Apr 17, 2017, 8:50 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
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
Older Thread (Prior to December 31, 2016) could be found here. The Wiki was taken from this thread.
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
Older Thread (Prior to December 31, 2016) could be found here. The Wiki was taken from this thread.
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback from January 2016
Feb 17, 2016, 1:28 pm
#181
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,598
Feb 17, 2016, 2:01 pm
#182
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,949
IHG confirmed that ONLY non refundable rates qualify if that is the lowest price even if the competing rate is refundable! All ihg booking cancelled today! Thank goodness they were refundable 
Feb 17, 2016, 2:02 pm
#183
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,949
Feb 17, 2016, 2:44 pm
#184
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 120
I've got a bunch of paid stays coming up with them that I'm not able to cancel, but if this continues I will definitely explore other programs to see what else is being offered.
Feb 17, 2016, 5:27 pm
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,405
I'm assuming that there's no "grace period" to cancel a non-refundable IHG rate?
I have a situation where a competitor (Priceline) has lower refundable and non-refundable rates than Holiday Inn on a hotel I'd like to stay at. My refundable BRG was denied because IHG's non-refundable rate is lower than Priceline's refundable rate.
Without having a way to cancel, I'm not willing to "try my luck" booking the non-refundable IHG rate and submitting a BRG for Priceline's lower non-refundable rate.
BTW, do most IHG non-refundable rates require a 2 week advance purchase? If so, that would seem to be the possible window to attempt a BRG in this situation.
I have a situation where a competitor (Priceline) has lower refundable and non-refundable rates than Holiday Inn on a hotel I'd like to stay at. My refundable BRG was denied because IHG's non-refundable rate is lower than Priceline's refundable rate.
Without having a way to cancel, I'm not willing to "try my luck" booking the non-refundable IHG rate and submitting a BRG for Priceline's lower non-refundable rate.
BTW, do most IHG non-refundable rates require a 2 week advance purchase? If so, that would seem to be the possible window to attempt a BRG in this situation.
Feb 17, 2016, 8:58 pm
#186
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
Claim denied after just 20 minutes. Booked Best Flex Rate (only available) with breakfast as the other site's lower rate had breakfast included. Denied on the basis that I had to book the lowest available rate (without breakfast). OTA with breakfast was still cheaper than IHG without breakfast but not a valid claim. This new rule is ridiculous and is completely against point 8 from their T&C imo.
Price in IHG site (with breakfast): €180
Price on other website (with breakfast): €100
This is not a small price difference!!
Only rooms with breakfast are being offered on the other site. Soon hotels will learn (if they haven't been told already) to only sell cheaper rooms to wholesalers including breakfast, to bypass the price guarantee.
Answer: DENIED. There is cheaper "Room only" on IHG site for €170. But if you book this Room Only, they say that you can't compare it to the cheaper €100 price, because it has breakfast!! Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
I guess it won't be long until someone goes to the advertizing complaints association because this is a really misleading practice they have started. I have lost respect for IHG for resorting to this. If you can't deliver your promise, you should stop advertizing it and admit you can't give the best price.
Feb 18, 2016, 6:26 am
#190
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Accor Platinum, Fairmont Platinum, Hilton Diamond Elite, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 3
Same issue with me. I booked a hotel in New York and found a lower rate on Expedia for the exact same room. BRG refused to match the rate so I cancelled it and booked a room at the Hilton for 1/2 the cost.
Has anyone tried escalating this issue within the BRG group?
I got a "Subject Matter Expert" and a "Senior Case Manager" who responded the same way. I have asked to speak to the head of the department to provide updated T&C and clear training guidelines so I can better understand when do they actually honour a BRG.
No response if I'll get in contact with Sr MGMT.
Has anyone tried escalating this issue within the BRG group?
I got a "Subject Matter Expert" and a "Senior Case Manager" who responded the same way. I have asked to speak to the head of the department to provide updated T&C and clear training guidelines so I can better understand when do they actually honour a BRG.
No response if I'll get in contact with Sr MGMT.
Feb 18, 2016, 8:27 am
#191
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: Yorkshire Coastliner
Posts: 1,278
Has anyone tried escalating this issue within the BRG group?
I got a "Subject Matter Expert" and a "Senior Case Manager" who responded the same way. I have asked to speak to the head of the department to provide updated T&C and clear training guidelines so I can better understand when do they actually honour a BRG.
No response if I'll get in contact with Sr MGMT.
