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
Oct 11, 2015, 10:29 am
#1396
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Question about BRG bonus: do you only receive SPG points after completing the stay or as soon as the BRG claim is approved, assuming you chose point rather than % discount? Can you submit a BRG claim, get approval, cancel the reservation but still bank the 2k points?
Oct 11, 2015, 10:41 am
#1397
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,916
Nope. It posts after the stay.
Oct 11, 2015, 11:03 am
#1398
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Titanium (LTT)
Posts: 2,272
Do properties get penalized when we are able to brg them? I seem to recall they do but not too sure...
On a previous stay, revenue management came up to me and said to email him first before I start firing off brg claims through starwood and that there's no need for me to go through Starwood. Bit strange that he came out to see me just for that reason while I was checking-in.
On a previous stay, revenue management came up to me and said to email him first before I start firing off brg claims through starwood and that there's no need for me to go through Starwood. Bit strange that he came out to see me just for that reason while I was checking-in.
Oct 11, 2015, 11:37 am
#1399
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oslo
Posts: 448
Do properties get penalized when we are able to brg them? I seem to recall they do but not too sure...
On a previous stay, revenue management came up to me and said to email him first before I start firing off brg claims through starwood and that there's no need for me to go through Starwood. Bit strange that he came out to see me just for that reason while I was checking-in.
On a previous stay, revenue management came up to me and said to email him first before I start firing off brg claims through starwood and that there's no need for me to go through Starwood. Bit strange that he came out to see me just for that reason while I was checking-in.
Oct 11, 2015, 1:14 pm
#1400
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Choice Elite Platinum
Posts: 433
My first one with SPG.
Hotel Name: ITC Rajputana - Jaipur, India
Dates : 4 nights Feb
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Starwood Rate : 10,000 INR ++
Competing Website : www.getaroom.com via Kayak
Competing rate : 7190++
Comments : Waited 24 hours; then called in and got it.
BRG Reward : 20%
Actual confirmed rate: 5768.82 INR ++
Hotel Name: ITC Rajputana - Jaipur, India
Dates : 4 nights Feb
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Starwood Rate : 10,000 INR ++
Competing Website : www.getaroom.com via Kayak
Competing rate : 7190++
Comments : Waited 24 hours; then called in and got it.
BRG Reward : 20%
Actual confirmed rate: 5768.82 INR ++
Oct 11, 2015, 8:52 pm
#1401
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Titanium (LTT)
Posts: 2,272
Oct 12, 2015, 5:04 am
#1402
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 73
I managed to find one which the pre-tax price is the same, but post tax price is slightly different (well, still 1% difference)
I don't really understand why there can be a difference in the tax...I thought it's kind of standard. But they will probably not entertain this claim as I recall the terms anyways and therefore I haven't submitted it.
And for this opening double points offer, will i get quadraple points if I stay for 2 nights? since there is a SPG double points promotion ongoing.
I don't really understand why there can be a difference in the tax...I thought it's kind of standard. But they will probably not entertain this claim as I recall the terms anyways and therefore I haven't submitted it.
And for this opening double points offer, will i get quadraple points if I stay for 2 nights? since there is a SPG double points promotion ongoing.
Oct 12, 2015, 7:13 am
#1403
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,748
I managed to find one which the pre-tax price is the same, but post tax price is slightly different (well, still 1% difference)
I don't really understand why there can be a difference in the tax...I thought it's kind of standard. But they will probably not entertain this claim as I recall the terms anyways and therefore I haven't submitted it.
I don't really understand why there can be a difference in the tax...I thought it's kind of standard. But they will probably not entertain this claim as I recall the terms anyways and therefore I haven't submitted it.
$101.64 / 1.21 = $84 (SPG)
$100.58 / 1.21 = $83.12 (TPA)
($84 - $83.12) / 84 = 1%
This will only work if there are differences in the cancellation terms.
If you meet the appropriate criteria, you will earn:
- Double base points from Four Points Kuta - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
- Double base points from Stay For More - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
So yes, "quadruple" points on BASE points
Oct 12, 2015, 9:17 am
#1404
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 18
Just curious if anyone has had BRG success with Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay previously? This seems like a tough nut to crack...
Oct 12, 2015, 9:44 am
#1405
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 73
$101.64 / 1.21 = $84 (SPG)
$100.58 / 1.21 = $83.12 (TPA)
($84 - $83.12) / 84 = 1%
This will only work if there are differences in the cancellation terms.
