Jul 8, 2013, 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
Apr 19, 2015, 11:34 pm
#6766
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Antwerp
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 166
Edit: the 10% mentioned in IHG's rate details is probably VAT, which according to European laws should also be included in the third party rate. If no second tax percentage is mentioned in the rate details, then it is safe to asume there is NO applicable city tax. In any case I never encountered a European hotel reservation where 10% was charged, this would be outragous!
If neither IHG, nor the third party website mention city tax it shouldn't be an obstacle for getting a BPG approved, but I would never take the risk with an unrefundable rate.
Last edited by Stealthmode; Apr 20, 2015 at 2:10 am
Apr 20, 2015, 1:35 am
#6767
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
I'm not sure if city tax is included in IHG's website either - last time we stayed at HI Hamburg we didn't know that there is a EUR 3 tourism tax collected at check-out (it wasn't mentioned at all at booking/check-in). This happened to us at HIE Baden Baden too.
Apr 20, 2015, 5:12 am
#6768
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,083
If the 3rd party website has a lower rate on a "standard" room, but IHG doesn't have standard rooms for sale (the lowest rate on the deluxe room is higher than the other website), will the best price guarantee NOT apply because the room types don't match? Even though the rate on the 3rd party website is lower than anything else on IHG.com?
Apr 20, 2015, 5:39 am
#6769
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 77
Recently my claim in Paris was rejected due to the city tax not included in competitor rate, but included in IHG rate. On the other hand my recent stay booked on ihg.com in Sofia did not include city tax in the rate
Apr 21, 2015, 2:44 am
#6770
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: UA Premier Gold, M&S Gold, Topbonus Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 19
Sent in claim right after my booking, and also for 2 other sites at the 18hr mark. 48 hours later, no reply from IHG. Emailed them, and they claimed that none was received.
Any possible resolution to this matter?
Any possible resolution to this matter?
Apr 21, 2015, 3:39 am
#6771
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LUX
Programs: IHG Pl. Amb / Accor Gold / Hilton Gold /FB Gold / M&M SEN
Posts: 253
Sent a claim last night (Europe time zone), confirmation in mailbox at breakfast. Approved in under 8 hours. Difference between booking sites was quite substantial though.
Apr 21, 2015, 5:01 am
#6772
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
Does anyone have experience with cancelling a confirmed BRG reservation that was originally booked at a non-refundable rate? I imagine I'd be charged the original room rate, but perhaps the hotel has some flexibility in cancelling the reservation without penalty since it would otherwise cost them if I actually do stay?
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Apr 21, 2015, 8:03 am
#6773
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Does anyone have experience with cancelling a confirmed BRG reservation that was originally booked at a non-refundable rate? I imagine I'd be charged the original room rate, but perhaps the hotel has some flexibility in cancelling the reservation without penalty since it would otherwise cost them if I actually do stay?
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Apr 21, 2015, 3:59 pm
#6774
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
-FlyerBeek
Apr 22, 2015, 4:24 am
#6775
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 211
In my experience, whenever I've submitted a claim Saturday morning, they are never received. Glitch? Mass delete? who knows. But it is very consistent to not be a coincidence for me.
Apr 22, 2015, 5:32 am
#6776
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,083
The 3rd party website has a lower rate on a "Standard room". The hotel does not have a room type that is called that... apparently both superior (and possibly deluxe) rooms are considered standard. Is there any chance the BRG will work or will they deny based on the fact that the room type names are different?
Apr 22, 2015, 7:57 am
#6777
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The 3rd party website has a lower rate on a "Standard room". The hotel does not have a room type that is called that... apparently both superior (and possibly deluxe) rooms are considered standard. Is there any chance the BRG will work or will they deny based on the fact that the room type names are different?
IHG seem to use "standard room" to mean something like "run of the house" - i.e. the exact type and configuration of room will be allocated on arrival. So (from the BRG teams view) you probably can't compare a specified room type with a standard one.
I'd love to be proved wrong, but .....
Apr 22, 2015, 1:15 pm
#6778
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond
Posts: 947
i had a brg approved to day for the weekend at IC Park Lane and the description on the competing website was "standard room" whilst I had booked the "classic room" on IHG.
Apr 23, 2015, 4:48 am
#6779
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,083
Claim denied because the reservation was not made online, but on the phone, by calling the reservations center. Seriously?
Last edited by DealAddict; Apr 23, 2015 at 4:54 am
Apr 23, 2015, 7:58 am
#6780
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25
I think I have found a BRG chance but I would appreciate some advice. The IHG lists the rates in euros and priceline has the lower rate in dollars. I don't think IHG converts the price into dollars until the final billing screen. Does that count as billed in dollars? Or is it billed in euros since the main search page shows the price in euros? Would using the currency convert feature matter or would I still have the same issue because the main page shows euros?
Thanks
Thanks