Originally Posted by
land31411
If you are Platinum PC, there is the benefit of getting a room with a 72 hours advance reservation even if the IHG hotel is sold out, with few exceptions. You call the PC reservations line. You must pay the prevailing rate. Notable exception would be where the hotel in question has had all its rooms taken over by the government. One such example was here in the US after Hurricane Katrina when FEMA contracted for all rooms in certain hotels to house evacuees.
If, in addition to being Platinum PC, you are a Royal Ambassador, this benefit is available for IC hotels with but 24 hours advance reservation by contacting the Amassador reservations number. To be "guaranteed" you must call before noon local time the day before arrival at the intended property.
So if a room does become available, I'm sure most hotels will hit you with a rate that involves a cancellation fee or is non-refundable.
Plats/RAs who have requested rooms and booked them under the 72hr guarantee - curious to know what rates were you booked under and what was the cancellation policy?
Trying to determine the level of risk involved in requesting a room in a full hotel under the guarantee. The one time I did this before, I had the advantage of being able to make a refundable reservation at a nearby ICHG property in case my 72hr availability request didn't work out. I ended up staying there when the guarantee wasn't honored and I was comped 20k points (as mentioned above).