makin'miles

Actually, it did qualify. Room for one night only was available elsewhere, but not on SPG.com, and SPG confirmed it for me. Helpful to know, and a 2000 point bonus .

trilinearmipmap

Expedia.ca rate for a regular room King bed is CDN $110.00, spg.com rate is $135.00, filed a claim before booking the room, claim accepted without any hassle. This is my first time trying this and so far the system works like it is supposed to.

Starwood Lurker II

On the condition that the "apples" are clearly stated. If there is a minimum length of stay for a particular rate and it has been publicised officially, then you would have to compare it with a rate of the similar "MLOS" condition.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Sagy

Hotel Name: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Arrival Date: 12-12-2009
Departure Date: 12-13-2009
Room Type: 2 Double Beds
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 99
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: Booking.com
Competing rate: 79

Hotel Name: Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center
Arrival Date: 12-20-2009
Departure Date: 12-24-2009
Room Type: Classic Garden
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 106
Company room provider: Other
Other Company room provider: easyclicktravel.com
Competing rate: 84.12

cober6711

There are 3 sites I've had the most luck with when claiming BRG's:

1. gtahotels.com
2. Easyclicktravel.com
3. Booking.com

By far, the best is gtahotels.com. It seems I'm almost always able to find something...and they always approve my claims.

Recent successes include $120/night at the Sheraton Centre Toronto (down from $219) and $76 at the Sheraton on the Falls (down from $129)

Starwood's BRG program is far superior to the one offered by Hilton; Ive never, EVER had claims approved by them, and they always come up with such stupid excuses, whereas Starwood always seems to be fair.

Sagy

General agreement. The only part I find strange (unfair?) is that if the competing site includes breakfast in the deal and Starwood doesn't then Starwood will reject your claim. If both sites offer breakfast in the room rate, Starwood will honor the BRG even if the Room+Breakfast is not the cheapest rate on Starwood site. Basically, everything has to be identical other than the price.

To be clear, I'm not saying that Starwood is doing anything outside the rules they have setup (actually they are following their own rules to the letter). I just find it strange that if another site is offering more for less, the BRG is rejected even if I only want the room (not interested in the extras, I just want the lower price).

Overall, the program is very well run and the people are always professional and do take the time to explain the rules and help you. The best feature of the Starwood BRG is the fact that you can get confirmation of the BRG claim before you have to make the reservation^^^.

BEAV

Hotel Name: Le Meridien San Francisco
Arrival Date: 12-12-2009
Departure Date: 12-13-2009
Room Type: Classic King
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $179
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: Booking.com
Competing rate: $119

pclee

Hotel Name: Le Meridien Cancun
Arrival Date: December 21, 2009
Departure Date: December 23, 2009
Room Type: Royal Beach Club
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $212
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: gtahotels.com
Competing rate: $120
Actual confirmed rate: 126.79USD plus taxes
BRG Reward: points

according to spg, 6.79$ is the booking fee in gtahotels.com

BKKLEE

Hotel Name: Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego Hotel
Arrival Date: 04 Oct 2010
Departure Date: 06 Oct 2010
Room Type: King
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 129 USD
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: Booking.com
Competing rate: 101 USD

RAPC

Hotel Name: Westin Los Cabos
Arrival Date: Early Jan 2010
Departure Date: Early Jan 2010 (4 nights total)
Room Type: Deluxe Ocean View room
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $317.50
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: Expedia.com
Competing rate: $225
Actual confirmed rate: $202.50 plus taxes
BRG Reward: 10% discount

Claim submitted and had a reply within 24 hours. No problems with the process and the hotel has also emailed to double check details with me. They have now confirmed this at the property end as well. ^

Astrophsx

Is there a minimum amount in difference in order to get the 2,000 starwood points? I found one with just a $5-8 difference... and I got this message:

Thank you for your interest in The Starwood Best Rate Guarantee Program. I welcome this opportunity to assist you.


In the event that 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 to be applied will be based on the exchange rate that would have been used by the applicable Starwood Hotel at the time of making the original reservation.

After converting the Competing Rate, I have deemed that the difference between the rates is due to, but not limited to, different currency exchange rates used by the two rate providers. As a result I am unable to approve your claim.


I have reviewed the rates for The Westin Dublin for the dates of your claim on our website and found a rate of 160.30EUR tax included. The rate I found on Orbitz.com was 156.28EUR tax included.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Best Rate Guarantee Specialist
E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

Starwood Lurker II

Rates have to be converted to the same currency for comparison when a BRG claim is submitted.

There is a percentage of variance(difference) after conversion in which the claim would not be approved.

Unfortunately, I do not have the exact percentage at this moment and I might have to consult my colleague(in charge of BRG claims) to find out if such information can be revealed.

My suggestion would be to respond to the associate who has processed your claim and enquire further for an answer.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee

Astrophsx

It was a no go... grr
She told me that they leave some wiggle room for currency exchange, I still think I should get some points, but I guess a $5 difference is not very large.

Do many people do the best rate thing to rack up points? or is that frowned upon?

jb831

Got a claim rejected, although the lower rate I found is still available.

Hotel Name: The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel
Arrival Date: 01-16-2010
Departure Date: 01-17-2010
Room Type: 2 Double Beds, Traditional
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: $92.65
Company room provider: Other Web Site
Other Company room provider: gtahotels.com
Competing rate: $92.00

The claim was rejected because they "reviewed the rates for The Westin Los Angeles Airport ... and found a rate of 92.65USD plus taxes which is lower than the rate of 93.96USD plus taxes found on Gtahotels.com."

When I go to gtahotels.com, I see a rate of $92 USD, right through the booking page -- am I missing something? Where is this mysterious $93.96 rate coming from?

margarita girl

Apparently there is a booking fee for gtahotels.com. For example, one rate I found was $153. The BRG was approved at $154.70. Another was $149, and the BRG was approved at $151.80. Not much of a difference, but in your case it made your BRG invalid.