Hyatt BRG Now Requires Booking Confirmation First

in

I read this morning that there have been some unannounced changes to the Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) policy. As mentioned last month, I have had some success getting Hyatt to match (and beat!) an OTA rate for the Grand Hyatt Melbourne without having an existing reservation beforehand. There has been a lot of online chatter right now on whether the change has taken effect but it does seem that the Terms & Conditions have been changed to reflect this. 

If you find a publicly available and immediately bookable room-only rate on the Internet for a Hyatt hotel ("Competing Rate") that is lower than the room rate available for the same reservation on http://www.hyatt.com (i.e., same hotel, same type of room, same number of guests, same dates of stay and same length of stay), then within 24 hours of booking the reservation on http://www.hyatt.com, please submit your claim request online via our online claim form.

Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Singapore

Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Singapore

Hyatt was the only major hotel chain left that processed BRGs without the requirement of an existing reservation and it is truly a shame to see it going down this road. 

Featured
Up to 35% off Hilton Resorts in Asia-Pacific - Book by 19 March 2019, Travel by 02 February 2020
Up to 35% off Hilton Resorts in Asia-Pacific - Book by 19 March 2019, Travel by 02 February 2020

Planning a getaway soon? Hilton is currently offering up to 35% off all participating resorts in Asia-Pacific if you book by 19 March 2019 - travel must be completed by 02 February 2020. There are quite a number of properties in China that are participating in this promotion and if you are planning to checking them out, do note that you will have to book them before 15 March 2019 for travels that conclude before the end of 23 January 2020.

S$3 off Orders on Waitrr with OCBC Pay Anyone until 18 May 2019 - No Limits per User, capped at 5,000 Redemption per Month
S$3 off Orders on Waitrr with OCBC Pay Anyone until 18 May 2019 - No Limits per User, capped at 5,000 Redemption per Month

If you work in the CBD (or even if you do not), Waitrr is an incredible app that allows you to not only skip the long queues but also to save money on food. I have been using the app for a while now (and no, I am not paid or commissioned to write these articles) and it has been brilliant. Waitrr is currently running a promotion to give you S$3 off all orders until 18 May 2019 when you pay with OCBC Pay Anyone. If you do not already have an account, using my promo code 'MAR94817' will give you S$3 off your first order regardless of payment method.

Earn Twice (2X) the Miles and Points for Hotel Bookings Made via Kaligo - 13-15 February 2019 Only!
Earn Twice (2X) the Miles and Points for Hotel Bookings Made via Kaligo - 13-15 February 2019 Only!

Make an eligible hotel reservation on Kaligo between 13 February 2019 (8:00AM Singapore Time) to 15 February 2019 (8:00AM Singapore Time) for stays before the end of 30 April 2019 to earn double the amount of miles and points on your chosen loyalty programme!

Complete List of Credit Card Promo Codes (2019) for Hotels on Expedia - up to 12% Off!
Complete List of Credit Card Promo Codes (2019) for Hotels on Expedia - up to 12% Off!

I am a firm believer of loyalty programs but lately some of them have been far from attractive. In any case, one can always do with a promo code or two for hotel bookings made on Expedia (especially when they do not belong to a strong loyalty program). The following table summarises all the known promo codes for hotel reservations and at the time of writing, OCBC cards offer the best deal at 12% off. You will also find year-round promotions (10% off hotel bookings) by most banks here in Singapore.

Quandoo Is Terrible but I Am Moving Some Restaurant Reservations from Chope over Anyway - Get S$17.50 on Your First Reservation
Quandoo Is Terrible but I Am Moving Some Restaurant Reservations from Chope over Anyway - Get S$17.50 on Your First Reservation

I have always been a strong advocate for Chope (and I still am!) - it costs absolutely nothing for you to use, the UI is beautiful and the extensive range of restaurants have helped to make difficult decisions over the years. Obviously getting Chope-Dollars (which convert into both vouchers and KrisFlyer miles) with every fulfilled reservation makes a huge difference as well. Quandoo is a competitor and honestly, it looks nothing like Chope - the reservation flow is terrible and navigating the site is a pain. However, the partnership with ShopBack unlocks an opportunity to earn S$4 cashback with each fulfilled reservation.

Conrad Centennial Singapore Now Part of Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) Programme - American Express Platinum and Centurion Members
Conrad Centennial Singapore Now Part of Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) Programme - American Express Platinum and Centurion Members

One of the greatest benefits of having the American Express Platinum Card (and the Centurion of course) is the ability to book Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) rates - selected hotels that meet the strict criteria that American Express sets out will be able to participate in this program. For us members, this translates into a range of benefit that typically include a guaranteed 4PM late check-out and usually a USD 100 property credit that can be utilised during the stay.

Purchase IHG Rewards Club Points with 75% Bonus - by 28 February 2019
Purchase IHG Rewards Club Points with 75% Bonus - by 28 February 2019

While I do not generally purchase IHG Rewards Club Points, they can be quite attractive when utilised on high-demand periods (e.g. New Year’s Eve). Members can now purchase IHG Rewards Club Points with a 75% bonus when they complete the transaction between 28 February 2019. If you have immediate demand for these points, now is a great time to purchase them but if you do not have any plans for them, a 100% bonus runs from time to time (but this is not a fixed promotion).

Buy Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles with 40% Bonus - by 22 February 2019
Buy Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles with 40% Bonus - by 22 February 2019

Honestly, I feel like I have written about this way too many times but Alaska Airlines is currently running a 40% bonus on purchased miles until 22 February 2019. All accounts should be targeted with this promotion but the number of minimum miles required to trigger the bonus will vary from account to account.

Ebates Now Offering 10% Cashback for Marriott Properties (Including Most Legacy Starwood Brands)
Ebates Now Offering 10% Cashback for Marriott Properties (Including Most Legacy Starwood Brands)

Now that the merger of loyalty programs is almost complete, members can start looking forward to more unified promotions in the year ahead. Ebates is currently offering a massive 10% cashback for all stays at eligible Marriott properties and this includes legacy Starwood Hotels & Resorts brands like The St. Regis, Four Points and Westin just to name a few.

Purchase World of Hyatt Points at 30% Bonus - until 22 February 2019
Purchase World of Hyatt Points at 30% Bonus - until 22 February 2019

Purchase World of Hyatt Points before the end of 22 February 2019 to get 30% more (minimum of 5,000 points is required). It is worth repeating that World of Hyatt members are now required to pay 'more' for free nights using Points + Cash since the cash component is pegged to 50% of the standard rate. However, if you are in need of World of Hyatt Points, now may be a good time to purchase them since you got 30% more.