How common is this?
 

I booked a 3night stay in FRA Marriott about a month ago, ended up booking a pretty pricey room at 390€. I was Ok with this as it was a business trip and my dates were locked in.
However today I was booking another 3day stint for another month coming up and thought I'd re check my old dates and see is there was a price difference. And to my surprise the same room was now 189€.

I know all about the variances that go into room bookings but why even have some BS price guarantee badge on their website giving you some false sense of reassurance.

Not a very happy Gold.:(

Was the price you booked "about a month ago" the lowest price available at the time? Do you even understand how the LNF guarantee works?

Just like the airlines there are revenue management factors in play at hotels - the change could have occurred for any number of reasons

Per the site it was the lowest available price...buti guess I don't understand how the guarantee works...I guess I need a primer....will there be a cliff notes version?

Very common. I check my bookings at least once a week, usually more often, and routinely modify my reservations when I find lower rates.

File the LNF, it should be approved=)

It almost definitely won't be approved, more than 24 hours have passed since you made your original reservation. The only lesson here is not to book non-refundable rates, which I assume you did? If not just rebook at the lower rate. (I only book non-refundable rates 2 or 3 days in advance for personal travel, and never when work is paying)

Not too common for people to post a title without a further description of what they are writing about. ;)

+1

If your original reservation can be cancelled, just cancel it and make a new one at the lower rate.

Don't book non-refundable rates that can't be changed. Some non-refundable rates can be changed. Rate rules will say if changes are not allowed. If changes are allowed, then if it was a prepaid rate the difference will show up as a credit on your folio. To book the lower rate just modify your existing reservation online and choose the lower rate.

already available............
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...rsion-brg.html

^ I would expect this to be common knowledge among price sensitive road warriors. Since I have most of my nights on my own dime, I always do this. I won't even think about nonrefundable rates until there are less than 72 hours remaining.

LOL!

Are you on per diems or is your company/client absorbing the full cost? I don't like overpaying when I'm staying for business either but does the price difference really matter for your stay?

Last year, I got 3 LNF for non-refundable rates approved 1month after the reservation was made, using a third party website=) They were all approved in one-go=)

while I have no reason to disbelieve you and because of the 24-hr rule have never filed an LNF claim beyond this time (frankly would never even think of doing so), per the T&Cs of LNFs:

How much time is needed to process my claim?
Marriott Customer Care will process all claims within 24 hours of receipt. However, please keep in mind that the comparison rate must be found, and a claim submitted, within 24 hours of your initial reservation. In addition, to assure we can process your claim in time for your arrival, claims must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to hotel check-in.
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-prices/faqs.mi

Either you are really lucky that they overlooked the rules or the LNF dept is totally incompetent.

Anyway, there is another thing OP could try: call the hotel directly and ask if the hotel could match the rate for the whole period of time to EUR 198 per night. It's up to the hotel to decide but I did hear an IC agreed to match the rate or give you some credit to spend at the hotel.