Best Internet Rate Guarantee FAQs
I found a lower rate on a website but it can't be reserved online; I have to call their number to make the reservation. Does this website qualify?
A website that does not allow you to make the reservation on the Internet would not qualify for the Best Internet Rate Guarantee. The website must allow you to reserve online in order to qualify.
What is a publicly available, viewable, and bookable rate?
A publicly available rate is any rate found on a website that does not require a membership/account or have any other requirement (including, but not limited to, age, government employment, and military personnel) that makes it unavailable to any person visiting the website.
Why don’t negotiated rates qualify if they are still lower than the rates I found at www.choicehotels.com?
Negotiated and membership rates do not qualify because those rates are not available to everyone.
Are there any hotels that are not eligible for the Best Internet Rate Guarantee?
Currently all Choice Hotels participate in the Best Internet Rate Guarantee program. Your claim will not be denied the guarantee because of the hotel chain or its location.
How can I be sure that it is the same room type?
If you have reserved the same size and number of beds and the amenities match, it is probably the same room type.
My claim was approved, but I am still being charged the extra person charges on the reservation. The other website didn’t say they had extra person charges. Why am I still being charged for them?
The Best Internet Rate Guarantee matches the room rate only. Most third-party websites state in their terms and conditions that the room rate is for dual occupancy only. This means the rate they are providing is for two people in the room; extra person charges would still apply at the hotel. If the competing website you found states that the room rate includes the extra person charges, let us know.
What is an opaque or auction site and why aren’t they eligible for the guarantee?
An opaque website is one that is not clear about the booking. These websites will often not include the name of the hotel or the type of room you are reserving. This also includes a website that does not immediately confirm a reservation at the time of submission. These websites are not eligible for the guarantee because we cannot confirm that the reservation will be for the same hotel, same room type, or that the reservation would be able to be processed through that website.
An auction website is one in which you "bid" or "negotiate" the rates with the website in order to lower the rates. These websites are not eligible for the guarantee because we cannot confirm that the lower rate is publicly available for anyone to reserve.
Why do I have to make my reservation on choicehotels.com or one of the brand websites?
In order to keep the process simple and efficient, the reservation must be made online.
Why do you require a claim to be submitted within 24 hours after booking the reservation?
The rates on the competing websites change often. In order to help us find the lower rate that you have submitted from a competing website, we require the claim be submitted within 24 hours of making the reservation.
Why do I have to submit my claim at least 72 hours prior to my date of arrival?
When we approve an Internet rate, we need sufficient time to inform our hotel owners of the adjusted rate.
Why will my Best Internet Rate Guarantee be null and void if I change my reservation?
Because we have to verify that the lower rate is available for the same dates and room type, changing the reservation will modify that information and we would no longer be able to guarantee the information is the same.
How many points will I earn for my Choice Privileges account from a stay with this guarantee?
The number of points you earn for your Choice Privileges membership will still be on the room rate actually paid. You will earn 10 points per every whole dollar spent at the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites and Ascend hotels. You will earn 5 points per every whole dollar spent at the Suburban, Econo Lodge, Mainstay Suites and Rodeway Inn hotels.
Why would the laws of Maryland apply to disputes with this program?
Our corporate offices are located in Maryland. We are subject to the laws under which we operate.
A website that does not allow you to make the reservation on the Internet would not qualify for the Best Internet Rate Guarantee. The website must allow you to reserve online in order to qualify.
What is a publicly available, viewable, and bookable rate?
A publicly available rate is any rate found on a website that does not require a membership/account or have any other requirement (including, but not limited to, age, government employment, and military personnel) that makes it unavailable to any person visiting the website.
Why don’t negotiated rates qualify if they are still lower than the rates I found at www.choicehotels.com?
Negotiated and membership rates do not qualify because those rates are not available to everyone.
Are there any hotels that are not eligible for the Best Internet Rate Guarantee?
Currently all Choice Hotels participate in the Best Internet Rate Guarantee program. Your claim will not be denied the guarantee because of the hotel chain or its location.
How can I be sure that it is the same room type?
If you have reserved the same size and number of beds and the amenities match, it is probably the same room type.
My claim was approved, but I am still being charged the extra person charges on the reservation. The other website didn’t say they had extra person charges. Why am I still being charged for them?
The Best Internet Rate Guarantee matches the room rate only. Most third-party websites state in their terms and conditions that the room rate is for dual occupancy only. This means the rate they are providing is for two people in the room; extra person charges would still apply at the hotel. If the competing website you found states that the room rate includes the extra person charges, let us know.
What is an opaque or auction site and why aren’t they eligible for the guarantee?
An opaque website is one that is not clear about the booking. These websites will often not include the name of the hotel or the type of room you are reserving. This also includes a website that does not immediately confirm a reservation at the time of submission. These websites are not eligible for the guarantee because we cannot confirm that the reservation will be for the same hotel, same room type, or that the reservation would be able to be processed through that website.
An auction website is one in which you "bid" or "negotiate" the rates with the website in order to lower the rates. These websites are not eligible for the guarantee because we cannot confirm that the lower rate is publicly available for anyone to reserve.
Why do I have to make my reservation on choicehotels.com or one of the brand websites?
In order to keep the process simple and efficient, the reservation must be made online.
Why do you require a claim to be submitted within 24 hours after booking the reservation?
The rates on the competing websites change often. In order to help us find the lower rate that you have submitted from a competing website, we require the claim be submitted within 24 hours of making the reservation.
Why do I have to submit my claim at least 72 hours prior to my date of arrival?
When we approve an Internet rate, we need sufficient time to inform our hotel owners of the adjusted rate.
Why will my Best Internet Rate Guarantee be null and void if I change my reservation?
Because we have to verify that the lower rate is available for the same dates and room type, changing the reservation will modify that information and we would no longer be able to guarantee the information is the same.
How many points will I earn for my Choice Privileges account from a stay with this guarantee?
The number of points you earn for your Choice Privileges membership will still be on the room rate actually paid. You will earn 10 points per every whole dollar spent at the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites and Ascend hotels. You will earn 5 points per every whole dollar spent at the Suburban, Econo Lodge, Mainstay Suites and Rodeway Inn hotels.
Why would the laws of Maryland apply to disputes with this program?
Our corporate offices are located in Maryland. We are subject to the laws under which we operate.
