Jan 1, 2018, 7:21 am
Last edit by: Starwood Lurker
Signed-in FT members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost.
POSTING FORMAT
Hotel Name:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate:
Competing Rate:
Competing Web Site:
Comments:
FAQ
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG)?
If a lower rate at an SPG Hotel is made available on a non-SPG website or non-SPG mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, SPG will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 25% discount off the Competing Rate (20% for Design Hotels) 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).
What should I do if my claim is successful?
Yes. You should receive the same SPG elite member benefits and stay/night credit as for a normal paid stay.
How do I view my reservation after my BRG has been approved?
• 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.
• The rate you submit the BRG against must be a rate that is available to the general public
• Cancellation/Deposit Policies and amenities must match on both websites to be valid
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG
• If a room category is available on an external website but not on Starwood, you may still make a claim. You still need to make a booking with Starwood using the next lowest category of room and must include the cancel/deposit polices and amenities you are wanting- if your claim is approved the room type in the booking will remain what is booked.
• 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)
• You must book and submit a claim for the room type, cancel policy, deposit policy and amenities you are comparing. If you a flexible rate on SPG.com, they will look for a flexible rate when processing your claim, even if a lower rate for non-cancellable is available.
• You cannot BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. All information must be the same on both websites and the claim will be denied.
• 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 no room available with the same amenities, it will be denied.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you are booking and comparing rates for a non-refundable booking, note that you are responsible for any and all charges including cancellation charges, even if the claim is not approved
• 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 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.
• The cancel policy of an approved claim will be the same as what was booked and approved. It will no longer default to flexible.
• 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 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 for that room type to help clarify.
• If you find availability on a third party website/app but there is no availability on the Starwood Website, then this claim cannot be submitted as you must have a valid reservation to submit a claim. If it is submitted somehow without a reservation, the claim will not be processed as a valid Starwood reservation is required.
• Per the FAQ, "Any questions regarding claims should be directed to [email protected] or call 1-866-500-0368." A human is available at this number beginning at 9am EST.
OTAs not eligible because they do not confirm instantly:
Special Conditions for BRG & Design Hotels
Differing currencies
Marriott may deny claims where the difference between the comparison rate and the Marriott rate is less than $1. Rate disparities primarily attributable to fluctuations and/or differences in currency exchange rates are excluded from the guarantee.
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
POSTING FORMAT
Hotel Name:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate:
Competing Rate:
Competing Web Site:
Comments:
FAQ
What is the Best Rate Guarantee (BRG)?
If a lower rate at an SPG Hotel is made available on a non-SPG website or non-SPG mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, SPG will honor that Competing Rate and provide the individual that submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards: (1) an additional 25% discount off the Competing Rate (20% for Design Hotels) 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).
What should I do if my claim is successful?
- Re-confirm 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 they have not posted, then contacted the BRG team to get it posted.
Yes. You should receive the same SPG elite member benefits and stay/night credit as for a normal paid stay.
How do I view my reservation after my BRG has been approved?
- Log into your SPG account.
- Click on your stays to view your current reservation.
- Click on "Set Stay Preferences" link for the BRG reservation, then SAVE.
- Refresh your stays page and the reservation should be visible again. You may need to repeat this step if the hotel touches your reservation. If you apply for Your24, you will not be able to view the reservation details.
- Follow the steps as outlined under: How do I view my reservation after my BRG has been approved?
- At the end of this process, you should be able to select "Apply SNA to this Stay" from within your stays page.
• 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.
• The rate you submit the BRG against must be a rate that is available to the general public
• Cancellation/Deposit Policies and amenities must match on both websites to be valid
• A valid Starwood website reservation is required to submit a BRG
• If a room category is available on an external website but not on Starwood, you may still make a claim. You still need to make a booking with Starwood using the next lowest category of room and must include the cancel/deposit polices and amenities you are wanting- if your claim is approved the room type in the booking will remain what is booked.
