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
Jan 13, 2012, 5:23 am
#1096
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Its definitely not always the case. I have a booking made back in sept, that I got a BRP on. The other site still has the same price, and IHG hasn't lowered their price.
Jan 13, 2012, 6:34 am
#1097
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Plat; CC Gold
Posts: 845
Looking at the way this has developed, I am really thinking that one of the major aim of this program was to place pressure on the hotels to remove their listings with third party sites that had lower listings.
It sounds like a project by a business studies undergraduate that looks at things in a simple way, thinking they are creating a marketing strategy as well as increasing the trade which will come directly through the IHG portals, without looking at the way hotels will try and work around the issues and completely underestimate the potential resistance and number of claims.
It sounds like a project by a business studies undergraduate that looks at things in a simple way, thinking they are creating a marketing strategy as well as increasing the trade which will come directly through the IHG portals, without looking at the way hotels will try and work around the issues and completely underestimate the potential resistance and number of claims.
Jan 17, 2012, 10:34 am
#1098
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
We are having some "in-depth" conversations with IHG about their interpretation of the T&Cs. I'll keep you posted if they decide to do the right thing.
Jan 17, 2012, 1:06 pm
#1099
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
That is exactly the reason for the guarantee. I had this confirmed to me by an IHG senior VP. After all, it is the hotel, not IHG that pays the penalty. Even in cases where The hotel refuses to comp the night and IHG have to refund the customer, IHG then invoice the hotel.
Jan 17, 2012, 1:20 pm
#1100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,094
Jan 18, 2012, 3:23 pm
#1101
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
Jan 18, 2012, 8:07 pm
#1102
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Especially as after your 1st dialogue you will be locked out of having any further dialogues with IHG for 30 days but if you happen to find other dialogues you wish to have within the 30 days you are welcome to have those extra dialogues with another website of your choosing.
Last edited by 3544quebec; Jan 18, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Jan 18, 2012, 10:12 pm
#1103
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Canberra, Australia
Programs: QF, AA, BD, PC, HH, Hertz
Posts: 203
I have never used the BRG and am trying to decide whether or not to make a booking and then a claim.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
Jan 19, 2012, 12:05 am
#1104
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
I have never used the BRG and am trying to decide whether or not to make a booking and then a claim.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
Jan 19, 2012, 4:15 am
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,094
I have never used the BRG and am trying to decide whether or not to make a booking and then a claim.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
If the IHG site calls the room a Queen and the Ethiad Aiways website just has generic 'double' term, where the only doubles the hotel has are queens is that enough of a reason to have the claim rejected?
Any advice appreciated.
Jan 19, 2012, 6:16 am
#1106
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,363
As nacho said, book a best flex rate, call in to see if they will give you the BRG. If they won't, then cancel your reservation. If they do, you can then have them change your reservation to non-refundable (since this rate will likely be lower).
Jan 19, 2012, 9:32 am
#1107
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1
Best price is just a marketing trick
IHG wants to make you feel, that nobody can beet their rates, but the opposit is true. Best price guarantee does not work so easy as it looks like. I went already thru 100 arguments, why the offers are not comparable( No. of beds, room-type, extras, type of beds etc.) Even if a lower comparable rate has more extras included
than the IHG rate, they will not accept it. Finally if you have two differnet claims in a period of less than 30 days, they will accept only one of them. Conclusion: IHG does not believe in their own policy. They avoid everything to make the guarantee happen. The whole thing is just a marketing trick.
than the IHG rate, they will not accept it. Finally if you have two differnet claims in a period of less than 30 days, they will accept only one of them. Conclusion: IHG does not believe in their own policy. They avoid everything to make the guarantee happen. The whole thing is just a marketing trick.
Jan 19, 2012, 10:21 am
#1108
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth (PER)
Programs: VA Gold
Posts: 263
I'll never forget discussing the older guarantee with a phone agent when trying to determine a condition of the BRG a few years ago, when I was a complete noob.
"...so if I find a lower rate elsewhere"
(cut off) "Sir you will not find a lower rate"
"But if I did"
"Sir, you will not find a lower rate anywhere"
"I understand what you are saying, but if the situtation occurred"
(cut off) "Sir you will NOT find a lower rate anywhere else, I guarantee it"
"...so if I find a lower rate elsewhere"
(cut off) "Sir you will not find a lower rate"
"But if I did"
"Sir, you will not find a lower rate anywhere"
"I understand what you are saying, but if the situtation occurred"
(cut off) "Sir you will NOT find a lower rate anywhere else, I guarantee it"
Jan 19, 2012, 5:04 pm
#1109
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
I'll never forget discussing the older guarantee with a phone agent when trying to determine a condition of the BRG a few years ago, when I was a complete noob.
"...so if I find a lower rate elsewhere"
(cut off) "Sir you will not find a lower rate"
"But if I did"
"Sir, you will not find a lower rate anywhere"
"I understand what you are saying, but if the situtation occurred"
(cut off) "Sir you will NOT find a lower rate anywhere else, I guarantee it"
"...so if I find a lower rate elsewhere"
(cut off) "Sir you will not find a lower rate"
"But if I did"
"Sir, you will not find a lower rate anywhere"
"I understand what you are saying, but if the situtation occurred"
(cut off) "Sir you will NOT find a lower rate anywhere else, I guarantee it"
Jan 20, 2012, 6:35 am
#1110
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
HTB.