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
Nov 16, 2011, 1:44 pm
#826
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,812
wow IHG are really bending over on this one. If the room presented when the dates are input, then surely the room must have been available. So now the hotel is offering you a lower category room and STILL insisting that you pay upfront for it. could it be they have someone who has phoned and asked for the room directly,likely a previous guest, someone who will actually pay ?
And there is that "technical giltch again"
Have you had any previous emails from the hotel. How long has passed between doing the original booking and getting this latest email ? And although the email states that they are unable to confirm, you might remind them that you already HAVE a confirmed booking, which has been verifiied previously by IHG's best rate dept.
This is no longer anything to do with the best price promise. You have a confirmed booking for a penthouse. The hotel can not provide it.IMO you have a number of options at your disposal.
You might consider invoking the booking guarantee, and ask them to put you in a penthouse suite in an alternative 5 star hotel in central Rome. Possibly do homework first and suggest alternative hotels.I wonder do you do this thru IHG or the hotel ?
your other option might be to reply to the hotel and suggest you will accept the offer on the condition that they gift the difference in points and/or agree to comply with the best price guarantee and not charge you for the room.
Another option, if it suits your plans, would be to ask them to change he booking for the next night, or the previous night, a quick check shows that the penthouse is available on both nights. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL with this one, as you would have to ensure in advance that IHG would continue to honour the BRG claim.
And there is that "technical giltch again"
Have you had any previous emails from the hotel. How long has passed between doing the original booking and getting this latest email ? And although the email states that they are unable to confirm, you might remind them that you already HAVE a confirmed booking, which has been verifiied previously by IHG's best rate dept.
This is no longer anything to do with the best price promise. You have a confirmed booking for a penthouse. The hotel can not provide it.IMO you have a number of options at your disposal.
You might consider invoking the booking guarantee, and ask them to put you in a penthouse suite in an alternative 5 star hotel in central Rome. Possibly do homework first and suggest alternative hotels.I wonder do you do this thru IHG or the hotel ?
your other option might be to reply to the hotel and suggest you will accept the offer on the condition that they gift the difference in points and/or agree to comply with the best price guarantee and not charge you for the room.
Another option, if it suits your plans, would be to ask them to change he booking for the next night, or the previous night, a quick check shows that the penthouse is available on both nights. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL with this one, as you would have to ensure in advance that IHG would continue to honour the BRG claim.
Last edited by tangey; Nov 16, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Nov 16, 2011, 2:02 pm
#827
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 227
This sucks.
Called customer relations today about a BRG-claim I made some days ago via their web-claim-form. Firstly I was told they have not received it and now it is too late. (Thank God it was a fully refundable reservation.)
Further I was told that the extra person charge for kids above a certain age at some properties on ihg.com (charge) vs. expedia (no charge) is NOT covered by the BRG and I should contact the hotel directly.
Called customer relations today about a BRG-claim I made some days ago via their web-claim-form. Firstly I was told they have not received it and now it is too late. (Thank God it was a fully refundable reservation.)
Further I was told that the extra person charge for kids above a certain age at some properties on ihg.com (charge) vs. expedia (no charge) is NOT covered by the BRG and I should contact the hotel directly.
Nov 16, 2011, 2:11 pm
#828
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: The Golden status boy
Posts: 854
Tom-Schmidtt:
Wow...
Then you might be interested in my email...
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on 13 APRIL 2012 at the InterContinental De La Ville Roma..
.
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number xxxxxx we will reimburse the amount you paid via check which you can expect to receive in 4 - 6 weeks. Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent. Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
I'm the person keeping you from the penthouse that night and got the same email. I made my booking and claim on 9/28/11.
At least you got offered a discount
Wow...
Then you might be interested in my email...
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on 13 APRIL 2012 at the InterContinental De La Ville Roma..
.
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number xxxxxx we will reimburse the amount you paid via check which you can expect to receive in 4 - 6 weeks. Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent. Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
I'm the person keeping you from the penthouse that night and got the same email. I made my booking and claim on 9/28/11.