• 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)
• You must book and submit a claim for the room type, cancel policy, deposit policy and amenities you are comparing. If you a flexible rate on SPG.com, they will look for a flexible rate when processing your claim, even if a lower rate for non-cancellable is available.
• You cannot BRG with a flexible rate against a prepaid rate. All information must be the same on both websites and the claim will be denied.
• 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 no room available with the same amenities, it will be denied.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG.
• If you are booking and comparing rates for a non-refundable booking, note that you are responsible for any and all charges including cancellation charges, even if the claim is not approved
• 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 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.
• The cancel policy of an approved claim will be the same as what was booked and approved. It will no longer default to flexible.
• 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 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 for that room type to help clarify.
• If you find availability on a third party website/app but there is no availability on the Starwood Website, then this claim cannot be submitted as you must have a valid reservation to submit a claim. If it is submitted somehow without a reservation, the claim will not be processed as a valid Starwood reservation is required.
• Per the FAQ, "Any questions regarding claims should be directed to [email protected] or call 1-866-500-0368." A human is available at this number beginning at 9am EST.
OTAs not eligible because they do not confirm instantly:
- AsiaWeb
- BestDay
- Cancelon
- Ctrip (Known as MyTrip from Dec 2017)
- Elvoline
- HappyRooms
- Hoteling
- Hotelreservierung.de (according to BRG team 5 Sept 2017)
- HotelsClick (Some rates on request, some instant)
- Ostrovok
- Roomertravel
- Laterooms (according to BRG team 24 Oct 2016)
- Hotelius (according to BRG team 21 Sept 2017)
- Zenhotels (according to BRG team 10 Nov 2017)
- Travelbag (according to BRG team 22 Dec 2017)
Special Conditions for BRG & Design Hotels
- You may only claim against the absolute lowest rate on SPG.com, for the date(s) in question.
- The rate must be the lowest on sale on SPG.com, and is regardless of the type of room you actually want, the number of occupants, cancellation policy and the amenities provided. In all likelihood this will mean you have to use a rate for a standard room, for 1 person, non-refundable and without any amenities.
- It is not necessary for the rate on the external website to match the SPG.com rate in any way including room type and number of occupants. The only requirement for a successful BRG claim is that the rate be lower than the lowest rate on SPG.com for the date(s) in question.
- As with normal BRG claims, you need to make a booking before submitting a claim but it must be the lowest rate for the hotel and dates. Since this will likely be a non-refundable booking, note that you are responsible for any and all charges including cancellation charges, even if the claim is not approved.
- Amenities are not included in the comparasin
- You will retain the category of room booked on SPG.com, even if the external website rate submitted for the claim refers to a different category of room. This is especially pertinent in situations where the hotel continues to sell lower categories of rooms on other websites, while not making them available on SPG.com. You will then be able to book a higher category of room on SPG.com, BRG the lower rate, and retain the higher category of room while paying the lower rate.
- If you need to BRG Design Hotels for Double or higher occupancy.
- The BRG will be processed for a single occupant, even if the rate does not change for more than one occupant. You must book the actual number of occupants intended. Effectively, you can only BRG for single occupant unless double rate happens to be the same as single. It is not possible to BRG if double rate is higher than single. No modification to occupancy is allowed if BRG is approved. If you submit with single rate, you will be stuck with single room; if you submit with double rate and single rate is lower, it will be automatically denied irrespective of competing rates.
Differing currencies
Marriott may deny claims where the difference between the comparison rate and the Marriott rate is less than $1. Rate disparities primarily attributable to fluctuations and/or differences in currency exchange rates are excluded from the guarantee.
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
SPG Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) 2018: Success, failure & discussion thread
May 6, 2018, 12:29 pm
#601
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
I think the chain of reasoning isn't that it makes SPG aware of Gala, but rather that newbies who may not have been aware that Gala existed as an option for BRGs, filed a bunch of successful BRGs using that as a competing site, leading SPG to crack down on however Gala makes those rooms available below par.
