Jan 1, 2015, 7:35 am
Last edit by: TravelinSperry
Signed-in FT members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost.
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG ?)
If a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or non-Starwood mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night (up to a maximum of three rooms); or (2) 2,000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay (up to a maximum of three rooms).
BRG Wiki on Flyertalk
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim with one exception if the rate difference is within 1%.
"Starwood may deny claims where the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent; provided that Starwood will not use the fact that the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent to deny such claims if the cancellation policy for the Competing Rate is more favorable to the guest than the cancellation policy for the rate on the Starwood Website."
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG (only exception is when there is no availability on the Starwood website)
• Only one claim may be submitted per reservation number (If your first claim is denied, you may submit a new claim for that reservation if you find another lower rate after you receive the denial email)
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• You can BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. In other words, if expedia is offering a room for $100 prepaid, and spg.com shows a prepaid room for $150 or a flexible room for $200, you can book the FLEXIBLE spg.com rate and BRG it against the PREPAID $100 expedia rate. And you will receive the flexible cancel terms if the BRG is approved.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation, if it is within the cancellation deadline.
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Practicalities During/After Stay
• Reconfirm your rate at check-in; normally the hotel will have the correct BRG rate in your reservation, but sometimes you will need to remind them.
• If you choose points, they will be credited after the stay; check in one week to see if they have posted. If not contact the BRG office to arrange to have them posted.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG ?)
If a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or non-Starwood mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night (up to a maximum of three rooms); or (2) 2,000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay (up to a maximum of three rooms).
BRG Wiki on Flyertalk
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim with one exception if the rate difference is within 1%.
"Starwood may deny claims where the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent; provided that Starwood will not use the fact that the difference between the Competing Rate and the rate on the Starwood Website is less than one percent to deny such claims if the cancellation policy for the Competing Rate is more favorable to the guest than the cancellation policy for the rate on the Starwood Website."
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG (only exception is when there is no availability on the Starwood website)
• Only one claim may be submitted per reservation number (If your first claim is denied, you may submit a new claim for that reservation if you find another lower rate after you receive the denial email)
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• You can BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. In other words, if expedia is offering a room for $100 prepaid, and spg.com shows a prepaid room for $150 or a flexible room for $200, you can book the FLEXIBLE spg.com rate and BRG it against the PREPAID $100 expedia rate. And you will receive the flexible cancel terms if the BRG is approved.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation, if it is within the cancellation deadline.
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Practicalities During/After Stay
• Reconfirm your rate at check-in; normally the hotel will have the correct BRG rate in your reservation, but sometimes you will need to remind them.
• If you choose points, they will be credited after the stay; check in one week to see if they have posted. If not contact the BRG office to arrange to have them posted.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) 2015 : *now 20% off*; Success, failure & discussion thread
Sep 8, 2015, 9:28 pm
#1186
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Sep 8, 2015, 9:39 pm
#1187
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: SPG
Posts: 108
recently I have had just one claim approved out of several denied due to the delays in processing, and even that one took a further 4 days to get it adjusted to the new rate.
6 to 8 days from filing of a claim to final adjustment of the reservation defeats the purpose of the program for short-notice stays.
on top of that associates have increasingly been playing shenanigans with claims, like refusing to compare the lowest available rate on OTA just because the room type on that rate is called "double classic" whereas on spg.com they call it "deluxe double" or "cozy double"
this program used to work smoothly, but for the last couple of months it's becoming a sham.
6 to 8 days from filing of a claim to final adjustment of the reservation defeats the purpose of the program for short-notice stays.
on top of that associates have increasingly been playing shenanigans with claims, like refusing to compare the lowest available rate on OTA just because the room type on that rate is called "double classic" whereas on spg.com they call it "deluxe double" or "cozy double"
this program used to work smoothly, but for the last couple of months it's becoming a sham.
Sep 8, 2015, 11:14 pm
#1188
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: SPG,HH,IHG
Posts: 786
SPG BRG is Best BRG program
IME Fastest Respose is 4-6 hrs and Slowest is up to 3 days (but still approved)
Bogus program ? did you try IHG BRG ?
IME Fastest Respose is 4-6 hrs and Slowest is up to 3 days (but still approved)
Bogus program ? did you try IHG BRG ?
Sep 9, 2015, 9:16 am
#1189
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,916
I don't think anyone who knows what they're talking about would argue with your assessment. SPG is lightyears ahead of IHG, and a lot less scammy than Hilton and Hyatt. However, the concern is that the program has been going downhill ... I've had dozens of BRGs each year for the last half decade+, and I've never had as many issues as I've encountered in the past six months ... long delays (3+ days) for the initial response, BS rejections (e.g., super mainstream sites like booking.com not "publicly available"), and waits of up to a week to have claims finalized. I think the jury is still out on whether this is due to outsourcing, the increase in the BRG reward to 20%, or by some nefarious design.
Sep 9, 2015, 5:03 pm
#1190
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
need help with best guarantee rate email
Found a lower rate for 4 nights in Bangkok at the Sheraton hotel.
Received an email from SPG that they will honor the rate.
Does it mean I will pay 3280 THB (including tax and service charge per night)?
Actual confirmed rate: 3,280.18 THB plus tax and service charge, per night (4,100.22 THB less 20%)
Also, I did not choose the 2000 points for best guarantee rate. Will I earn points for the 4 nights stay for the above rate?
TIA
Received an email from SPG that they will honor the rate.
Does it mean I will pay 3280 THB (including tax and service charge per night)?
Actual confirmed rate: 3,280.18 THB plus tax and service charge, per night (4,100.22 THB less 20%)
Also, I did not choose the 2000 points for best guarantee rate. Will I earn points for the 4 nights stay for the above rate?