At least you got offered a discount
Last edited by spankytoes; Nov 16, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Nov 16, 2011, 3:10 pm
#829
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 142
quick data point....
as i mentioned a few thread pages ago, i had a brg for le grand approved by ihg, refused by the hotel. i stayed about three weeks ago, paid up front - and ihg have reimbursed me as promised, without me having to even send in receipts and such.
for those outside the states: they normally issue checks in us dollars, & dispatch them from america. so the process is a little trickier (+ you have to rely on airmail, so i'm guessing more drawn-out) from other countries.
so irritating though the reimbursement process is, it does seem to be working - & when they say you'll get your money back, you can be pretty sure you will. (in my case, at least.)
as i mentioned a few thread pages ago, i had a brg for le grand approved by ihg, refused by the hotel. i stayed about three weeks ago, paid up front - and ihg have reimbursed me as promised, without me having to even send in receipts and such.
for those outside the states: they normally issue checks in us dollars, & dispatch them from america. so the process is a little trickier (+ you have to rely on airmail, so i'm guessing more drawn-out) from other countries.
so irritating though the reimbursement process is, it does seem to be working - & when they say you'll get your money back, you can be pretty sure you will. (in my case, at least.)
Nov 16, 2011, 4:23 pm
#830
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,812
quick data point....
as i mentioned a few thread pages ago, i had a brg for le grand approved by ihg, refused by the hotel. i stayed about three weeks ago, paid up front - and ihg have reimbursed me as promised, without me having to even send in receipts and such.
for those outside the states: they normally issue checks in us dollars, & dispatch them from america. so the process is a little trickier (+ you have to rely on airmail, so i'm guessing more drawn-out) from other countries.
so irritating though the reimbursement process is, it does seem to be working - & when they say you'll get your money back, you can be pretty sure you will. (in my case, at least.)
as i mentioned a few thread pages ago, i had a brg for le grand approved by ihg, refused by the hotel. i stayed about three weeks ago, paid up front - and ihg have reimbursed me as promised, without me having to even send in receipts and such.
for those outside the states: they normally issue checks in us dollars, & dispatch them from america. so the process is a little trickier (+ you have to rely on airmail, so i'm guessing more drawn-out) from other countries.
so irritating though the reimbursement process is, it does seem to be working - & when they say you'll get your money back, you can be pretty sure you will. (in my case, at least.)
Nov 16, 2011, 7:14 pm
#831
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Expat in SIN
Programs: UA Plat, TK Gold, *G
Posts: 1,452
Tom-Schmidtt:
Wow...
Then you might be interested in my email...
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on 13 APRIL 2012 at the InterContinental De La Ville Roma..
.
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number xxxxxx we will reimburse the amount you paid via check which you can expect to receive in 4 - 6 weeks. Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent. Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
I'm the person keeping you from the penthouse that night and got the same email. I made my booking and claim on 9/28/11.
At least you got offered a discount
Wow...
Then you might be interested in my email...
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on 13 APRIL 2012 at the InterContinental De La Ville Roma..
.
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number xxxxxx we will reimburse the amount you paid via check which you can expect to receive in 4 - 6 weeks. Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent. Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
I'm the person keeping you from the penthouse that night and got the same email. I made my booking and claim on 9/28/11.
At least you got offered a discount
WOW! True FT spirit!
Nov 16, 2011, 8:03 pm
#832
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: The Golden status boy
Posts: 854
Oh, and we have the PH suite on the next night too. Same issue for my friend. That's odd that it is showing as available.
At this point, I'd be willing to settle up for a heavily discounted standard room. If they want to reimburse me for that afterwards, we're square. It's better than paying $4K upfront. I don't need the PH anyway.
Nov 16, 2011, 10:52 pm
#833
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Expat in SIN
Programs: UA Plat, TK Gold, *G
Posts: 1,452
We're a determined bunch!
Oh, and we have the PH suite on the next night too. Same issue for my friend. That's odd that it is showing as available.
At this point, I'd be willing to settle up for a heavily discounted standard room. If they want to reimburse me for that afterwards, we're square. It's better than paying $4K upfront. I don't need the PH anyway.
Oh, and we have the PH suite on the next night too. Same issue for my friend. That's odd that it is showing as available.
At this point, I'd be willing to settle up for a heavily discounted standard room. If they want to reimburse me for that afterwards, we're square. It's better than paying $4K upfront. I don't need the PH anyway.
If thats the case, I am inclined to say that it is indeed available, as the online reservation systems are highly in-sync with the hotel availability.
btw, as I said before, Rome IC has TWO Penthouse suites.
Nov 17, 2011, 11:58 am
#834
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 344
Just had a claim approved for the Intercontinental Boston for Thanksgiving night. They said they would contact the hotel to adjust the rate. Have called since and they say that they are still waiting for the hotel to get back to them. Since the reservation is next week I would like this handled asap. I have the option to cancel up until Wednesday as iit was a flexible rate. What takes so long for the hotel to deal with this or is it PC doing the stalling....