This is a common issue with any sort of promotion, and with benefit maximization in general (whether it's FF/hotel loyalty programs, and anyone who's done "advantage play" at gambling is familiar with this conundrum too) -- you want to be helpful, but the more people who are helped, the more the hotel/casino/whatever notices and the more opportunities will dry up.
My point is: if one has such a narcissistic personality that one is unable to be helpful to others when posting on FT about a great BRG rate that just got approved, then it’s better just not to post at all. It’s quite sad.
This thread’s new policy is not only wrong, in a moral sense, as it is wrong in its own assumptions. Marriott isn’t cutting off OTAs because lots people read about them on FT and submitted too many successful BRG claims. OTAs are cut off from Marriott’s distribution channels because they’re not in compliance with the agreements they entered into with Marriott. And Marriott is finding out about that regardless of how many BRG claims are being submitted.
May 6, 2018, 12:46 pm
#602
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,933
May 6, 2018, 2:08 pm
#603
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 573
1. Hotel Name: Aloft Cancun
Arrival Date : 01/xx/2018
Departure Date : 01/yy/2018 (4 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Aloft LagoonPartial Lake View room for two adults (Room Only)
Starwood Rate : EUR 161
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 89
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: $65.44 USD per room per night plus Vat and Lodging ($81.81 USD less 20%)
2. Hotel Name: The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (4 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Premium one-bedroom villa with ocean view
Starwood Rate : EUR 324
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 237
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: $198.18 USD($247.72USD less 20%)plus taxes, per night
3. Hotel Name: Westin Cozumel
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Traditional room, non-smoking
Starwood Rate : EUR 171
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 150
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 146.10 USD (182.62 USD menos 20%) + Impuestos (19%) + Tasa de Servicio (12.00 USD), por noche
4. Hotel Name: Westin Cozumel
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Deluxe Room
Starwood Rate : EUR 171
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 163
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 210.94 USD excl. taxes (263.67 USD - 20%))
5. Hotel Name: Aloft Abu Dhabi
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (1 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 3
Room Type : Deluxe Room
Starwood Rate : EUR 37
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 34
BRG Reward : 2000 points x 3
Actual confirmed rate: 162.24 AED plus taxes and fees, per room
6. Hotel Name: The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Deluxe room for two adults
Starwood Rate : AED 490.0
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 448
BRG Reward : 2000 points x 3
Actual confirmed rate: 263.54 AED per night, plus VAT, fees and service charge (351.39 AED less 25%)
7. Hotel Name: W Dubai Al Habtoor City
Arrival Date : 06/xx/2018
Departure Date : 06/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One spectacular room with two guests
Starwood Rate : AED 600.0
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 649
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 315.49 AED plus VAT, taxes, fees, and service charge, per night (420.65 AED less 25%)
8. Hotel Name: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Classic room, for two guests including breakfast
Starwood Rate : AED 514.35
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 392
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 251.25 AED (335.00 AED less 25%) per night, plus VAT, service charge, and fees, including breakfast
9. Hotel Name: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Classic room, for two guests including breakfast
Starwood Rate : AED 409
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 299
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 225.68 AED per night, plus VAT, fees and service charge (300.90 AED-25%)
This is sample of our BRG bookings from our two leisure trips to Cancun and Emirates, not all becouse I don't have time to copy/delete paste and search BRG emails.
But why I post this now ??? To show how hard I am looking for BRG's or how I am clever or how much money we can save ... but I am sure this kinds of post not help FT users with their BRG searching.
After 1st August we will have new rulez and new problems, not only that Gala cancel all dealz with SPG hotels
))
@ Zorak : and which way I will know that this member which ask via DM about OTA site is not from Stariott BRG office ??
