date(s) in question.
- As with normal BRG claims, you need to make a booking before submitting a claim. Since this will likely be a non-refundable booking, note that you are responsible for any and all charges including cancellation charges, even if the claim is not approved.
- Amenities that are included in the external website's rate but which are not included in the Starwood rate may or may not be provided.
- You will retain the category of room booked on SPG.com, even if the external website rate submitted for the claim refers to a different category of room. This is especially pertinent in situations where the hotel continues to sell lower categories of rooms on other websites, while not making them available on SPG.com. You will then be able to book a higher category of room on SPG.com, BRG the lower rate, and retain the higher category of room while paying the lower rate.
- The BRG will be processed for a single occupant, even if the rate does not change for more than one occupant. Your initial booking should also be only for one occupant. If you require a room for more than one, indicate this in the comments section. The BRG team will verify if additional charges are required for more than one occupant and the rate will be modified accordingly.
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
POSTING FORMAT
Hotel Name:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate:
Company Room Provider:
Other Company Room Provider:
Competing rate:
Comments:
Q: Are SPG benefits honored for BRG stays?
A: Yes. You should receive the same SPG elite member benefits and stay/night credit as for a normal paid stay.
SPG Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) 2016 : Success, failure & discussion thread
#153
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 23
cheers!
#154
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Hotel Name : The St. Regis Bangkok
Date(s) : 3 nights in June 2016
Number of Adults : 2
Room Type : Deluxe room with breakfast
Starwood Rate : THB 9631.67 plus taxes per night
Competing Website : galahotels.com
Competing rate : USD 516 plus taxes per stay
Comments : Breakfast included.
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 4,085.88 THB plus taxes per night (5,107.35 THB less 20%)
The lowest rate i've ever booked at this hotel.
Date(s) : 3 nights in June 2016
Number of Adults : 2
Room Type : Deluxe room with breakfast
Starwood Rate : THB 9631.67 plus taxes per night
Competing Website : galahotels.com
Competing rate : USD 516 plus taxes per stay
Comments : Breakfast included.
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 4,085.88 THB plus taxes per night (5,107.35 THB less 20%)
The lowest rate i've ever booked at this hotel.
#155
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 heard from a reliable source that moving forward we can now book flex on SPG prior to submitting a claim.
So in regards to Design Hotels BRG rule, it's evolving. Hopefully when confirmed, we're not stuck with a pre-paid rate just in case our claim is denied :-)
EDIT: As of Feb 2016, still have to book lowest rate available at SPG prior to filing Design Hotels BRG claim
Last edited by supatight80; Feb 8, 2016 at 9:43 pm
#156
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Delta Diamond SPG Plat Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 39
Hotel Name: SLS Las Vegas, a Tribute Portfolio Resort
Arrival Date: March 8th
Departure Date: March 9th
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Story Tower Room
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: USD 152
Company Room Provider: Expedia
Competing rate: USD 66
Actual confirmed rate: $66.00 USD plus taxes and fees (I took 2K points)
With the recent "Back on the Vegas Strip" promo, I will get an extra 1k points on top. Wish I would of landed a better reward but I will take 4,000 points for $66 + a monorail pass to get anywhere worth while for the night.
Arrival Date: March 8th
Departure Date: March 9th
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Story Tower Room
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: USD 152
Company Room Provider: Expedia
Competing rate: USD 66
Actual confirmed rate: $66.00 USD plus taxes and fees (I took 2K points)
With the recent "Back on the Vegas Strip" promo, I will get an extra 1k points on top. Wish I would of landed a better reward but I will take 4,000 points for $66 + a monorail pass to get anywhere worth while for the night.
#157
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
Hotel Name: Westin Puerto Vallarta
Arrival Date: 02-14-2016
Departure Date: 02-20-2016
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Deluxe Partial Ocean View w/ breakfast
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $361,29/nt (a/i)
Company Room Provider: Other Web Site
Other Company Room Provider: xxx
Competing rate: $143,36/nt (a/i)
Comments: 20% discount. $116,03 +tax. This was approved for a higher rate despite the fact that the rate I found was available on other websites. I called into the BRG desk and was forced to resubmit. Approved a few minutes later.
Arrival Date: 02-14-2016
Departure Date: 02-20-2016
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Deluxe Partial Ocean View w/ breakfast
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $361,29/nt (a/i)
Company Room Provider: Other Web Site
Other Company Room Provider: xxx
Competing rate: $143,36/nt (a/i)
Comments: 20% discount. $116,03 +tax. This was approved for a higher rate despite the fact that the rate I found was available on other websites. I called into the BRG desk and was forced to resubmit. Approved a few minutes later.
#158
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,232
Hotel Name: The St. Regis San Francisco
Dates : 4 nights in late March 2016
Number of Adults :2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Superior, non-smoking
Starwood Rate : USD 440 per night plus taxes
Competing Website : galahotels.com
Competing rate : USD 1918 per stay, taxes included
Comments : -
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 328.99 USD plus taxes, per night (411.23 USD less 20%)
Is this a good rate at this hotel? I also have a backup (also brg) booking at the westin on union sq at much lower rate (153.57 USD plus taxes per night). stayed at the westin once and it was fine, not that bad. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Dates : 4 nights in late March 2016
Number of Adults :2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Superior, non-smoking
Starwood Rate : USD 440 per night plus taxes
Competing Website : galahotels.com
Competing rate : USD 1918 per stay, taxes included
Comments : -
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 328.99 USD plus taxes, per night (411.23 USD less 20%)
Is this a good rate at this hotel? I also have a backup (also brg) booking at the westin on union sq at much lower rate (153.57 USD plus taxes per night). stayed at the westin once and it was fine, not that bad. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by 3rdworldresident; Feb 6, 2016 at 6:00 pm
#159
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
#160
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
#161
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K 2MM / Marriott LTP
Posts: 5,071
Never BRG until a couple weeks ago and now here I go again for a stay at the Westin St. Francis. I have actually BRG the rate 3x although the latter 2 are for different room types.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Deluxe King - Tower Building
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $356.20++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD2111 ($271++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $217++.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Classic room, non-smoking: Queen Bed, Non-smoking, 150 sq ft / 14 m²
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $318++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD1809 ($232++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $185++.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Classic room, non-smoking: Queen Bed, Non-smoking, 150 sq ft / 14 m²
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $297++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD1704 ($218++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $175++.
Will end up cancelling the first 2 reservations.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Deluxe King - Tower Building
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $356.20++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD2111 ($271++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $217++.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Classic room, non-smoking: Queen Bed, Non-smoking, 150 sq ft / 14 m²
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $318++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD1809 ($232++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $185++.
Hotel Name: Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Arrival Date: February 10, 2015
Departure Date: February 15, 2015
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Classic room, non-smoking: Queen Bed, Non-smoking, 150 sq ft / 14 m²
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $297++
Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Other Company Room Provider: expedia.com.hk
Competing rate: HKD1704 ($218++)
Comments: 20%. New rate $175++.
Will end up cancelling the first 2 reservations.
#162
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 69
just got an email saying they've changed their terms and you now need a reservation before they can apply BRG and I need to re-file a claim.
Seems they are already taking on Marriott water.
Seems they are already taking on Marriott water.
#163
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
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
#165
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
It's already in the wiki, suggest you review it again.