Choice Hotels appears to have changed its BRG policy, which may be why so many are reporting slow response to submissions.
Henceforth US customers who submit a successful claim will receive the lower rate found and a $50 Vanilla Visa card instead of a free room on the first night. International customers will continue to receive the lower rate plus the first night. Note also that the $50 Vanilla Visa reward card is valid only in the United States.
Check it out:
https://www.choicehotels.com/deals/best-rate
Full terms and conditions at :
https://www.choicehotels.com/legal/best-rate-rules
There doesn't seem to be any information about when or how the $50 Visa is awarded. US customers will be able to collect reward pts on their rate at checkout.
One thing I find a bit disconcerting is that apparently rates for Seniors and AAA auto club members are now also considered for comparison in a claim.
INew rules state: "The Lowest Price Guarantee applies to the following rates: Best Available Rate, Advance Purchase, Choice Privileges membership, promotions, AAA, and Senior/AARP."
So I guess if you have a listed an Auto Club on your membership registration, you would be expected to book that rate (which has the same terms as the Best Available rate - pay at hotel not in advance, for instance). That would not seem right. Also I can't see how the customer service reps could determine which customers are AAA members or aged over 60 without it being an invasion of privacy laws.
That's my news for today. Glad to be a Canadian
