BEWARE of SPG they don't honour best rate match

[Edge]

SPG just honored my best rate claim. I'm not an SPG member (will be after this stay) so had no history with the company. I had to submit it twice, which was a bit annoying, because it got rejected the first time (and justifiably so). But they have their processes they need to follow so it was worth it in the end.. will save me ~$500 on a 6-night stay.

my situation was a bit different.. there's still 2 months until my booking and seems like there's plenty of availability. reason the first claim got rejected was the rate on agoda.com was actually the same as starwood's rate if you entered agoda directly or via google. I had entered agoda via skyscanner.net and it was serving me up even greater discounted rates. i put agoda on the initial claim and was denied. after providing evidence they requested i re-process the claim on skyscanner.net and step them through the process to achieve the cheaper rate. i did this and they honored it.. so thumbs up from me. this is something i'll definitely be using in the future.

 

[Alanslegal]

SPG just honored my best rate claim. I'm not an SPG member (will be after this stay) so had no history with the company. I had to submit it twice, which was a bit annoying, because it got rejected the first time (and justifiably so). But they have their processes they need to follow so it was worth it in the end.. will save me ~$500 on a 6-night stay.

Well done!

FWIW my understanding of the BRG process is that when claims are submitted to Starwood Corporate (SC), they review the claim independently of the hotel in question and if successful, they impose a BRG process fee (I think I read US$40 somewhere) against that hotel. So Corporate when assessing BRG claims need to make sure they follow the T&Cs strictly because if they didn't, the hotel revenue manager or similar, would be able to oppose those BRG levy against them.

 

[MrJetset]

Well done!

FWIW my understanding of the BRG process is that when claims are submitted to Starwood Corporate (SC), they review the claim independently of the hotel in question and if successful, they impose a BRG process fee (I think I read US$40 somewhere) against that hotel. So Corporate when assessing BRG claims need to make sure they follow the T&Cs strictly because if they didn't, the hotel revenue manager or similar, would be able to oppose those BRG levy against them.

Correct. The whole point of all BRG programs is that the hotel's official website should have the best rates. i.e. the sales team should be uploaded at the bare minimum the same rates on Expedia, Wotif etc. as what they offer via their own or their chain's website.

 

[markis10]

Did a BRG overnight with success, no issues with prepaid versus flex or different bedding, very easy.

 

[jimmyk]

Did a BRG overnight with success, no issues with prepaid versus flex or different bedding, very easy.

Agreed. I found a better rate on another website, sent the BRG off to Starwood who said they would honour it. Booked through SPG and all sorted in less than 24 hours. No dramas!

 

[Pdl7]

Correct. The whole point of all BRG programs is that the hotel's official website should have the best rates. i.e. the sales team should be uploaded at the bare minimum the same rates on Expedia, Wotif etc. as what they offer via their own or their chain's website.

Except that the bulk sites often sell a slightly different product at a different price (breakfast/no breakfast, wi-fi etc) - which might be a reason why the BRG's have rules.

It seems the short version of all of this is:
1. Best Rate Guarantees have specific rules, which we need to meet to claim. Don't be surprised if you get rejected.
2. SPG has a better BRG than some other hotel programmes, with a number of AFFers successfully applying. (Beforehand!)

Perhaps the post should be called "Beware of BRGs - they are not always accepted"?

pdl7

 

[Alanslegal]

Except that the bulk sites often sell a slightly different product at a different price (breakfast/no breakfast, wi-fi etc) - which might be a reason why the BRG's have rules.

It seems the short version of all of this is:
1. Best Rate Guarantees have specific rules, which we need to meet to claim. Don't be surprised if you get rejected.
2. SPG has a better BRG than some other hotel programmes, with a number of AFFers successfully applying. (Beforehand!)

Perhaps the post should be called "Beware of BRGs - they are not always accepted"?

pdl7

All BRG programs have rules and conditions, its normal.

I don't have access to the SPG rules and conditions on me, but from memory, about 18 months ago they changed it so as long you compare apples to apples or pears to pears, then the BRG will be succesful. So if the competiting rate is packaged eg. room and breakfast and internet .... and you found a similar package rate at SPG (room,breakfast,internet), then its allowed. Before that ~18 months, it wasn't allowed - where you could only compare room vs room, and nothing else.