Best Price Guarantee

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gwynne

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Jul 11, 2008
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I'm an Intercontinental Ambassador. I have a refundable booking at a Mexican Intercon Resort in April for 6 nights.

Current rate is $US1,992 for refundable inc taxes and service charges.

If I convert to non-refundable it should go to about $US1,793. At current exchange rates that's about $2,134 AUD.

Expedia.com.au currently has rooms available for $1,704 AUD including taxes and service charges.

I've looked at the US expedia site and can't get the same rate in USD to match the deal so how will IHG deal with the exchange rate difference in a price match?
 
Further research on flyertalk (without posting there) seems to indicate the online rate needs to be in same currency so I've booked with expedia and cancelled my flexible booking with IHG. The expedia rate is refundable which is a massive bonus as well. My next question is will I still get the ambassador benefits? IHG points? For the saving involved I don't really mind either way.
 
You are saving 400+$ for sure (particularly with the weak AUD to USD).

What you are 'giving up' is points and a room upgrade and a movie and fruit/water on arrival as well as any status goals you are trying to reach for next year (i.e. stays and nights).

No points for you! Good work finding a better deal ...now hold the position on the non-refundable and see if something better comes up or a promotion.

Alternatively, contact the hotel and say look ...i am an ambassador, i want to go direct (and get the benefits too) why don't you match the price.
 
Damn, figured I'd still get the ambassador benefits even if no points but we're already at our limits on budget so a $400 saving is perfect (plus could be more if FX rate gets worse as I expect. Been checking probably fortnightly for promotions already hence finding this deal today. The cancellable makes it perfect. Contacting the hotel in Mexico could be difficult (had enough trouble on the phone to IHG trying to work out if price match could apply and that was an American - dodgy phone connection). I might email them instead.
 
Evey now and again an Intercontinental in that part of the world will come up as a Points break opportunity 5000 points..but you will have to wait till late Feb to see the next list or thereabouts.. Keep working the deals! And you never know if you signal at the desk on check in you are ambassador they may do something just not likely...
 
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If Expedia has it cheaper I can assure you there are 10+ other hotel booking sites that do too. Keep hunting... IHG will require a currency match for a successful BRG. If approves you'll get the first night free and the rate lowered. The downside is that if you make any additional changes to the res after BRG is applied you Will lose the lower rate.

happy BRG hunting ;)
 
On a brg you will get all your imb benefits. You brg will not be a valid claim due to the currency. If its for a us property there are many many sites for a sucessful brg just make sure the cancellation policies match. And also submit the claim during the week for greater success.
 
Alternatively, contact the hotel and say look ...i am an ambassador, i want to go direct (and get the benefits too) why don't you match the price.

Do you really think this would work out? I hope so, but I doubt they'll match the price unless there's someone in a really good mood who helps you out.
 
Do you really think this would work out? I hope so, but I doubt they'll match the price unless there's someone in a really good mood who helps you out.

yes ens as the OP said difficult overseas to speak re English as a second language. The fact is, via OTA channels these hotels are losing 15-30% of their revenue. Sure ..there are upsides like attracting new customers via OTAs and other benefits but the OP should be a retained customer. If someone has the authority there to make it happen then great, doesn't hurt to ask if the savings outweigh the costs for the OP to do so (time, phone costs, confusion/annoyance, possible mixed up booking etc.)
 
Selected extract of my email to them
Yesterday on www.expedia.com.au I found a rate for $A1,616 including taxes plus the $US12 per night service charge. This is equivalent to $US1429.44 for six nights. Even better the rate is refundable. I looked at using the Intercontintental Price Match however I wasn't sure if the price match applied because of the different currencies. I tried ringing IHG but the reservations consultant did not seem to understand my question. I therefore made the booking with expedia rather than taking the risk of the price match failing and paying $A450 more than necessary.

Full response

Good day Mr. Gwynne,
Thank you for contacting the hotel directly and let us know your concern about your booking.
I´ve done a research on our IHG.com website and Expedia.com of what you have mentioned about a lower rate found in Expedia.com
On the following screen shots you can see that We are honoring the Best Available Rate in our site, also that We keep rates parity among the third party distribution channels as of Expedia.com. About the variances in currencies we do not have control over them since it is determined by each third party.
I would like to assist on your request but since I cannot find the discrepancies that you mentioned there is anything I can do at this point.
Please let me know If further information is required.
Best Regards,

Completely missing the point. Responded directly and haven't heard anything for almost two weeks so not holding out hope.
 
Send it to IHG directly. The hotel will receive a 'fine/service charge' and they are more likely to approve the request. Additionally they could point back to the terms about 24 hour windows. See - hotel people have this 1980 mindset where they think you won't cancel the reservation. Cancel and rebook , then use stayangel to get the better rate then a free night on a BRG claim
 
I've looked at the US expedia site and can't get the same rate in USD to match the deal so how will IHG deal with the exchange rate difference in a price match?
They have refused to acknowledge you have cheaper rate if not in same currency.

I have given up with their Best Rate Guarantee.
 
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