“Guys, it is my honour to spot and post this…” FlyerTalk member noeatbutgo posted when discovering a new term of the Best Rate Guarantee offered by Starwood Preferred Guest — and continued with “now the SPG BRG is undoubtedly the best programme amongst those of other chains!”
Best Rate Guarantee Revised by Starwood Preferred Guest
A reward of a discount of 25 percent — in addition to the lower rate being honored — is the main item which was added to the revision of the Best Rate Guarantee policy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide on Thursday, January 4, 2018. The discount was ten percent before the revision.
In the unlikely event that a lower room rate at a hotel or resort property which is part of the brand portfolio of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide — or is a partner hotel of Starwood Preferred Guest — becomes available on a non-Starwood Internet web site or non-Starwood mobile application, upon its receipt of a claim that satisfies these Best Rate Guarantee terms and conditions, the competing room rate will be honored by Starwood and provide the individual who submitted the valid claim one of the following rewards:
- An additional discount of 25 percent off of the competing rate per room per night; or
- 2,000 Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints per room per stay — up to a maximum of three rooms
Summary
Convincing a lodging company to honor a Best Rate Guarantee is not exactly the easiest thing to do, as you must be well prepared to offer definitive proof that a competing rate which is less expensive that you found elsewhere is eligible under the terms and conditions of the policy — and cheaper rates are difficult to find in general — but when successful, it is a great way to save money on hotel rooms while still maintaining all of the benefits of being a member of a frequent guest loyalty program.
The Best Rate Guarantee policy from Starwood Preferred Guest now more closely matches the Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee policy of Marriott Rewards — which can be considered one of the positive outcomes since Marriott International, Incorporated announced its acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Incorporated for $12.2 billion on Monday, November 16, 2015.
An increase in the discount from ten percent to 25 percent is certainly an improvement — but implementation and results as reported by customers will ultimately determine exactly how successful is the change in the policy of the Best Rate Guarantee.
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
