Jul 8, 13, 11:43 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
Recent discussion (After January 01, 2016) could be found in this thread.
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
Jul 22, 13, 5:24 pm
#4321
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,070
Originally Posted by mgn2000
HI,
I have a BRG approved for Feb 1 2014. Can I reserve rooms for Feb 2,3,4 as Rewards nights at the same Hotel ??
If I did this, will they cancel my BRG ??
I have a BRG approved for Feb 1 2014. Can I reserve rooms for Feb 2,3,4 as Rewards nights at the same Hotel ??
If I did this, will they cancel my BRG ??
Jul 22, 13, 5:27 pm
#4322
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by mgn2000
HI,
I have a BRG approved for Feb 1 2014. Can I reserve rooms for Feb 2,3,4 as Rewards nights at the same Hotel ??
If I did this, will they cancel my BRG ??
I have a BRG approved for Feb 1 2014. Can I reserve rooms for Feb 2,3,4 as Rewards nights at the same Hotel ??
If I did this, will they cancel my BRG ??
Jul 23, 13, 4:27 am
#4323
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,373
On the rather large BRG check in the mail today, the check ended up being about USD $20 less than the amount I paid on my credit card this time.
Anyway, I e-mailed them and they said if I provided a copy of the charge with the actually charged amount, they would send me another check for the difference.
Anyway, I e-mailed them and they said if I provided a copy of the charge with the actually charged amount, they would send me another check for the difference.
Jul 23, 13, 10:11 am
#4324
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,271
I managed to find a lower rate for the Crown Plaza Causeway Bay Hong Kong. Rate was found at Prestigia.com for €238, whereas the rate at the IHG website is €248.
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
Jul 23, 13, 10:19 am
#4325
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,848
Originally Posted by LH4116
I managed to find a lower rate for the Crown Plaza Causeway Bay Hong Kong. Rate was found at Prestigia.com for €238, whereas the rate at the IHG website is €248.
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
The rule of thumb is this: with the exception of weird countries with currencies that nobody cares about (like Russia
), just assume that you must find a competing rate in that country's currency.
Jul 23, 13, 12:24 pm
#4326
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim
..., argue that "in a few hours, your own will become nonref, would you like me to waste everybody's time by resubmitting in three hours from now?"
This worked for me.
This worked for me.
But since you are suggesting what to do....and used that argument before...I wonder what was the date of arrival vs cancellation date.
PS I just checked - cancellation is 3 days before arrival. What is the minimum number of days required before stay to do a BRG claim?
Jul 23, 13, 12:31 pm
#4327
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,848
Originally Posted by ellylex
Whether I don't follow your logic, or you misunderstood me. The rate can be cancelled let's say up to the day of arrival: one - till 12 pm, IHG - till 6 pm. I don't think you can do BRG on the day of arrival plus who knows what the price will be on that day.
But since you are suggesting what to do....and used that argument before...I wonder what was the date of arrival vs cancellation date.
But since you are suggesting what to do....and used that argument before...I wonder what was the date of arrival vs cancellation date.
- I needed to be in the city on the 3rd
- IHG.com's fully flex rate allowed cancellation up to 6pm on the 2nd
- competing website was up to 6pm on the 1st
- I booked on the 2nd at noon and got denied at 2pm based on the cancellation policy difference
- I replied to the email and said look, if the only reason is cancellation policy, I'll go and wait 3 hours and resubmit again, let's all go waste our time
- got approved within about an hour
(and before 6pm, surprisingly).
Jul 23, 13, 12:51 pm
#4328
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: HAM
Programs: A few
Posts: 213
A very wonderful page for competing rates changed their T&C quietly last night, effectively killing all possibilities to use it for BRGs. Many of us probably used it for Great Britain and much of Europe.
One of their different-language versions still uses the old T&C, so I suggest claiming until they translated them to be used there as well...
Oh well - off to new ventures!
One of their different-language versions still uses the old T&C, so I suggest claiming until they translated them to be used there as well...
Oh well - off to new ventures!
Jul 23, 13, 12:54 pm
#4329
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,848
Which one, and changed how? (esp considering it can't be used anymore, hehe)
Jul 23, 13, 1:10 pm
#4330
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
Conditions for Matching Rooms
Conditions for Matching Rooms
Matching Rooms. The Best Price Guarantee is available only for the exact same room type. For example, if you book a king bed with a sofa bed room type on an IHG website, and are comparing it to a non-IHG website, you must find a price with the same king bed with sofa bed room type on the other website.
