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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 432350 times)

Offline Drago

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #220 on: August 14, 2013, 10:32:17 AM »
Would like a hand with this please, trying it for the first time.
Found a sheraton in Atl for 9/29 for 1 night for 1 adult, on sheraton its $169 on Directrooms its $147 incl taxes.
Its for a standard double room.
Did I find s/t legit, or do I have s/t wrong?
TIA
SPG has a good policy in which you don't even have to book the room b/f submitting it. They'll give you 24 hrs after approval to book the room with them.
You'll get a price match, and either an additional 10% discount ($15 in you case) or 2,000 SPG points.

Offline chucksterace

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #221 on: August 14, 2013, 11:02:51 AM »
Just got the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center for this Friday night. Is it worth going?
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Offline ca39

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #222 on: August 14, 2013, 11:45:41 AM »
Just got the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center for this Friday night. Is it worth going?

which website do you use to find hotels in isreal?

Offline chucksterace

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #223 on: August 14, 2013, 11:55:36 AM »
which website do you use to find hotels in isreal?

Used Olotels.com
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Offline Jkhein

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #224 on: August 14, 2013, 11:58:27 AM »
I was once declined a claim because olotels does not specify cancelation or refund rules, do they?

Offline ca39

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #225 on: August 14, 2013, 11:58:37 AM »
Used Olotels.com

do you have a specific day or time that you know they dont update their system. Im a noob and have tried to find something and have not found anything.

Offline chucksterace

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #226 on: August 14, 2013, 11:59:40 AM »
I was once declined a claim because olotels does not specify cancelation or refund rules, do they?

Just worked for me
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Offline ca39

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #227 on: August 14, 2013, 04:02:11 PM »
Just worked for me

I need help. This is my first time trying to do this.

I think i found something but i dont know if it is forsure right.

i attached the screen shots on a word doc. the room i think that is the same is the executive room twin beds.

is this a price match? did i do it correctly?

now should i buy the hotel room on ihg?

thank you so much:)
« Last Edit: August 14, 2013, 04:07:40 PM by ca39 »

Offline SGF

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #228 on: August 14, 2013, 04:26:52 PM »
I need help. This is my first time trying to do this.

I think i found something but i dont know if it is forsure right.

i attached the screen shots on a word doc. the room i think that is the same is the executive room twin beds.

is this a price match? did i do it correctly?

now should i buy the hotel room on ihg?

thank you so much:)
If you are trying to match to 'double room executive':
1. Names of rooms don't match
2. The difference is less than 1%.

Doesn't mean they'll realize (I had it done with less than 1% diff.) but as per the t&c it won't work

Offline ca39

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #229 on: August 14, 2013, 04:30:18 PM »
okay thank you

Offline Drago

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #230 on: August 14, 2013, 05:10:54 PM »
Anyone know how long it should take for the 2k SPG points to post after the stay?
Is follow up generally required?

Offline ayman

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #231 on: August 14, 2013, 08:15:51 PM »
What site got you a better rate?
Buy discounted gift cards from me.
www.simplifyshopping.com

Offline Drago

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #232 on: August 14, 2013, 10:29:28 PM »
What site got you a better rate?
olotels * 2

Offline ayman

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #233 on: August 15, 2013, 09:45:38 AM »
Buy discounted gift cards from me.
www.simplifyshopping.com

Offline Drago

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #234 on: August 15, 2013, 10:04:24 AM »

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #235 on: August 15, 2013, 01:30:35 PM »
Anyone know how long it should take for the 2k SPG points to post after the stay?
Is follow up generally required?
I just did 2, and both required follow up. I just replied to the email, and they apologized and said it should post in a week.

ETA: I see the second one just posted today
Create professional looking itineraries.
Check out eliteitinerary.com

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #236 on: August 16, 2013, 03:43:54 PM »
I may have found something- if there is free breakfast on the other site and on IHG there isn't will they still honor?
keep in mind that HolidayInn Express and Crowne Plaza (maybe others to) all come with free breakfast. So the other web site will usually say free breakfast when IHG wouldn't. It will still qualify, and if they say something just point this out.

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #237 on: August 19, 2013, 11:51:54 PM »
Just sent in a brg to spg for the westin peachtree hotel in atl, hoping it goes through.  :D
It's $80 cheaper on orbitz. For 9/29.
Do i need to make a res first? Read somewhere here you don't but rep on the phone said you do.
Buy discounted gift cards from me.
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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #238 on: August 26, 2013, 01:19:08 AM »
olotels * 2

How do you do it with Olotels? All of the rates on their site seem to be non-cancellable (i.e. not refundable)

Offline Drago

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Re: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee
« Reply #239 on: August 26, 2013, 02:39:34 AM »
How do you do it with Olotels? All of the rates on their site seem to be non-cancellable (i.e. not refundable)

SPG doesn't require you to book before applying for the BRG. They give you 24 hrs to book after being approved.