I recently booked a stay at IC Fiji and while looking found a rate on agoda that was around $160 FIJ per night cheaper. Which adds up over 5 nights. I tried to get the hotel to match this at time of booking as had heard instances where Ambassador benefits or points were not honoured when booked through third party sites. They said I could only book the non-refundable rate through IHG and then submit a claim after the fact. I took the punt and did this, and my claim was successful. Which meant them matching the rate and the bonus points which hit the max 40,000. So in my instance worked out, but could easily of backfired and if claim was unsuccessful.