@ bigguyinpasadena:

IMO Marriott corporates’ are very smart people; they know what is best for their Fortune 500 Company. From my experience, it’s preferable for my well-being, if I mind my own business and those who run these corporations mind theirs. I am also under the impression that Marriott offers deals (I don’t talk about error rates or clearly mispriced rates) to attract customers and this big chain is more than happy if these offers will be accepted.

I consider myself a very loyal Marriott customer for more than a decade; but as I not married with Marriott and Marriott is not the only fine accommodation provider on earth, I take the liberty to choose among those countless offers one that fits my travel needs best. And as I learned the hard may, I always look at fine prints as marketing language make offers more appealing as they are in reality.

One very important aspect in our society is trust. If Marriott decides - and communicates on a publicly viewable BB - that "Look No Further Rate" is combinable with EEO, than it's up to me if I take advantage of this offer. After doing my homework (!!), I don’t feel guilty to file a BRG Claim using $ 79.22/night rate from a major third party online travel agency (OTA) as a comparison rate to $ 95/night rate. My claim was accepted and as a result my LNF rate was adjusted to net $ 59.42/night. FWIW, Marriott’s (not combinable) Ebreak rate for Marriott Fullerton for the upcoming weekend is $ 67/night.

As I am not aware if you are familiar with OTA Merchant Model (commissions are between 20% and 30%) and if you see Internet as an efficient distribution of information, I take the liberty to add a short 101 on Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee Program:

• Marriott make's customers belief that one of many advantages to book a stay at Marriott branded hotels on www.marriott.com is to enjoy the lowest rates anywhere.
• As every major accommodation provider, Marriott backs this promise with it's BRG Program. I value this – on the contrary to Hiltons’ - not only most reliable but also as industries’ benchmark standard.
• As Marriott acts as a very smart company, their BRG program turns out as a win-win situation: For a 25% finding fee, Marriott receive information which accommodation provider beat their cheapest public available rates. If Marriott business partners breaches a contract they may take appropriate actions on them.
• In very rare cases, these rates will disappear after a query, but from my experience they stay alive a very long period of time. IMO it’s fair to assume – and you don’t need an Ivy League MBA to spot this – that OTA’s are not act as charities and consequently Marriott sells heavily discounted rooms to wholesaler. There must be reasons for that business approach...
• But be aware: It does not stop here: There are lower “Unpublished Rates” (e.g. opaque travel inventory & phone queries), not covered from BRG program.

If you are interested in other BRG/LNF success stories, here are one, two and three posts for your information.