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BRG is a way of getting compensation for finding a cheaper rate then the one offered by the hotel website.  Compensation varies greatly by the hotel brand policy. It can be in the one following: first night free, gift cards, matched rate with an additional percent discount as well as bonus points.

Hotel brand/ site compensation policy
Please note: most will match the rate plus give compensation.
Choice hotel : $50 VISA gift card plus rate matched (US residents) OR first night free plus rate matched (non-US residents). It goes by the address you write on the reservation so if you Write down an Israel (or anywhere non U.S) address, you're good
Ihg: rate matched plus 5x points for the reservation
Best Western: rate matched plus 100$ BW travel card
Marriott: 25% off matched rate or 5,000 Marriott points
Hyatt: 20% off matched rate or 5,000 Hyatt points
Hilton: 25% off matched rate
Wyndham: rate matched plus 3,000 Wyndham points



How to find a brg claim
Search for the hotel and dates of your choice and then the fun begins.
Hotel price comparison web sites are great way of finding BRGs. Some of the following work very well:

TripAdvisor.com
Hotelscombined.com
Trivago.com
Wego.com

If you want some tutorial articles about how BRGs work, how to find them, how to match them, and all the details, go to http://brgdeals.blogspot.com/ and read the articles.

The site run by a guy named David, and he also finds BRGs and posts them there. So If you don't want to start making one yourself, just go to his site, search for the city you need and see if there are any current BRGs available. You can also be spontaneous and look at his most recent finds (he posts new ones almost daily), although you may have not planned a trip, but if you can get it free (or discounted) hey why not.

How to claim a brg
You do need to book the hotel first and then file a BRG claim.  Just search the hotels/ third party site for a best rate gaurantee policy and you should be able to find a link to a brg claim form. Be aware that room and conditions need to be a perfect match.
As they often find ways to wiggle out of this policy it's not advised to book a non refundable room unless you would have stayed there regardless.


Redeeming brgs
No  diff as to the form of compensation ( discount or free night) redeeming Is all the same. Your reservation will look like a standard reservation except it will be either discounted or show a 00.00 balance. Most hotel receptionists aren't familiar with brgs and automatically assume that it's a points stay.


Why I love choice brgs
Choice hotels include brands like quality inn, comfort inn, rodeway and of course the ascend collection. They are fairly easy when it comes to approving claims as long as you stick to the following:
- 1 claim per household per 30 days
- price match before taxes (ymmv on this one)
- your claim is submitted / approved 72 hours before your scheduled stay
However even within those policy's there are plenty of loop
Holes.



When Posting a brg please use the following Example format:

BRG claim for: Choice Hotels
Hotel Name: comfort suites
Hotel Add: 320 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, US, 60601
Room Type: Queen Suite
Room Rate:197
Better rate found: Hotelscombined.com
Better Rate: 127
« Last edited by a mirrer on August 05, 2019, 01:23:12 PM »

Author Topic: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee  (Read 431855 times)

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #120 on: June 21, 2013, 03:27:06 PM »
I also received this email on the 18th

Dear Mr.
 
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on 20 Jun 2013 at the Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights - Meadowlands.
 
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number 60******, we will reimburse the amount you paid via check which you can expect to receive in 4 - 6 weeks.Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent. Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ghie Arenas
Best Price Guarantee
Guest Relations
InterContinental Hotels Group
Phone: 800.447.2981
E-mail: bestpriceguarantee@IHG.com
www.IHG.com/bestprice


Due to other reasons, I didnt end up staying there, and i never canceled the reservation, because I posted an expired cc. Any chance they'll mail me a check if i didnt spend any money to begin with?
There's certainly a chance Ms Arenas will google her own name, right?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline intgesh

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #121 on: June 21, 2013, 03:35:10 PM »
oooops you're right! i've fixed it now

Offline intgesh

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #122 on: June 23, 2013, 12:00:49 PM »
Does anyone have any IHG BRG experience outside the US?

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #123 on: June 23, 2013, 04:58:21 PM »
oooops you're right! i've fixed it now
But platinum Guy will have to change his post too.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #124 on: June 25, 2013, 10:18:01 AM »
Got this email from IHG today:

Quote
Dear Mr. ________,
 
 
Greetings from IHG’s Best Price Guarantee Support Desk. Please accept our apologies, but due to some technical difficulty, we were unable to adjust your reservation to reflect your free night on _________ at the InterContinental New York Barclay.
 
In order to fulfill the BPG promise of providing the first night free for reservation number __________, we will reimburse the amount paid via check. You can expect to receive payment in four to six weeks after your stay.
 