Arrival Date : 01/xx/2018
Departure Date : 01/yy/2018 (4 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Aloft LagoonPartial Lake View room for two adults (Room Only)
Starwood Rate : EUR 161
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 89
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: $65.44 USD per room per night plus Vat and Lodging ($81.81 USD less 20%)
2. Hotel Name: The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (4 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Premium one-bedroom villa with ocean view
Starwood Rate : EUR 324
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 237
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: $198.18 USD($247.72USD less 20%)plus taxes, per night
3. Hotel Name: Westin Cozumel
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Traditional room, non-smoking
Starwood Rate : EUR 171
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 150
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 146.10 USD (182.62 USD menos 20%) + Impuestos (19%) + Tasa de Servicio (12.00 USD), por noche
4. Hotel Name: Westin Cozumel
Arrival Date : 02/xx/2018
Departure Date : 02/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Deluxe Room
Starwood Rate : EUR 171
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 163
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 210.94 USD excl. taxes (263.67 USD - 20%))
5. Hotel Name: Aloft Abu Dhabi
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (1 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 3
Room Type : Deluxe Room
Starwood Rate : EUR 37
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : EUR 34
BRG Reward : 2000 points x 3
Actual confirmed rate: 162.24 AED plus taxes and fees, per room
6. Hotel Name: The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Deluxe room for two adults
Starwood Rate : AED 490.0
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 448
BRG Reward : 2000 points x 3
Actual confirmed rate: 263.54 AED per night, plus VAT, fees and service charge (351.39 AED less 25%)
7. Hotel Name: W Dubai Al Habtoor City
Arrival Date : 06/xx/2018
Departure Date : 06/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One spectacular room with two guests
Starwood Rate : AED 600.0
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 649
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 315.49 AED plus VAT, taxes, fees, and service charge, per night (420.65 AED less 25%)
8. Hotel Name: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Classic room, for two guests including breakfast
Starwood Rate : AED 514.35
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 392
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 251.25 AED (335.00 AED less 25%) per night, plus VAT, service charge, and fees, including breakfast
9. Hotel Name: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (3 nights)
Number of Adults : 2
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : One Classic room, for two guests including breakfast
Starwood Rate : AED 409
Competing Website : banned.org
Competing rate : AED 299
BRG Reward : twentyPercent
Actual confirmed rate: 225.68 AED per night, plus VAT, fees and service charge (300.90 AED-25%)
This is sample of our BRG bookings from our two leisure trips to Cancun and Emirates, not all becouse I don't have time to copy/delete paste and search BRG emails.
But why I post this now ??? To show how hard I am looking for BRG's or how I am clever or how much money we can save ... but I am sure this kinds of post not help FT users with their BRG searching.
After 1st August we will have new rulez and new problems, not only that Gala cancel all dealz with SPG hotels
))@ Zorak : and which way I will know that this member which ask via DM about OTA site is not from Stariott BRG office ??
May 6, 2018, 3:12 pm
#604
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Zurich
Programs: Aegean Gold, United Mileage Plus Silver, Privilege Club Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite (LTP)
Posts: 118
Magnolia Hotel St Louis
Hotel Name: Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (5 nights)
Number of Adults : 1
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Traditional Room, single occupancy
Starwood Rate : USD 118.35
Competing Website : www.expedia.de
Competing rate : EUR 85.82
Actual confirmed rate: USD 78.90 per night, plus tax (105.19 USD - 25%)
The rate was only available on the .de site of Expedia, on the US site the rate matched the SPG rate.
Arrival Date : 05/xx/2018
Departure Date : 05/yy/2018 (5 nights)
Number of Adults : 1
Number of Rooms : 1
Room Type : Traditional Room, single occupancy
Starwood Rate : USD 118.35
Competing Website : www.expedia.de
Competing rate : EUR 85.82
Actual confirmed rate: USD 78.90 per night, plus tax (105.19 USD - 25%)
The rate was only available on the .de site of Expedia, on the US site the rate matched the SPG rate.
May 6, 2018, 3:35 pm
#605
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,233
at first, when the merger completed, i also did not want to post the competing website of the successful brg claims (to follow what had been done in marriott LNF thread).
however, later on, i think doing so is not useful nor helping others on flyertalk and starriott still has those information anyways.
so, as long as no specific rule for posting a comment in this thread has been announced by Moderator of this forum.
