Starwood Best Rate Guarantee... I don't think so...

[UpInTheAir:)]

Very disappointed with Starwoods best rate guarantee. Had a look for a room at the Four Points in Perth and found the best rate on the website was for a premium king at $344 a night. Looked on Wotif and the rate was $299 for the first night and $341 for the consecutive nights. Lodged a claim with starwoods and they responded that wotif would have a booking fee and therefore it was not cheaper than starwoods. Next day, went back on wotif and grabbed a screen shot of the discounted rate (complete with $5.50 booking fee) and forwarded it to starwoods. They then said that it was for a twin room not a king room and that I would have to lodge another claim... but twin rooms weren't on the starwoods site!!! :evil:

Glad I did not book this room with starwoods as I would have a reservation at a higher price with no price match and no discount.

Think I'll stay at the Hyatt....

 

[markis10]

I have had many claims approved using olotels : Perth accommodation in Perth. Discount Perth accommodation Four Points By Sheraton

They are showing $207 a night


[h=1]Four Points By Sheraton[/h]

From 20 Mai 2013 to 22 Mai 2013, 2 night(s) - 1 Room(s) : 1 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren)
Return to listing Modify
[h=2]Type of room[/h] [TABLE="class: booking-rooms-detail-packages"]
[TR]
[TH="class: bg-orange txt-white txt-left pad-10 pad-l-5 pad-r-5"]Rooms[/TH]
[TH="class: bg-orange txt-white txt-left pad-10 pad-l-5 pad-r-5"]Board[/TH]
[TH="class: bg-orange txt-white txt-center pad-10 pad-l-5 pad-r-5"]Price / night[/TH]
[TH="class: bg-orange txt-white txt-center pad-10 pad-l-5 pad-r-5"]Total price[/TH]
[TH="class: bg-orange txt-white txt-center pad-l-2 pad-10 pad-l-5 pad-r-5"][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: bestpriceroom discountpriceroom to-show"]
[TD="class: txt-left"] Double Or Twin Superior Capacity:

1 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-left txt-medium txt-orange bold"] Room only [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-orange txt-center bold"] 207 AUD /night Best Price [/TD]
[TD="class: bold txt-center totalroomprice"] 414 AUD (2 Nights) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-center"] Only 3 room(s) left [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altern to-show"]
[TD="class: txt-left"] Double Or Twin Superior Capacity:

1 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-left txt-medium txt-orange bold"] Breakfast included [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-orange txt-center bold"] 241 AUD /night [/TD]
[TD="class: bold txt-center totalroomprice"] 482 AUD (2 Nights) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-center"] Available [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: to-show"]
[TD="class: txt-left"] Double Or Twin Deluxe Capacity:

1 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-left txt-medium txt-orange bold"] Room only [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-orange txt-center bold"] 260 AUD /night [/TD]
[TD="class: bold txt-center totalroomprice"] 520 AUD (2 Nights) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-center"] Available [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altern to-show"]
[TD="class: txt-left"] Double Or Twin Deluxe Capacity:

1 Adult(s), 0 Child(ren) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-left txt-medium txt-orange bold"] Breakfast included [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-orange txt-center bold"] 292 AUD /night [/TD]
[TD="class: bold txt-center totalroomprice"] 584 AUD (2 Nights) [/TD]
[TD="class: txt-center"] Available[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Thanks Markis10
That is great
Still disappointed with Starwoods Best Rate Guarantee...

 

[markis10]

Thanks Markis10
That is great
Still disappointed with Starwoods Best Rate Guarantee...

Try them again using the above info, 2000 pts is a nice bonus. Always use skyscanner to check hotel pricing!

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Thank you... I'll try
I'll let you know how I go.
AFF forum pays for itself again!

 

[Danger]

Try them again using the above info, 2000 pts is a nice bonus. Always use skyscanner to check hotel pricing!

Wow. I just managed to save about $130 over four separate bookings at Hyatt properties. I was sceptical because, although the site I was matching to quoted the price in AUD, the site also allowed prices to be quoted in various other currencies. There was initial hesitation from the agent but I pushed. The rates were just a few cents better but once you throw in Hyatt's 20% discount on top of that, it's a big saving.

