Free hotels/Best rate guarantee

[yellowj]

@yellowj did you just click quote without posting anything???

No, I wrote a reply. No idea what happened because I'm sure it was there after 

[E]

For a long time I have been denying and pushing back on reports that IHG has made their T&C's worse and that it is virtually impossible to get a valid BRG anymore.
It's hard for me to deny it anymore!

Three years ago, I stumbled upon this thread and read it with a sense of awe and disbelief. I could not believe a that hotels were just gonna give me free 5 star hotel rooms. Like a good Jew, I immediately started searching for opportunities and within the hour of finding this thread, I submitted my first IHG claim for a Chanuka stay in sunny Eilat. Not 24 hours latter, I was on the phone rustling up some friends to join me in my free hotel room!

Since than, I have submitted hundreds of IHG BRG claims, been approved for tens of them and enjoyed some great stays in various hotels and countries all for FREE.
Some of my highlights are the NYC times square Intercontinental right around new years with a rack rate of $750 for the night, Executive Suites in Salzburg with a rack rate of $600, Multiple suite stays at the Intercontinental Warsaw, the no 1 rated hotel in the city which is a 5 minute walk to the shul. A suite at The Intercontinental Tel-Aviv, which is right next to the beach and has an Amazing Club lounge with TONS of free food and drink and a rack rate of $850 a night.

looking back at that first BRG, I know that today it would never have been approved! IHG has gotten absolutely ridiculous with their denials! Anything goes as long as the result is a denial. From claiming that room descriptions don't match when it is clear as day that they are the same room, to claiming that the currencies don't match since according to them, Israels currency is the U.S dollar! to claiming that the third party websites price did not include VAT for a stay in Eilat, a city that is a VAT free!!! (all these are real denials, I have the emails)

Last night, I sent in three claims for new york hotels that I thought were valid based on my years of experience and hundreds of claims.
This morning I got the responses: First and second claims, they admitted that the third party site was cheaper for the same room type but denied the claim because I didn't book the cheapest rate on their site. I booked the cheapest flexible rate but the cheapest rate was "YOUR RATE by IHG® Rewards Club Advance Purchase".

This is absolutely ludicrous since it essentially means that the BRG program is only valid for non-refundable rooms and is only available to IHG rewards members. If the idea of the BRG is to get people to book on IHG.com instead of on third party sites like Booking.com or Hotels.com with the assurance that they are getting the best price than it's not very effective to limit it to pre-booked rooms and only members.

Most people that are IHG rewards members will book directly since they want the IHG benefits. What you need to do is convince the other folks, the non members that it is still better to book on IHG.com since they are getting the best price!

Additionally, why would they limit it to pre-booked rooms? Flexible rooms are more expensive so it makes sense to convince people to book those on IHG.com as well! If I want the cheapest refundable room, why should I book on IHG.com where I am not guaranteed the best price when I can book on a site like Orbitz.com or hotels.com where I collect credits towards real free hotel nights???

BTW the third claim was a non-refundable, member only rate and was approved 


 

This is why I regret starting this thread!

[shimino1]

This is why I regret starting this thread!

LOL. I owe you a lot.
Which part of my post made you regret the thread?

[E]

LOL. I owe a lot.
Which part of my post made you regret the thread?

No doubt this would have got on here anyhow, but thosands of claims! this used to be a 10 minute phone conversation to get a free night anywhere.

[shimino1]

No doubt this would have got on here anyhow, but thosands of claims! this used to be a 10 minute phone conversation to get a free night anywhere.

It also used to be a half hour on the computer.....the good old days!

[shimino1]

IHG, BRG opportunity in New York city.
PM for details
I will only give details to people with 500+ posts who promise to behave responsibly.

[mmgfarb]

I got approved for a BRG at an IHG but I made the reservation for 1 person. If I were to call and tell them that I need two beds in the room will that invalidate my claim?

[shulem92]

I got approved for a BRG at an IHG but I made the reservation for 1 person. If I were to call and tell them that I need two beds in the room will that invalidate my claim?

Do that at the front desk. Why risk it

[mmgfarb]

Do that at the front desk. Why risk it

True. Will they give me a problem if I tell them I'm actually going to have more people in the room than are on the reservation?

[shulem92]

True. Will they give me a problem if I tell them I'm actually going to have more people in the room than are on the reservation?

1/2 no. 2/10 yes

[asks]

True. Will they give me a problem if I tell them I'm actually going to have more people in the room than are on the reservation?

Shouldn't be an issue at the point of check in. Plans change all the time. Or you can modify the reservation online and add comments requesting room with 2 beds.

[mmgfarb]

1/2 no. 2/10 yes

I'm confused.

[mmgfarb]

Shouldn't be an issue at the point of check in. Plans change all the time. Or you can modify the reservation online and add comments requesting room with 2 beds.

The whole point is that modifying the reservation voids the BRG

[shulem92]

I'm confused.

Changing from 1 to 2 no. From 2 to 10 yes

[mmgfarb]

Changing from 1 to 2 no. From 2 to 10 yes

Got it, thanks. I wonder if I can get them to give me a suite.

[shimino1]

Shouldn't be an issue at the point of check in. Plans change all the time. Or you can modify the reservation online and add comments requesting room with 2 beds.

That is the most sure way to lose the BRG, tried and true

[hide4]

First time trying to file a claim. Is it dumb to book a non refundable? Won't stay there if not free.

[mochjas]

First time trying to file a claim. Is it dumb to book a non refundable? Won't stay there if not free.

IMO it's dumb

[mmgfarb]

First time trying to file a claim. Is it dumb to book a non refundable? Won't stay there if not free.

Book it with a closed credit card, you might lose it but it's not worth the risk.

[as2]

You can always book it on a canceled card, as they don't charge it until later usually