I will keep posting the competing website of successful brg claims.
Oh, BTW, @lexdevil
if you have enough points, you can make an award booking just to create a reservation number and then file a brg claim. (award booking always has free cancellation policy.)
I used to ask about this once here in this thread and someone had confirmed that with the brg agent.
Anyone can update this fact in Wiki? Thanks in advance.
p.s. no offense to anyone just sharing my thought and sorry for my poor english.
however, later on, i think doing so is not useful nor helping others on flyertalk and starriott still has those information anyways.
so, as long as no specific rule for posting a comment in this thread has been announced by Moderator of this forum.
I will keep posting the competing website of successful brg claims.
Oh, BTW, @lexdevil
if you have enough points, you can make an award booking just to create a reservation number and then file a brg claim. (award booking always has free cancellation policy.)
I used to ask about this once here in this thread and someone had confirmed that with the brg agent.
Anyone can update this fact in Wiki? Thanks in advance.
p.s. no offense to anyone just sharing my thought and sorry for my poor english.
May 6, 2018, 3:54 pm
#606
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hold it down for The Bay, reppin' Oakland
Programs: Lowly UA silver, Marriott Ambassador/Tit4Lyf, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,763
Oh, BTW, @lexdevil
if you have enough points, you can make an award booking just to create a reservation number and then file a brg claim. (award booking always has free cancellation policy.)
I used to ask about this once here in this thread and someone had confirmed that with the brg agent.
if you have enough points, you can make an award booking just to create a reservation number and then file a brg claim. (award booking always has free cancellation policy.)
I used to ask about this once here in this thread and someone had confirmed that with the brg agent.
In this case, the BRG policy does not give me an incentive to book through the SPG website. I'll get a lower flexible rate from Expedia. And once I realize that in order to get the best flexible rate I will have to give up some of the benefits of my Marriott/SPG status, I might as well consider booking with a rival company. That can't possibly be SPG's intended outcome, can it?
May 6, 2018, 10:55 pm
#607
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: MEX/YVR/YYF
Programs: AS MVP/AC75K/AM Gold/UA*S/SPG-Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Accor-FPC Gold/HHDiamond/Hyatt Exp
Posts: 5,035
My winning streak has come to an end.
Four denials in two days, all from India-based agents as well. Truly frustrating.
There appears to be confusion over the 10% service charge and I gave up trying today. This is for Taipei properties in 10 days.
The most recent denial was with the Hotels.com Cinco de Mayo promo and the code was deemed invalid for BRG even though it is publicly available.
Not pleased.
Is Taiwan that difficult to BRG now?
Four denials in two days, all from India-based agents as well. Truly frustrating.
There appears to be confusion over the 10% service charge and I gave up trying today. This is for Taipei properties in 10 days.
The most recent denial was with the Hotels.com Cinco de Mayo promo and the code was deemed invalid for BRG even though it is publicly available.
Not pleased.
Is Taiwan that difficult to BRG now?
May 7, 2018, 1:15 am
#608
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: EDUU
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, HH Diamond, PC Plat Amb, BA EC Gold, Asiana Diamond, TK Elite
Posts: 193
May 7, 2018, 9:33 am
#609
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: MEX/YVR/YYF
Programs: AS MVP/AC75K/AM Gold/UA*S/SPG-Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Accor-FPC Gold/HHDiamond/Hyatt Exp
Posts: 5,035
May 7, 2018, 11:47 am
#611
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: MEX/YVR/YYF
Programs: AS MVP/AC75K/AM Gold/UA*S/SPG-Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Accor-FPC Gold/HHDiamond/Hyatt Exp
Posts: 5,035
IME, If I submit after 3 pm Eastern Time, India gets it. This depends on the volume of claims at any given time. YMMV.
May 7, 2018, 12:45 pm
#612
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,933
Some recent data points for upcoming stays, all via common sites like Kayak/Priceline/etc.