Somehow, given all the issues with BRGs outlined on Flyertalk, I have to feel as though I just got the right agent.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Surprise surprise... they didn't acknowledge the rates that markis10 showed here... starwoods response was:

Thank you for your interest in the StarwoodHotels & Resorts Best Rate Guarantee program. I welcome this opportunity toassist you. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
It would appear that rates and availabilityhave changed between the time you submitted your Best Rate Guarantee claim andour investigation process. UpInTheAir, I have reviewed the rates for the FourPoints by Sheraton Perth for the dates on your claim on our website andfound a rate of 519 AUD. I was unable to locate any availability onOlotels.com. As I am not able to verify the availability of the competing rate,I am not able to approve your claim. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Internet rates and availability are time and date sensitive and thereforesubject to change. In order to approve a Best Rate Guarantee claim we must beable to independently verify the availability of a Competing Rate. It is forthis very reason that we place the highest priority on all Best Rate Guaranteeclaims we receive in order to investigate each claim in a timely manner.

Of course they couldn't... By the way, for anyone that is interested the original wotif rate is still available... I still stand by my assumption that the best rate guaranteed (for starwoods anyway) is $^&!*@&% :evil:

 

[Alanslegal]

Glad I did not book this room with starwoods as I would have a reservation at a higher price with no price match and no discount.

A good thing with SPG BRG is that you can submit a claim BEFORE you book, so it is no loss if your claim got rejected.

Of course they couldn't... By the way, for anyone that is interested the original wotif rate is still available... I still stand by my assumption that the best rate guaranteed (for starwoods anyway) is $^&!*@&% :evil:

Anyway is this your first ever go at BRG?

And my personal experiences .... the BRG works pretty well. Around 90% of my bookings at SPG are BRG successes (I probably get around 75% of my claims approved first go), as a self funded leisure traveller the BRG program allows me to stay at ridiculously cheap rates or earn points on single nights, and have great upgrades over the past four years as a Platinum.

There are similar threads likes yours, see my post #17 where I have had success all over the world using SPG BRGs so it really does work!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....od-spg/beware-spg-they-dont-honour-48205.html

Similarly over at FT, with over 85,000 views on that thread in 15 months. It seems the BRG is quite popular and mostly a successful process.

Best rate guarantee (BRG) - success, failure & discussion 2012-on [Master Thread] - Page 65 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Thanks Alanslegal
Glad to know I am not the only one to be frustrated by this... by the way the latest wotif rate has dropped and is now $282 for the first night and $332 for the consecutive nights whereas the starwoods rate has increased to $363 a night...
I am sure that Starwoods cover themselves with T&Cs but it would be nice if the person that first handled the claim could take evidence into account such as the page shot from wotif rather than making you re-submit every time... to me (I agree with Mr Wilson) it seems as though it is a nice little marketing tool rather than a real guarantee. They are working on the fact that people like me get so frustrated they drop the claim... and it works.
I am glad there is a forum like this that can warn new players.
Yes this is my first time with a request from starwoods best rate guarantee and I won't be bothering again.. the frustration is not worth the 2000 points... maybe if my starwoods card was any colour than green it would be different.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[markis10]

Thanks Alanslegal
Glad to know I am not the only one to be frustrated by this... by the way the latest wotif rate has dropped and is now $282 for the first night and $332 for the consecutive nights whereas the starwoods rate has increased to $363 a night...
I am sure that Starwoods cover themselves with T&Cs but it would be nice if the person that first handled the claim could take evidence into account such as the page shot from wotif rather than making you re-submit every time... to me (I agree with Mr Wilson) it seems as though it is a nice little marketing tool rather than a real guarantee. They are working on the fact that people like me get so frustrated they drop the claim... and it works.
I am glad there is a forum like this that can warn new players.
Yes this is my first time with a request from starwoods best rate guarantee and I won't be bothering again.. the frustration is not worth the 2000 points... maybe if my starwoods card was any colour than green it would be different.
Thanks again for the help.

