Feb 27, 2015, 9:38 am
Last edit by: ekozie
We are trying to collate a list of the websites that Hilton's Best Rate Guarantee team consider eligible for the BRG. Please update the following wiki with you successful/rejected BRG claims.
^Successful BRG claims have been made against:
muchoviaje.com - 26/09/2016
expedia.co.uk - 26/09/2016, Jan 2018
Expedia.com (US) - 18/09/2017
Expedia.ca - 1/20/18
happyrooms.com - 30/09/2016, 25/Jan/2017, 28/Jan/2017, 27/Feb/2017, 23/July/2017
hotelscombined.com - 17/Jan/2017
priceline.com (standard booking, not a bid or express booking)- 05/Oct/2016, 15/May/2017, 22/Apr/2018, 22/Oct/18, 25/Nov/18
prestigia.com - 24/Jan/2017
orbitz.com - Dec 2017
prestigia.com - Dec 2017, January 2018
nustay.com - Feb 2020
Unauthorised Sites for BRG Claim:
roomertravel.com - 16/09/2016
prestigia.com - 27/09/2016 - 'does not instantly confirm'
hoteltravel.com - August 2016 - " there have been discrepancies in the way the website has been displaying prices recently, and we are not satisfied that the website's processes are fair and transparent."
destinia.com - 29/09/2016 - 12 EUR Administration Fee for any cancellation vs Hilton Fully Flex
Travel.AmericaExpress.co.uk - 29/09/2016 Amex Card holders only
Bedfinder.com 6/8/17 - The third party site bedfinder.com is no longer considered to be valid
skoosh.com - denied 10//4/18
BRG claims on non-refundable rates are a gamble at best. Hilton can ask 3rd party sites to remove rates when they "sell unbundled wholesale rates", and screenshots are no longer sufficient proof. You will end up with the non-refundable rate booked, if the rate is gone when your claim is being reviewed.
On 18 November 2014 (see post #1261 of the archived thread), the HHonorsRepresentative listed 15 third-party websites that were 'no longer authorized to distribute our hotels’ static rates':
However, on 19 December 2014 (see post #3 of this thread), the HHonorsRepresentative announced a change of policy, stating that:
The HonorsRepresentative has not issued any subsequent statement suggesting another change of policy and a return to the previous 'blacklist'.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the late 2014/2015 BRG thread - for the original thread please check here
Hilton Best Rate Guarantee, or BRG: The Definitive Thread
Thanks!
Squeakr
for the HH Mod Team of squeakr, Canarsie and Kiwi Flyer
--------
^Successful BRG claims have been made against:
muchoviaje.com - 26/09/2016
expedia.co.uk - 26/09/2016, Jan 2018
Expedia.com (US) - 18/09/2017
Expedia.ca - 1/20/18
happyrooms.com - 30/09/2016, 25/Jan/2017, 28/Jan/2017, 27/Feb/2017, 23/July/2017
hotelscombined.com - 17/Jan/2017
priceline.com (standard booking, not a bid or express booking)- 05/Oct/2016, 15/May/2017, 22/Apr/2018, 22/Oct/18, 25/Nov/18
prestigia.com - 24/Jan/2017
orbitz.com - Dec 2017
prestigia.com - Dec 2017, January 2018
nustay.com - Feb 2020
Unauthorised Sites for BRG Claim:roomertravel.com - 16/09/2016
prestigia.com - 27/09/2016 - 'does not instantly confirm'
hoteltravel.com - August 2016 - " there have been discrepancies in the way the website has been displaying prices recently, and we are not satisfied that the website's processes are fair and transparent."
destinia.com - 29/09/2016 - 12 EUR Administration Fee for any cancellation vs Hilton Fully Flex
Travel.AmericaExpress.co.uk - 29/09/2016 Amex Card holders only
Bedfinder.com 6/8/17 - The third party site bedfinder.com is no longer considered to be valid
skoosh.com - denied 10//4/18
BRG claims on non-refundable rates are a gamble at best. Hilton can ask 3rd party sites to remove rates when they "sell unbundled wholesale rates", and screenshots are no longer sufficient proof. You will end up with the non-refundable rate booked, if the rate is gone when your claim is being reviewed.