If you meet the appropriate criteria, you will earn:
- Double base points from Four Points Kuta - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
- Double base points from Stay For More - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
So yes, "quadruple" points on BASE points
$100.58 / 1.21 = $83.12 (TPA)
($84 - $83.12) / 84 = 1%
This will only work if there are differences in the cancellation terms.
If you meet the appropriate criteria, you will earn:
- Double base points from Four Points Kuta - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
- Double base points from Stay For More - ie 2 points per USD x 2 = 4 points
So yes, "quadruple" points on BASE points
But as both display, their room rate are still 84 USD.
It's just the slight difference in the tax (which I think they ought to be the same as it's charging by the govt instead of the hotel)
What do you guys think about this claim? Will they consider it or not? It's just purely for discussion sake
Thanks for the 2nd answer.
Oct 12, 2015, 10:03 am
#1406
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Malaysia
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 143
The room cancellation terms are the same.
But as both display, their room rate are still 84 USD.
It's just the slight difference in the tax (which I think they ought to be the same as it's charging by the govt instead of the hotel)
What do you guys think about this claim? Will they consider it or not? It's just purely for discussion sake
Thanks for the 2nd answer.
But as both display, their room rate are still 84 USD.
It's just the slight difference in the tax (which I think they ought to be the same as it's charging by the govt instead of the hotel)
What do you guys think about this claim? Will they consider it or not? It's just purely for discussion sake
Thanks for the 2nd answer.
Oct 12, 2015, 10:13 am
#1407
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 73
It's just a subtle difference in room rate, but it's still 1% difference which satisfies the requirement of BPG!
I will update you guys tomorrow!
Oct 12, 2015, 4:12 pm
#1408
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 73
Claim rejected, not quite sure what the specialist is talking about...
As I am already competing on the same currency (USD) while on hotelclub.
The reply is at follow:
"Per your Best Rate Guarantee claim, I have reviewed the rates for Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta, for the dates of your claim for Deluxe pool view room, on our website and found a rate of $84.00 USD per night, plus taxes and the rate of $83.99 USD per night, plus taxes on hotelclub.com. Since the default currency of the competing website is not the same as the currency used at this hotel, I used XE.com to convert the rate I found. Due to the minimal difference in these rates I am not able to approve your claim.
In the event the competing rate is in a different currency from the Starwood rate, we will convert the competing rate into the same currency as the rate offered on the Starwood-branded website. The currency exchange rate we apply is based on the exchange rate the hotel would have used, at the time of the original reservation."
Didn't mention anything on why the tax they charge is different...
I send another email, hoping for a reply.
(Anyways, just trying my luck and make sure I am on the right track for future BPG claims)
As I am already competing on the same currency (USD) while on hotelclub.
The reply is at follow:
"Per your Best Rate Guarantee claim, I have reviewed the rates for Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta, for the dates of your claim for Deluxe pool view room, on our website and found a rate of $84.00 USD per night, plus taxes and the rate of $83.99 USD per night, plus taxes on hotelclub.com. Since the default currency of the competing website is not the same as the currency used at this hotel, I used XE.com to convert the rate I found. Due to the minimal difference in these rates I am not able to approve your claim.
In the event the competing rate is in a different currency from the Starwood rate, we will convert the competing rate into the same currency as the rate offered on the Starwood-branded website. The currency exchange rate we apply is based on the exchange rate the hotel would have used, at the time of the original reservation."
Didn't mention anything on why the tax they charge is different...
I send another email, hoping for a reply.
(Anyways, just trying my luck and make sure I am on the right track for future BPG claims)
Oct 12, 2015, 6:51 pm
#1409
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,748
The default currency of OTA sites sometimes varies depending on your IP address/geographical location. What the BRG team sees may not be what you see. They will convert whatever currency they see into whatever is used on SPG.com.
It doesn't matter if the OTA site has a "built-in" currency convertor and you use that - the BRG team will use what they see when they go to that site.
As for the tax, OTAs charge "taxes & fees" so it does not necessarily have to be the same. Fees include admin fees charged by the OTA.
Which is why to be fair to all, the BRG team will always take the total sum, less what the tax and hotel service fees should be. The result will be what you are paying the OTA for the hotel and the OTA's admin fees, if any.
$84 vs $83.99 ... I think your time would be better spent looking for a valid claim ...
Oct 12, 2015, 8:58 pm
#1410
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Welcome to BRG nickchanz!
May all your claims be approved.
May all your claims be approved.