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
Jul 13, 2012, 1:59 am
#1636
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Clubcarlson Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire AMB etc.
Posts: 252
Jul 14, 2012, 6:49 am
#1637
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 344
Just got approved for the Intercontinental Boston for 1 night - Aug 24 - in a Club Level King including club access. Lower rate found on aavacations.com
Jul 15, 2012, 9:03 pm
#1638
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: HH Gold, PC Plat
Posts: 33
Just got approved for Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Downtown for 1 night, August 8th. Booked a Best Rate 1 King Suite - nonsmoking. Found for $10 less on Priceline.com
Unrestricted rate was $249.00/night.
Unrestricted rate was $249.00/night.
Jul 16, 2012, 4:10 am
#1639
Used to be 'lohiadk'
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 287
BRG Not Honoured Cause of Currency
I booked the Crowne Plaza Okhla IN Delhi, India for INR6700 on the website plus the taxes. I found the hotel in olotels.com for Euro 83 Incl taxes (equivalent to INR5300) but the agent said it's not a valid claim cause olotels did not bill in the same currency as the hotel.
I think this a tricky way to get out of honoring genuine claims.
I think this a tricky way to get out of honoring genuine claims.
Jul 16, 2012, 4:30 am
#1640
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
Jul 16, 2012, 5:52 am
#1641
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,066
I think dishonest is a wrong word to describe it. You can say I don't like their terms regarding currency, but using 'dishonest' is too much - they did tell you at the T&C.
Jul 16, 2012, 5:56 am
#1642
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,066
I booked the Crowne Plaza Okhla IN Delhi, India for INR6700 on the website plus the taxes. I found the hotel in olotels.com for Euro 83 Incl taxes (equivalent to INR5300) but the agent said it's not a valid claim cause olotels did not bill in the same currency as the hotel.
I think this a tricky way to get out of honoring genuine claims.
I think this a tricky way to get out of honoring genuine claims.
IHG didn't trick you - it states very clearly on their T&C. I don't like the terms either but if you want a free night, you have to play by their rules.
Jul 17, 2012, 2:19 am
#1643
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
I'm sorry, I may have missed your point, but that's neither an argument for or against what I said.
I think "dishonest" is the right word. They boiler-plate advertise "find a lower rate and your first night is free", only to come up with limitations in the small print. And while some limitations are to be expected, only accepting lower rates in the same currency, even though there may be much lower rates (my best was 60% less), is misleading to a point where I will call it dishonest.
And as I said -- this kind of behavior certainly reflects on the whole corporation. Just look at the numerous replies "your rate does not qualify because it was deeply discounted" even though you booked the best flexible rate or advance purchase rate from their own website. If I don't want to consider 90% of their staff incompetent or stupid, I will have to consider that the entire corporation is dishonest.
HTB.
And as I said -- this kind of behavior certainly reflects on the whole corporation. Just look at the numerous replies "your rate does not qualify because it was deeply discounted" even though you booked the best flexible rate or advance purchase rate from their own website. If I don't want to consider 90% of their staff incompetent or stupid, I will have to consider that the entire corporation is dishonest.
HTB.
Jul 17, 2012, 2:50 am
#1644
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,066
I think "dishonest" is the right word. They boiler-plate advertise "find a lower rate and your first night is free", only to come up with limitations in the small print. And while some limitations are to be expected, only accepting lower rates in the same currency, even though there may be much lower rates (my best was 60% less), is misleading to a point where I will call it dishonest.
And as I said -- this kind of behavior certainly reflects on the whole corporation. Just look at the numerous replies "your rate does not qualify because it was deeply discounted" even though you booked the best flexible rate or advance purchase rate from their own website. If I don't want to consider 90% of their staff incompetent or stupid, I will have to consider that the entire corporation is dishonest.
HTB.
And as I said -- this kind of behavior certainly reflects on the whole corporation. Just look at the numerous replies "your rate does not qualify because it was deeply discounted" even though you booked the best flexible rate or advance purchase rate from their own website. If I don't want to consider 90% of their staff incompetent or stupid, I will have to consider that the entire corporation is dishonest.
HTB.
I don't think IHG is a dishonest organisation, IMO their operation can be best described as 'incompetent'. A lot of them don't know what they are doing - this is a few examples I encountered:
Case 1:
I asked for a status match and a staff told me that they will match me until Dec 2014. I thought 'cool' but then on the 1st Jan my status was reset back to club. I was so puzzled and then asked them, and they said it was a honest mistake.
Case 2:
Their IT system is really bad. Sometimes their pages are down for a long time and things can't displayed properly - it's another sign of incompetence.
They can't even go into the reservation system to set the rate to 0 after a successful BRG claim.
Case 3:
I stayed on points as an 'additional' guest from a booking made by someone else. PC claimed that they got the right name but they didn't. Fortunately I had the print out of the reservation with me so I could check-in.
It's a mixture of a messy organisation and incompetence of staffs.
Jul 17, 2012, 5:17 am
#1645
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Jul 22, 2012, 1:48 pm
#1646
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,319
Got 3 others approved:
Last month for Denver Downtown CP
Last weekend stayed at the Denver HI East Stapleton
And next month for the Staybridge Suites in Times Square NYC
Gotta say NYC has been the toughest to crack thus far, IHG hotels seem to keep a very tight lock on inventory and pricing. They are still no match for me though; took me over a week, but I still got it
Last month for Denver Downtown CP
Last weekend stayed at the Denver HI East Stapleton
And next month for the Staybridge Suites in Times Square NYC
Gotta say NYC has been the toughest to crack thus far, IHG hotels seem to keep a very tight lock on inventory and pricing. They are still no match for me though; took me over a week, but I still got it
Jul 22, 2012, 1:52 pm
#1647
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,653
Does anyone know if hotelopia give instant confirmations/is valid for BRG?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jul 23, 2012, 3:40 am
#1648
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: in your favourite lounge, clearing the whole buffet
Programs: LH Maximizer of the year, BA Blue Label killer
Posts: 1,001
Jul 23, 2012, 5:42 am
#1649
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
Jul 24, 2012, 3:59 am
#1650
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 15
Got 3 others approved:
Last month for Denver Downtown CP
Last weekend stayed at the Denver HI East Stapleton
And next month for the Staybridge Suites in Times Square NYC
Gotta say NYC has been the toughest to crack thus far, IHG hotels seem to keep a very tight lock on inventory and pricing. They are still no match for me though; took me over a week, but I still got it
Last month for Denver Downtown CP
Last weekend stayed at the Denver HI East Stapleton
And next month for the Staybridge Suites in Times Square NYC
Gotta say NYC has been the toughest to crack thus far, IHG hotels seem to keep a very tight lock on inventory and pricing. They are still no match for me though; took me over a week, but I still got it