TIA
Sep 9, 2015, 5:15 pm
#1191
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,748
Found a lower rate for 4 nights in Bangkok at the Sheraton hotel.
Received an email from SPG that they will honor the rate.
Does it mean I will pay 3280 THB (including tax and service charge per night)?
Actual confirmed rate: 3,280.18 THB plus tax and service charge, per night (4,100.22 THB less 20%)
Also, I did not choose the 2000 points for best guarantee rate. Will I earn points for the 4 nights stay for the above rate?
TIA
Received an email from SPG that they will honor the rate.
Does it mean I will pay 3280 THB (including tax and service charge per night)?
Actual confirmed rate: 3,280.18 THB plus tax and service charge, per night (4,100.22 THB less 20%)
Also, I did not choose the 2000 points for best guarantee rate. Will I earn points for the 4 nights stay for the above rate?
TIA
There's an thread for this.
Yes you will pay 3280.18 THB + taxes, per night.
Yes you will earn points based on the above rate.
Actually, which part confuses you? Looks quite clear cut :P
Sep 9, 2015, 5:33 pm
#1192
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
There's an thread for this.
Yes you will pay 3280.18 THB + taxes, per night.
Yes you will earn points based on the above rate.
Actually, which part confuses you? Looks quite clear cut :P
Yes you will pay 3280.18 THB + taxes, per night.
Yes you will earn points based on the above rate.
Actually, which part confuses you? Looks quite clear cut :P
Sep 9, 2015, 5:43 pm
#1193
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Delta Diamond SPG Plat Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 39
Yes, you pay 80% of full rate so your number is correct.
Yes, you will receive full elite night stays/rooms.
The confirmation number is the only thing that gets strange on my end. You wind up with (on my app at least) where it says this reservation is too complex to pull up at this time.
I would also recommend making sure the front desk has the correct rate.
Last tip, book a flex rate before sending them the confirmation number so they can change your rate easy.
Yes, you will receive full elite night stays/rooms.
The confirmation number is the only thing that gets strange on my end. You wind up with (on my app at least) where it says this reservation is too complex to pull up at this time.
I would also recommend making sure the front desk has the correct rate.
Last tip, book a flex rate before sending them the confirmation number so they can change your rate easy.
Sep 9, 2015, 5:43 pm
#1194
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737
Sep 9, 2015, 6:43 pm
#1195
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
Thank you. Gave my SPG biz card for booking so I can get my free club lounge and breakfast.
Thanks all for your help
Thanks all for your help
Sep 9, 2015, 8:52 pm
#1196
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Wow, 11 hour turnaround ^
Le Meridien Bora Bora
for June 2016 - 5 nights
Premium Overwater Bungalow with Otemanu Mountain View
Starwood Rate: 105,000XPF++ (~USD$985++)
Competing Site: getaroom.com
Competing Rate: USD$657
Confirmed Rate: 56,000XPF++ (~US$530++)
Good rate; but now my mate recommends me to go 200 metres down the sand and stay at the St Regis Bora Bora instead.
Le Meridien Bora Bora
for June 2016 - 5 nights
Premium Overwater Bungalow with Otemanu Mountain View
Starwood Rate: 105,000XPF++ (~USD$985++)
Competing Site: getaroom.com
Competing Rate: USD$657
Confirmed Rate: 56,000XPF++ (~US$530++)
Good rate; but now my mate recommends me to go 200 metres down the sand and stay at the St Regis Bora Bora instead.
Sep 10, 2015, 6:08 pm
#1197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Changes to BRG T&Cs
Just got off the phone with a BRG agent, and she advised me of two changes that went into effect today.
1) The 2000 bonus points will now be available on up to 3 rooms per approved BRG (so up to 6000 pts). I believe it used to be a max of 2000 pts per BRG regardless of number of rooms. The 20% off will continue to be available on up to 3 rooms.
2) Going forward, we will have to make a reservation (cancellable is fine) before submitting the BRG.
If anyone can find the pertinent clauses in the T&Cs, feel free to post them. I'm too tired to look.
1) The 2000 bonus points will now be available on up to 3 rooms per approved BRG (so up to 6000 pts). I believe it used to be a max of 2000 pts per BRG regardless of number of rooms. The 20% off will continue to be available on up to 3 rooms.
2) Going forward, we will have to make a reservation (cancellable is fine) before submitting the BRG.
If anyone can find the pertinent clauses in the T&Cs, feel free to post them. I'm too tired to look.
Sep 10, 2015, 6:26 pm
#1198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
FAQs
Couldn't find the changes in the T&Cs, but they are in the FAQs.
What is the Best Rate Guarantee?
In the unlikely event that a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or mobile application (the “Competing Rate”), upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions for up to three guest rooms per confirmed reservation, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night; or (2) 2000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay. For complete details, please see the SPG Terms & Conditions.
Do I need to make a reservation in order to submit a claim?
Yes. A valid reservation through a Starwood Website is required.
In the unlikely event that a lower rate at a Starwood Hotel is made available on a non-Starwood website or mobile application (the “Competing Rate”), upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions for up to three guest rooms per confirmed reservation, Starwood will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 20% discount off the Competing Rate per room per night; or (2) 2000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® per room per stay. For complete details, please see the SPG Terms & Conditions.
Do I need to make a reservation in order to submit a claim?
Yes. A valid reservation through a Starwood Website is required.
Sep 10, 2015, 6:29 pm
#1199
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
What is SNA ?
Did my first BRG at Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok.
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
What is SNA ?
Did my first BRG at Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok.
Sep 10, 2015, 7:23 pm
#1200
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140