I think most of these programs are questionable. Last week, I had a Kafkaesque BRG experience with Radisson (Club Carlson).

My booked rate was $129 and I found a $90 rate at Hotels.com. A day later, they denied my claim because the Hotels.com rate had jumped to $104. Knowing that they probably would ignore screenshots, I responded by asking them to accept the claim based on the $104 rate. Eight hours later, they reply by saying that I'd have to submit a new claim.

So, that's what I did. A day later come the denial...this time because it had been over 24 hours since my initial Radisson reservation. Asinine!

I end up cancelling and rebooking, just so I can submit a new BRG claim at the $104 rate. Another day passes before I get the third rejection. This time I got denied because the Hotels.com rate now was $109. I gave up, cancelling the problem dates as well as a future reservation at that same hotel.

What made the situation even odder was that I used to be a Revenue Manager at a corporate-owned and operated Radisson. I spent several months beta-testing the software they were (mostly likely) using to deny my BRG claim.