Please provide us your complete mailing address where you would like your check to be sent.
 
Again, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause you.
 
 
Best Regards,
 
Best Price Guarantee
Guest Relations
InterContinental Hotels Group
Phone 800.447.2981
Email: bestpriceguarantee@ichotelsgroup.com
www.ichotelsgroup.com/bestprice
Reference No.

Seems like im in the clear now for my stay, and a nice way for some free points.

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #125 on: June 25, 2013, 05:10:21 PM »
Do they compare currency's?

I see the Crown Plaza Niagara Falls Fallsview on Aug 12 a standard room is 219CAD and on Hotelstravel.com it's 175USD

Offline AJK

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #126 on: June 25, 2013, 05:20:48 PM »
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline dovy2

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #127 on: June 25, 2013, 05:22:03 PM »
in case it might be of interest:
choicehotels.com upgraded their BRG that you get a free night if you find a lower rate (used to be that they just matched it)

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #128 on: June 25, 2013, 05:25:57 PM »

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #129 on: June 25, 2013, 11:24:37 PM »
Got this email today with their official policy spelled out

Dear Mr.
Thank you for contacting our office regarding the Best Price Guarantee in reference to rates at the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with this matter.
As per the terms of the program, the room price on the non-IHG website must be available in the currency of the hotel. The average nightly rate must be a minimum difference of 1% or $1 USD (or the equivalent in the hotel’s currency) of the IHG room rate, whichever is higher. The room price must be quoted, booked, and paid for in the currency of the hotel. 
 
We understand that www.hoteltravel.com may display rates in CAD. However, it is an estimated amount shown only as a reference for international guests. Please be advised that the actual charge in Hoteltravel can only be made in either USD or EUR. The room price must be quoted, booked, and paid for in CAD to meet the Matching Prices clause.
 
 
Due to the above reason, we regret to inform you that the claim did not quality for the free night.
 
We encourage you to Learn about our guarantee and view our Terms & Conditions. We appreciate your interest in filing for the Best Price Guarantee. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us again.

 
Best Regards,
 
Best Price Guarantee
Guest Relations
InterContinental Hotels Group
Phone 800.447.2981
Email: bestpriceguarantee@ichotelsgroup.com
www.ichotelsgroup.com/bestprice
Reference No.

Offline stmark

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #130 on: June 26, 2013, 01:08:01 PM »
If I found a Holiday Inn for $329/night (after taxes and fees) from hoteltravel.com and from Priority club site the same room in bfr is $339/night(after taxes and fees), for one night, would this claim get approved?

TIA

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #131 on: June 26, 2013, 01:08:46 PM »
What is the rate (with out taxes)

Offline Dan

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #132 on: June 26, 2013, 01:10:45 PM »
If I found a Holiday Inn for $329/night (after taxes and fees) from hoteltravel.com and from Priority club site the same room in bfr is $339/night(after taxes and fees), for one night, would this claim get approved?

TIA
If it's also higher before the fees, sure.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline stmark

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #133 on: June 26, 2013, 01:14:39 PM »
If it's also higher before the fees, sure.

before taxes and fees:
282on hoteltravel
294 on priority club
both for the standard room

Thank you Dan!

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #134 on: June 26, 2013, 01:17:42 PM »
Go for it!
Make sure the rooms are the same exact

Offline yehuda S

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #135 on: June 26, 2013, 01:29:29 PM »
I've been kind of 'out of it' in terms of following up on the ihg Barclay ballyhoo.

Did anyone else get an email like this?

"Dear Yehuda S

Thank you for contacting our office regarding the Best Price Guarantee in reference to rates at InterContinental New York Barclay. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with this matter.
 
 
We have verified the lower rate you found on www.hoteltravel.com.  We are working on the best way to adjust your reservation to a FREE night stay for 1 adult. We appreciate your patience and will contact you via e-mail once this has been confirmed. "
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline shmu

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #136 on: June 26, 2013, 01:36:32 PM »
did you file your claim online or by phone? with screenshot or not?

Offline stmark

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #137 on: June 26, 2013, 01:59:40 PM »
On phone (mainly on hold) with them now 15+min.  I took plenty of screenshots!

Offline stmark

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #138 on: June 26, 2013, 02:18:22 PM »
Got it!

Thank you to all for your help!

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #139 on: June 27, 2013, 12:00:23 AM »
Did the match to the NY Barclay King Suite (Which had a Stench and construction all morning)

I got the email the morning of the stay saying they will send a check within 4-6 weeks

After asking The front desk manager he confirmed that the stay was not billed at all. (The amount is still pending on the card)

Possibly will get the check as well :)