A couple of things:

1. Have you tried the Mastercard Gold after one stay promo, it works without having to use a "world card"
2. Try the BRG on the Deluxe room at $261

I am still seeing the rates at olotels as per the previous link.

 

[Alanslegal]

Yes this is my first time with a request from starwoods best rate guarantee and I won't be bothering again.. the frustration is not worth the 2000 points... maybe if my starwoods card was any colour than green it would be different.
Thanks again for the help.

No one BRG program is going to be perfect, its just from my experience SPG works best for me. I have tried BRG's with Hilton's, Swissotel's, and a number of smaller non-chain boutique hotels, however SPG works much better and probably easiest out of all of them.

If you want to try want one more time then www.olotels.com has AUD$210 pn for 20/5 - 22/5 ... in your claim form, forr room type I would just enter "Double". Good luck, hope it helps/works.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Thanks Markis10 and Alanslegal
In follow-up... I've booked with the Hyatt (due to PO factor)... but... Afterwards the manager at the Fourpoints Perth did get back from leave and offer to match the rate... True (good) customer service... I certainly will not hold my dissatisfaction with the best rate people (probably the same people that work at the Telstra customer service centre) against the "real" staff at the hotel itself.
The Hyatt rate was (significantly) more expensive than the Fourpoints rate but at least the wotif rate was more than the hyatt site... and I am angry enough (in this case) to pay more..
By the way Alanslegal... the starwoods best rate guarantee people assured me they couldn't even find the website www.olotels.com ... I doubt they can find it now
Thank you again for all your help.

 

[markis10]

Thanks Markis10 and Alanslegal
In follow-up... I've booked with the Hyatt (due to PO factor)... but... Afterwards the manager at the Fourpoints Perth did get back from leave and offer to match the rate... True (good) customer service... I certainly will not hold my dissatisfaction with the best rate people (probably the same people that work at the Telstra customer service centre) against the "real" staff at the hotel itself.
The Hyatt rate was (significantly) more expensive than the Fourpoints rate but at least the wotif rate was more than the hyatt site... and I am angry enough (in this case) to pay more..
By the way Alanslegal... the starwoods best rate guarantee people assured me they couldn't even find the website www.olotels.com ... I doubt they can find it now
Thank you again for all your help.

Next time put the URL as per my post in the extra comments section of the BRG, that way you won't have the same issue, all my BRGs have used olotels in that fashion.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Good tip. Thanks Markis10

 

[Edge]

I've only tried using the BRG on one booking (next week, can't wait!). I had to submit the claim 3 times before it was successfully processed. It was annoying, but I can understand they need to be thorough before honoring it. The first time was my mistake as I merely put in the comparison website as agoda.com, but I had accessed agoda.com via skyscanner. The rates were significantly different if you just visited agoda "cold" and didn't have a click-through from skyscanner, hence there was no price difference and no BRG to uphold.

With the successful claim I found you just need to be as explicit with the steps you took to finding the discounted rate as possible. Step by step by step by step. It gets frustrating because of the 24 - 48 hours they take to come back to you, but worth it. Saved me over $500.

 

[Alanslegal]

By the way Alanslegal... the starwoods best rate guarantee people assured me they couldn't even find the website www.olotels.com ... I doubt they can find it now
Thank you again for all your help.

Glad you had a good resolution directly with the hotel.


In reference to olotels, I am wow-ed/shocked by that BRG response! Here's some recent ones I guess....

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Best rate guarantee (BRG) - success, failure & discussion 2012-on [Master Thread]

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Best rate guarantee (BRG) - success, failure & discussion 2012-on [Master Thread]

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Best rate guarantee (BRG) - success, failure & discussion 2012-on [Master Thread]

 

[markis10]

Had another two BRGs approved overnight for a trip later this month, thats 6000 points per stay for well under $300, one even includes three breakfasts!

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Well done Markis10
I haven't tried it again (I must admit...)
I'll give it another go next time I need some accommodation