On 18 November 2014 (see post #1261 of the archived thread), the HHonorsRepresentative listed 15 third-party websites that were 'no longer authorized to distribute our hotels’ static rates':
- Alpharooms.com
- Amoma.com
- Cleartrip.com
- Despegar
- Elvoline
- Galahotels
- Hotelpronto.com
- Jumbotours
- LMT.com
- Secretescapes
- Simplytravel.de
- TravelRepublic
- Wego
- Worldwideholidays.com.au
However, on 19 December 2014 (see post #3 of this thread), the HHonorsRepresentative announced a change of policy, stating that:
Moving forward, we will approve claims from these sites as long as the offered rates meet the other BRG requirements we have in place, as we recognize that this is in the best interest of our members.
The Best Rate Guarantee exists so that our guests feel confident going to Hilton Worldwide channels to find the best rates that we offer. We strive for pricing accuracy in all our channels, and the BRG helps identify when that is not the case.
The Best Rate Guarantee exists so that our guests feel confident going to Hilton Worldwide channels to find the best rates that we offer. We strive for pricing accuracy in all our channels, and the BRG helps identify when that is not the case.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the late 2014/2015 BRG thread - for the original thread please check here
Hilton Best Rate Guarantee, or BRG: The Definitive Thread
Thanks!
Squeakr
for the HH Mod Team of squeakr, Canarsie and Kiwi Flyer
--------
Hilton Best Rate Guarantee or BRG
Mar 16, 2022, 7:03 pm
#587
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2020
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,010
BRG is a struggle, HUCA for the right Hilton Agent
Took about a total of 30 minutes to make 4 different phone calls to the Diamond desk to make a successful BRG claim
Price matched to the OTA which was offering the rate $90 lower each night. Total saved was about $550. Calling them is like a game of blind dating - you can tell right off the start of the phone call if the agent is ready to give you a hard time or putting the favors on your side.
Some things that helped me: use archive.org on the website you want the price to match to. It saves the website page so you can use it for backup. 4th call to the line paired me with a really helpful agent who knew exactly what I was doing and mentioned you have to be adamant about brg calls. GL
Price matched to the OTA which was offering the rate $90 lower each night. Total saved was about $550. Calling them is like a game of blind dating - you can tell right off the start of the phone call if the agent is ready to give you a hard time or putting the favors on your side.
Some things that helped me: use archive.org on the website you want the price to match to. It saves the website page so you can use it for backup. 4th call to the line paired me with a really helpful agent who knew exactly what I was doing and mentioned you have to be adamant about brg calls. GL
Mar 18, 2022, 8:46 pm
#588
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
Update: My claim was denied via email three times. I supplied screen shots, facts and still did not get the BRG. In the future I will call rather than deal with the ........ reasons I got denied via email.
Mar 20, 2022, 2:10 pm
#589
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 16
Submitted BRG online on March 15, received denial on March 18th. Just called today, and was successful. Called the regular reservation line, got transferred to price match department. Rep was very nice, took about 30 min total time. There was no push back, she just kept telling me to be patient and she's working on it. This is my first time price matching.
Hampton Inn Montreal Downtown via expedia.ca
Hampton Inn Montreal Downtown via expedia.ca
Mar 27, 2022, 6:53 am
#590
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SJO/MGA
Programs: bits of shiny plastic w/ varied utility
Posts: 383
BRG process BROKEN
I've had really good luck with BRGs but that appears to be a thing of the past. Two recent experiences:
Submitted a claim on the new form. Instead of receiving a response later the same day, it took three days and I'd already cancelled switching the stay to Hyatt.
Submitted a claim. Response about 80 hours later that room type unavailable on hotels dot com so claim denied. Replied with time stamped screenshots. Now on day 4 with no response. Back to Hyatt.
That's 39 nites lost to Hyatt in two months!
Submitted a claim on the new form. Instead of receiving a response later the same day, it took three days and I'd already cancelled switching the stay to Hyatt.
Submitted a claim. Response about 80 hours later that room type unavailable on hotels dot com so claim denied. Replied with time stamped screenshots. Now on day 4 with no response. Back to Hyatt.
That's 39 nites lost to Hyatt in two months!
