I wanted to do 2 BRG claims. It seems that for both hotels you have to pay a deposit, even though I'm booking a flexible rate. Per T&C you can cancel the booking anytime, before arrival, but a deposit is still demanded. You get this back of course when you cancel the booking.

Last week I tried this for Le Meridien Ile Maurice. Which was almost at 100%, which meant the deposit would be $3300. Now I'm looking at The Equinox in Vermont, which is only $390 deposit but still. It means a lot of hassle if you make 2/3 bookings and make BRG's. If they are not granted for any reason, you have to cancel the bookings and now wait and see how long it takes for a deposit to me put back on your creditcard. At least for the Le Meridien it made me not even to try to do the BRG.

I'm thinking this a way to make it less appealing to actually make BRG claims.