Feb 18, 2016, 8:57 am
#192
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,949
Best to reward the program that rewards you! If you feel like IHG has a hood program stick to it, if you feel like they are sticking it to you then take your business elswhere
I am in between the two and just moved some of my stays to other companies due to these BPG jokers
I am in between the two and just moved some of my stays to other companies due to these BPG jokers
Feb 18, 2016, 10:22 am
#193
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 8
Claims more difficuilt
BRGs are definitely getting more difficult.
Booked room at Indigo Helsinki with breakfast, found better rate amoma. Claim denied due to statement that lowest possible cost room has to be booked (i booked the cheapest room but with breakfast). Hence any addition of breakfast is basis for denial of claim.
I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the same room without breakfast. Claim again denied because amoma offers same room but with breakfast, hence rooms are not same.
Previously this claim would be approved since amoma offers same room with better option (breakfast) for lower price, but now IHGs best rate guarantee should be definitely renamed to something else.
IHG and other chains should not advertise best rate guarantee (implying simply they offer the best option) in such a way they do, when in fact I can book same room with better options for lower price somewhere else and they deny claim for BRG.
Booked room at Indigo Helsinki with breakfast, found better rate amoma. Claim denied due to statement that lowest possible cost room has to be booked (i booked the cheapest room but with breakfast). Hence any addition of breakfast is basis for denial of claim.
I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the same room without breakfast. Claim again denied because amoma offers same room but with breakfast, hence rooms are not same.
Previously this claim would be approved since amoma offers same room with better option (breakfast) for lower price, but now IHGs best rate guarantee should be definitely renamed to something else.
IHG and other chains should not advertise best rate guarantee (implying simply they offer the best option) in such a way they do, when in fact I can book same room with better options for lower price somewhere else and they deny claim for BRG.
Feb 18, 2016, 10:43 am
#194
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 639
BRGs are definitely getting more difficult.
Booked room at Indigo Helsinki with breakfast, found better rate amoma. Claim denied due to statement that lowest possible cost room has to be booked (i booked the cheapest room but with breakfast). Hence any addition of breakfast is basis for denial of claim.
I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the same room without breakfast. Claim again denied because amoma offers same room but with breakfast, hence rooms are not same.
Previously this claim would be approved since amoma offers same room with better option (breakfast) for lower price, but now IHGs best rate guarantee should be definitely renamed to something else.
IHG and other chains should not advertise best rate guarantee (implying simply they offer the best option) in such a way they do, when in fact I can book same room with better options for lower price somewhere else and they deny claim for BRG.
Booked room at Indigo Helsinki with breakfast, found better rate amoma. Claim denied due to statement that lowest possible cost room has to be booked (i booked the cheapest room but with breakfast). Hence any addition of breakfast is basis for denial of claim.
I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the same room without breakfast. Claim again denied because amoma offers same room but with breakfast, hence rooms are not same.
Previously this claim would be approved since amoma offers same room with better option (breakfast) for lower price, but now IHGs best rate guarantee should be definitely renamed to something else.
IHG and other chains should not advertise best rate guarantee (implying simply they offer the best option) in such a way they do, when in fact I can book same room with better options for lower price somewhere else and they deny claim for BRG.
Well, one could argue that but honestly imo having additional breakfast is something completely different.
Their new t&c are very vague about that, it doesnt even say if you can book a fully cancellable rate now (best flex) when advance saver is still available and claim it with a matching cancellation policy fare from an OTA (and yes, they do exist but are very rare!)
Your best bet now is looking for hotels that have breakfast always included (mostly Holiday Inns) or go for Club Rooms.
I always got a room in the city I wanted to visit but not always at the hotel I wanted to stay at. I have seen some very weird denial reasons, such as, the rate on the OTA (the biggest there is in the world btw) is wrongly loaded in the GDS and is the rate of a different hotel (srsly?)
Or stuff like saying the t&c say not instant confirmation but they copied the t&c of eticketing rules of the flights t&c.
You really can't do anything then, sometimes they also overlook things but I must say, even argueing that their denial reasons are sometimes really messed up, its the best program there is since it offers the 1st night free with no min. stay!
Feb 18, 2016, 10:49 am
#195
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Accor Platinum, Fairmont Platinum, Hilton Diamond Elite, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 3
I guess my brief experience with IHG has been less than positive. I was really hoping that it would work out because they have some great promos and great hotel properties.
I've sent a complaint to the competition bureau of Canada under the competition act to investigate their vague T&C and their potentially misleading guarantee.
I've sent a complaint to the competition bureau of Canada under the competition act to investigate their vague T&C and their potentially misleading guarantee.