Nov 17, 2011, 12:09 pm
#835
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,812
Nov 17, 2011, 12:19 pm
#836
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,147
Just had a claim approved for the Intercontinental Boston for Thanksgiving night. They said they would contact the hotel to adjust the rate. Have called since and they say that they are still waiting for the hotel to get back to them. Since the reservation is next week I would like this handled asap. I have the option to cancel up until Wednesday as iit was a flexible rate. What takes so long for the hotel to deal with this or is it PC doing the stalling....
Try checking your reservation online.
Nov 17, 2011, 12:26 pm
#837
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 344
On priorityclub.com it is still showing with the $259.00 rate. no adjustments there. I was thinking of actually calling the hotel to check, but didnt know if that would be a good idea or not...
Nov 17, 2011, 1:06 pm
#838
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
I have a confirmed BRG claim for the IC Rome Penthouse suite , best flexible rate,
now i got an email by the hotel, that due to technical problems the penthouse suite is sold out and that they offer me the next lower room category (Executive Suite with terrace) at a discounted rate ( see email below).
Booking on PriorityClub.com is the best way to guarantee your room. If for any reason your reservation cannot be honored, Priority Club Rewards will provide you with a room and transportation to another convenient and comparable hotel. And, we’ll pay for the full cost of the first night’s lodging price, plus tax. Any advance deposit will be refunded to you.
now i got an email by the hotel, that due to technical problems the penthouse suite is sold out and that they offer me the next lower room category (Executive Suite with terrace) at a discounted rate ( see email below).
Booking on PriorityClub.com is the best way to guarantee your room. If for any reason your reservation cannot be honored, Priority Club Rewards will provide you with a room and transportation to another convenient and comparable hotel. And, we’ll pay for the full cost of the first night’s lodging price, plus tax. Any advance deposit will be refunded to you.
You might also want to ask about what kind of additional compensation would be appropriate considering that the first night was already supposed to be free under the BRG and that you would gladly accept 40000 points.
HTB.
Nov 17, 2011, 2:19 pm
#839
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
Any experience with 2nd person charge / Amb / Japan?
I have the following situation for an IC in Japan.
Let's say the rate on IHG is 20000 JPY plus 10000 JPY for the second person.
I found a rate on a third party website for 25000 JPY for two persons.
However, since I'm an Ambassador, the second person charge is waived and I only have to pay 20000 JPY, making a BRG impossible.
Should I book without my PC number and later inform the hotel that I am an Ambassador?
Another problem I could see with the third party website is that in order to allow "on site payment" I will have to become a member of that page. Without signing up they only offer prepayment. Of course, you can sign up while making the reservation... Any experience with this?
HTB.
Let's say the rate on IHG is 20000 JPY plus 10000 JPY for the second person.
I found a rate on a third party website for 25000 JPY for two persons.
However, since I'm an Ambassador, the second person charge is waived and I only have to pay 20000 JPY, making a BRG impossible.
Should I book without my PC number and later inform the hotel that I am an Ambassador?
Another problem I could see with the third party website is that in order to allow "on site payment" I will have to become a member of that page. Without signing up they only offer prepayment. Of course, you can sign up while making the reservation... Any experience with this?
HTB.
Nov 17, 2011, 5:42 pm
#840
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
I have the following situation for an IC in Japan.
Let's say the rate on IHG is 20000 JPY plus 10000 JPY for the second person.
I found a rate on a third party website for 25000 JPY for two persons.
However, since I'm an Ambassador, the second person charge is waived and I only have to pay 20000 JPY, making a BRG impossible.
Should I book without my PC number and later inform the hotel that I am an Ambassador?
Another problem I could see with the third party website is that in order to allow "on site payment" I will have to become a member of that page. Without signing up they only offer prepayment. Of course, you can sign up while making the reservation... Any experience with this?
HTB.
Let's say the rate on IHG is 20000 JPY plus 10000 JPY for the second person.
I found a rate on a third party website for 25000 JPY for two persons.
However, since I'm an Ambassador, the second person charge is waived and I only have to pay 20000 JPY, making a BRG impossible.
Should I book without my PC number and later inform the hotel that I am an Ambassador?
Another problem I could see with the third party website is that in order to allow "on site payment" I will have to become a member of that page. Without signing up they only offer prepayment. Of course, you can sign up while making the reservation... Any experience with this?
HTB.