Mar 27, 2022, 8:19 am
#591
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,053
That's actually 39 nights that you would only have moved to Hilton PROVIDED they undercut their own prices to give you a bargain. Unless you for some strange reason prefer Hilton to Hyatt...
BRG policies have little to do with marketing these days, and less to do with attracting business. It's just a way of policing hotels and OTAs for breaking price parity rules, with people like us as the private detectives. Hilton corporate really couldn't care less what happens after you fill in the forms...
BRG policies have little to do with marketing these days, and less to do with attracting business. It's just a way of policing hotels and OTAs for breaking price parity rules, with people like us as the private detectives. Hilton corporate really couldn't care less what happens after you fill in the forms...
Mar 27, 2022, 10:35 pm
#592
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,075
Did a BRG for the Hilton Olympia Kensington London Original Rate was $145 got it down to $105 after seeing lower rate on TravelOcity. Filled out my request and within a day got the updated itinerary with the new price including the additional 25 percent off. I do not know why anyone would book with a third party considering I get my Gold Benefits and Breakfast for 2!
Mar 28, 2022, 1:25 pm
#593
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
That's actually 39 nights that you would only have moved to Hilton PROVIDED they undercut their own prices to give you a bargain. Unless you for some strange reason prefer Hilton to Hyatt...
BRG policies have little to do with marketing these days, and less to do with attracting business. It's just a way of policing hotels and OTAs for breaking price parity rules, with people like us as the private detectives. Hilton corporate really couldn't care less what happens after you fill in the forms...
BRG policies have little to do with marketing these days, and less to do with attracting business. It's just a way of policing hotels and OTAs for breaking price parity rules, with people like us as the private detectives. Hilton corporate really couldn't care less what happens after you fill in the forms...
Mar 28, 2022, 1:27 pm
#594
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 62
I had no issues till 2022 rolled around as far as price match guarantee claims. Now all of a sudden in the new year it takes days for them to respond to the form claim and it has been a denial every time. Makes no sense since comparing the screenshots I submit after the denial to ones I have submitted over the past few years, nothing has changed.
Mar 28, 2022, 2:08 pm
#595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,053
It's an empty threat because all chains have scams as BRG policies and OTAs don't give you points or elite benefits. There's no reason to be upset at Hilton in particular... You definitely didn't get those 39 nights BRGd at Hyatt...
Mar 30, 2022, 4:40 am
#597
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,645
No, but I'd be more inclined to book wherever the rate is lower, whether that would be on an OTA, or an equivalent other brand property.
Apr 3, 2022, 11:41 am
#598
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SVG
Posts: 1,172
Needed 2 attempts to get this approved, last weekend the response was too slow and the competing rate (hotels.com) was no longer available. It reappeared this weekend so I submitted a new claim, approved in under 24 hours.
The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton, QUEEN GUEST ROOM, 4 nights
Hilton Semi-Flex rate: 1122 GBP incl. tax
Matched Rate: 655 GBP + tax
Rate After 25% Discount: 490 GBP incl. tax
I have also noted that all the responses now end up in my spam folder, so need to monitor for responses...
The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton, QUEEN GUEST ROOM, 4 nights
Hilton Semi-Flex rate: 1122 GBP incl. tax
Matched Rate: 655 GBP + tax
Rate After 25% Discount: 490 GBP incl. tax
I have also noted that all the responses now end up in my spam folder, so need to monitor for responses...
Apr 5, 2022, 11:47 pm
#599
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
Needed 2 attempts to get this approved, last weekend the response was too slow and the competing rate (hotels.com) was no longer available. It reappeared this weekend so I submitted a new claim, approved in under 24 hours.
The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton, QUEEN GUEST ROOM, 4 nights
Hilton Semi-Flex rate: 1122 GBP incl. tax
Matched Rate: 655 GBP + tax
Rate After 25% Discount: 490 GBP incl. tax
I have also noted that all the responses now end up in my spam folder, so need to monitor for responses...
The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton, QUEEN GUEST ROOM, 4 nights
Hilton Semi-Flex rate: 1122 GBP incl. tax
Matched Rate: 655 GBP + tax
Rate After 25% Discount: 490 GBP incl. tax
I have also noted that all the responses now end up in my spam folder, so need to monitor for responses...