IHG Website
STANDARD ROOM
View Description
SFr. 120.00 CHF
Nightly Rate
ROOM DESCRIPTION:
STANDARD ROOM
WHEN YOU ARRIVE WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MEET YOUR ROOM AND BED TYPE PREFERENCES THESE ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED STANDARD ROOMS HAVE A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 2 GUESTS
3rd Party Website
Double Room
Capacity:
2 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) Room 114 CHF /night
Best Price 114 CHF
(1 Nights)
Match or no Match?
Will they match this or is there some small print which they want to deny my claim?
Matching Rooms. The Best Price Guarantee is available only for the exact same room type. For example, if you book a king bed with a sofa bed room type on an IHG website, and are comparing it to a non-IHG website, you must find a price with the same king bed with sofa bed room type on the other website.
IHG Website
STANDARD ROOM
View Description
SFr. 120.00 CHF
Nightly Rate
ROOM DESCRIPTION:
STANDARD ROOM
WHEN YOU ARRIVE WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MEET YOUR ROOM AND BED TYPE PREFERENCES THESE ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED STANDARD ROOMS HAVE A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 2 GUESTS
3rd Party Website
Double Room
Capacity:
2 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) Room 114 CHF /night
Best Price 114 CHF
(1 Nights)
Match or no Match?
Will they match this or is there some small print which they want to deny my claim?
Jul 23, 13, 2:29 pm
#4331
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by LH4116
I managed to find a lower rate for the Crown Plaza Causeway Bay Hong Kong. Rate was found at Prestigia.com for €238, whereas the rate at the IHG website is €248.
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
Now despite selecting € as my currency, the IHG website shows the rate in the local currency upon checkout. Will I still be able to get my BRG through or is it a no-go?
I tried for Uk and got denied and the BRG agent sent me this for justification.
Jul 23, 13, 2:34 pm
#4332
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by GmK
A very wonderful page for competing rates changed their T&C quietly last night, effectively killing all possibilities to use it for BRGs. Many of us probably used it for Great Britain and much of Europe.
One of their different-language versions still uses the old T&C, so I suggest claiming until they translated them to be used there as well...
Oh well - off to new ventures!
One of their different-language versions still uses the old T&C, so I suggest claiming until they translated them to be used there as well...
Oh well - off to new ventures!
Jul 23, 13, 2:36 pm
#4333
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: HAM
Programs: A few
Posts: 213
Since when is the BRG Desk Hotline not 24/7 anymore? Am currently getting a message that the business hours of the lowest rate guarantee desk are 9am - 9pm, Monday to Friday... weird.
EDIT: Seems they randomly forward your call to that message. Oh well. Never heard it before, so got confused. After the 7th attempt I got a regular agent again.
EDIT: Seems they randomly forward your call to that message. Oh well. Never heard it before, so got confused. After the 7th attempt I got a regular agent again.
Last edited by GmK; Jul 23, 13 at 2:50 pm
Jul 23, 13, 2:47 pm
#4334
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
Originally Posted by GmK
Since when is the BRG Desk Hotline not 24/7 anymore? Am currently getting a message that the business hours are 9am - 9pm... weird.
Jul 23, 13, 8:11 pm
#4335
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 29
IHG always claims to have the lowest available price right? so when I can find a cheaper rate on a third party website that excludes breakfast for $199 but on IHG.com the cheapest available rate is $239 with breakfast, should I be eligible for a free night? I understand that the rooms must be 'apples-to-apples' but If they aren't offering the cheaper rate without the breakfast, it defeats the whole purpose of their BRG promise:
Best Price Guarantee: Every hotel reservation booked through an IHG web site is guaranteed to have the lowest room price (room rate) or total room cost (including all taxes and fees) publicly available on the Internet or IHG will provide the first night’s room price free and match the lower average nightly room price found for that stay for the rest of the nights of that stay
Any thoughts? can the hotel do this without breaking the T & C's?
Best Price Guarantee: Every hotel reservation booked through an IHG web site is guaranteed to have the lowest room price (room rate) or total room cost (including all taxes and fees) publicly available on the Internet or IHG will provide the first night’s room price free and match the lower average nightly room price found for that stay for the rest of the nights of that stay
Any thoughts? can the hotel do this without breaking the T & C's?
