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
Jan 21, 2016, 5:27 pm
#63
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, United Premier Silver
Posts: 205
Keep in mind that the 3rd party rate with breakfast is already beating the IHG rate without breakfast
Jan 21, 2016, 6:19 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
Jan 21, 2016, 9:40 pm
#65
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, United Premier Silver
Posts: 205
OMG. IHG just responded... because there is a package rate called Chauffeur Express (non-refundable) which includes breakfast on the IHG site and that package rate is cheaper than the flexible rate (currently lowest available) with breakfast add on of 30 EURO, my claim is denied 
I bet if I book this Chauffeur Express, IHG would then come back at me with "The Chauffeur" package includes free transportation which the 3rd party rate does not. And I would be stuck since its non-refundable.
Any tips on how to proceed?
I bet if I book this Chauffeur Express, IHG would then come back at me with "The Chauffeur" package includes free transportation which the 3rd party rate does not. And I would be stuck since its non-refundable.
Any tips on how to proceed?
Jan 22, 2016, 1:26 am
#67
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
OMG. IHG just responded... because there is a package rate called Chauffeur Express (non-refundable) which includes breakfast on the IHG site and that package rate is cheaper than the flexible rate (currently lowest available) with breakfast add on of 30 EURO, my claim is denied
I bet if I book this Chauffeur Express, IHG would then come back at me with "The Chauffeur" package includes free transportation which the 3rd party rate does not. And I would be stuck since its non-refundable.
Any tips on how to proceed?
I bet if I book this Chauffeur Express, IHG would then come back at me with "The Chauffeur" package includes free transportation which the 3rd party rate does not. And I would be stuck since its non-refundable.
Any tips on how to proceed?
Jan 22, 2016, 12:00 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 84
For what it's worth, I submitted a claim today for an IC property which was denied because I booked with breakfast (even though the competing website offered the same room with breakfast cheaper) instead of the lowest, base rate (without breakfast).
So maybe they're eliminating breakfast packages from qualifying under their new BPG 2.0 interpretation of the rules?
So maybe they're eliminating breakfast packages from qualifying under their new BPG 2.0 interpretation of the rules?
Jan 22, 2016, 12:32 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
Claiming that they cannot compare a OTA rate with addons with a IHG rate without addons is already ludicrous. Telling you that you cannot BRG any rate with breakfast is unbelievable...
HTB.
Jan 22, 2016, 7:01 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 84
I thought about trying to appeal the denial with the BPG team, but decided to save my time / mental anguish and just cancel and rebook the rate without breakfast. The second claim, identical to the first except for breakfast, was approved.
Jan 23, 2016, 3:01 am
#72
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
For what it's worth, I submitted a claim today for an IC property which was denied because I booked with breakfast (even though the competing website offered the same room with breakfast cheaper) instead of the lowest, base rate (without breakfast).
So maybe they're eliminating breakfast packages from qualifying under their new BPG 2.0 interpretation of the rules?
So maybe they're eliminating breakfast packages from qualifying under their new BPG 2.0 interpretation of the rules?
Jan 23, 2016, 3:03 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
I'm not trying to give IHG any ideas, but I'm surprised they haven't limited BRG claims to the cheapest room type yet. But yeah, not allowing breakfast rates is ridiculous when they're offered on the competing sites.
I thought about trying to appeal the denial with the BPG team, but decided to save my time / mental anguish and just cancel and rebook the rate without breakfast. The second claim, identical to the first except for breakfast, was approved.
I thought about trying to appeal the denial with the BPG team, but decided to save my time / mental anguish and just cancel and rebook the rate without breakfast. The second claim, identical to the first except for breakfast, was approved.
Jan 23, 2016, 8:24 am
#75
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Perhaps still YMMV depending on the agent you get, but I'm getting the you must have booked the lowest rate too:
Unfortunate.
Thank you for contacting IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Helpdesk with regard to your claim decision.
Per the program Terms and Conditions, to be eligible for a Valid Claim a guest must: “Complete a valid room booking with the lowest available price (room rate) on any IHG website for any IHG branded hotel using the ‘Best Available Rate Search.’”
So you must booked the lowest best available rate on any IHG website for you to qualify regardless of the rate's inclusion like breakfast.
It has come to our attention that some previous claims were deemed “Valid” contrary to the intent of this statement. All previously awarded claims will remain “Valid” and will be honored in full by IHG and our hotels. However, we will continue to uphold this portion of the Terms and Conditions moving forward.
Per the program Terms and Conditions, to be eligible for a Valid Claim a guest must: “Complete a valid room booking with the lowest available price (room rate) on any IHG website for any IHG branded hotel using the ‘Best Available Rate Search.’”
So you must booked the lowest best available rate on any IHG website for you to qualify regardless of the rate's inclusion like breakfast.
It has come to our attention that some previous claims were deemed “Valid” contrary to the intent of this statement. All previously awarded claims will remain “Valid” and will be honored in full by IHG and our hotels. However, we will continue to uphold this portion of the Terms and Conditions moving forward.