August:
Hotel Name: Park Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buenos Aires
Room Type: One deluxe room with one guest, 3 nights
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 258
Competing Rate: 179.56 USD (239.41 less 25%)
Comments: initial rejection in 9.5 hours due to lack of availability; appealed via email and rejected again in 3 hours; called in because I could still see the rate and approved 4 hours later.
October: two separate stays
Hotel Name: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Room Type: Airport View Room for one adult, 3 nights
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: EUR 200
Competing Rate: 134.32 EUR (179.09 EUR less 25%)
Hotel Name: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Room Type: Airport View Room for one adult, 1 night
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: EUR 160
Competing Rate: 106.18 EUR (141.57 EUR-25%)
in both cases the competing site had both regular rooms and airport view rooms at the same price; the former was not BRG-able but the latter was
May:
Le Meridien Sentosa Singapore, rejected after 23 hours
For those seeking geographical correlation, all 4 BRGs were initially submitted during US nighttime hours. The 3 approvals were signed by Western-sounding names. The rejection was not, but I confirm that I no longer see the competing rate either
You wouldn't. But as discussed already, what information do you plan to hand out via DM that you didn't already submit on your BRG claim form?
August:
Hotel Name: Park Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buenos Aires
Room Type: One deluxe room with one guest, 3 nights
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 258
Competing Rate: 179.56 USD (239.41 less 25%)
Comments: initial rejection in 9.5 hours due to lack of availability; appealed via email and rejected again in 3 hours; called in because I could still see the rate and approved 4 hours later.
October: two separate stays
Hotel Name: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Room Type: Airport View Room for one adult, 3 nights
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: EUR 200
Competing Rate: 134.32 EUR (179.09 EUR less 25%)
Hotel Name: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Room Type: Airport View Room for one adult, 1 night
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: EUR 160
Competing Rate: 106.18 EUR (141.57 EUR-25%)
in both cases the competing site had both regular rooms and airport view rooms at the same price; the former was not BRG-able but the latter was
May:
Le Meridien Sentosa Singapore, rejected after 23 hours
For those seeking geographical correlation, all 4 BRGs were initially submitted during US nighttime hours. The 3 approvals were signed by Western-sounding names. The rejection was not, but I confirm that I no longer see the competing rate either
@ Zorak : and which way I will know that this member which ask via DM about OTA site is not from Stariott BRG office ??
May 7, 2018, 6:26 pm
#613
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
I'm thinking about staying at a Design Hotel for two nights. For the second night, a friend would join us, so I'd book a second room for her for one night.
I just got a claim approved for the same hotel for different dates (about two weeks prior), but now I'm not sure how to proceed:
How often can I submit a BRG for the same hotel (as my claim was approved for a stay just two weeks before the second one)
Also, obviously I would have two make to separate bookings (as my gf and I will be staying two nights, but our friend will only stay one night), so we'd have to submit two claims.
Can that be problematic (only a certain number of claims can be approved for the same hotel/area in a specific period)?
I just got a claim approved for the same hotel for different dates (about two weeks prior), but now I'm not sure how to proceed:
How often can I submit a BRG for the same hotel (as my claim was approved for a stay just two weeks before the second one)
Also, obviously I would have two make to separate bookings (as my gf and I will be staying two nights, but our friend will only stay one night), so we'd have to submit two claims.
Can that be problematic (only a certain number of claims can be approved for the same hotel/area in a specific period)?
May 7, 2018, 10:53 pm
#614
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: MEX/YVR/YYF
Programs: AS MVP/AC75K/AM Gold/UA*S/SPG-Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Accor-FPC Gold/HHDiamond/Hyatt Exp
Posts: 5,035
May 7, 2018, 11:38 pm
#615
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Where/how did you find the lower rate?
I find that Asia-based hotels (in my case HKG) are becoming increasingly difficult to claim, SPG simply tends to always be cheapest.
I find that Asia-based hotels (in my case HKG) are becoming increasingly difficult to claim, SPG simply tends to always be cheapest.