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
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^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
Feb 2, 2024, 11:31 pm
#931
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MA, USA
Programs: Continental, BA
Posts: 200
No genesis of brg program
FYI--Priceline puts cookies on your computer that offer you special rates even if you are not signed in. You'll have to find another browser that's never been signed in--then you'll see what Hilton sees. In the past I've been able to persuade Hilton to honor the rate, but no longer. That said, Priceline DOES sometimes offer sales for a limited time. Hilton avoids those by waiting to confirm your request until after the sale is over, even if it's well past their 24 hour deadline.
Really, somebody is going to have to sue these people . . . . The bait and switch is unconscionable.
Really, somebody is going to have to sue these people . . . . The bait and switch is unconscionable.
Mar 17, 2024, 11:14 am
#932
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 170
LOL what a joke. This is more of a rant than anything. I submitted a BRG claim for a hotel in Australia. Qantas was selling the same room for the same dates, with breakfast, with a bottle of wine included, and free cancellation at a lower price than Hilton's advanced purchase nonrefundable rate.
The Hilton reps gave a number of excuses, including but not limited to:
1. Qantas requires a membership to book - false, I could continue as a guest to the final payment step.
2. Could not verify rate - false, the rate was and is still available now.
3. The usual excuses of how the rates/cancellation terms don't match.
But the most ridiculous excuse was:
Their rate comes with breakfast and a bottle of wine and ours simply comes with breakfast. It is not a match.
I'm done lol. Gonna stop wasting time on Hilton and just stay with Marriotts now.
The Hilton reps gave a number of excuses, including but not limited to:
1. Qantas requires a membership to book - false, I could continue as a guest to the final payment step.
2. Could not verify rate - false, the rate was and is still available now.
3. The usual excuses of how the rates/cancellation terms don't match.
But the most ridiculous excuse was:
Their rate comes with breakfast and a bottle of wine and ours simply comes with breakfast. It is not a match.
I'm done lol. Gonna stop wasting time on Hilton and just stay with Marriotts now.
Last edited by hkgg; Mar 17, 2024 at 11:42 am
Mar 18, 2024, 1:18 am
#933
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,358
I knew right away when I saw the bottle of wine that it would be rejected. Technically, that's different. We've said many times here that it's not about what rate is better; it's about finding the exact same rate. They don't care if you're getting a better deal elsewhere.
You might call the hotel direct and see if they'd offer it to you?
You might call the hotel direct and see if they'd offer it to you?
Mar 18, 2024, 7:43 am
#934
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 170
That’s interesting,. I guess I’ve just been too used to Marriott and SPG, where they would BRG the same or better rate (eg a third party with a more flexible cancellation policy) but I guess the rules of the game are different for Hilton. But still, it just leaves a bad taste I must say.
Mar 20, 2024, 5:12 am
#935
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
That’s interesting,. I guess I’ve just been too used to Marriott and SPG, where they would BRG the same or better rate (eg a third party with a more flexible cancellation policy) but I guess the rules of the game are different for Hilton. But still, it just leaves a bad taste I must say.
Mar 23, 2024, 5:31 pm
#936
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 119
I have typically had good look with these. Yesterday though I was trying to do a price match on the Conrad Istanbul. I got the most amazing string of reasons they couldn’t price match…
- They couldn’t verify the rate on the other website. When I asked them what rate they did see they told me they dont need to tell me.
- They told me they had a lower rate, which was unpublished.
- My favorite…the third-party website was a nonrefundable rate, but didn’t say “pay now”. The rate needs to say “pay now” even if it is nonrefundable and requires payment now
- Rate must be in local currency. When I pointed out that there rate was also not in a local currency, they said then the hotel can’t be priced matched.
Mar 28, 2024, 11:09 am
#938
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 21
Just managed to get a BRG price match to an expedia.com rate, Hotel was quoting around $450 per night, it was on Expedia for $308, they matched and lowered to $240. Pretty nice result. Did this by calling the diamond line and insisting to be put through to the BRG team. The first two times they just tried to fob me off.
Apr 14, 2024, 12:35 pm
#939
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
Had been looking at a hotel booking and found a rate on super.com that was a fair bit lower than the rates direct from Hilton. Submitted a price match claim, they acknowledged the cheaper rate, but said it wasn't eligible because you had to enter a phone number to book the rate. That is the most pedantic and disingenuous reasoning I've seen to deny a claim when a 3P price is actually lower.
Apr 15, 2024, 4:25 am
#940
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Had been looking at a hotel booking and found a rate on super.com that was a fair bit lower than the rates direct from Hilton. Submitted a price match claim, they acknowledged the cheaper rate, but said it wasn't eligible because you had to enter a phone number to book the rate. That is the most pedantic and disingenuous reasoning I've seen to deny a claim when a 3P price is actually lower.