How Smart People Secretly Book the Cheapest Branded Hotels

Hoteliers know that the lowest price almost always appears on meta search, not the brand site.

The trick is to use the hotel’s own Best Rate Guarantee (BRG), (here is the link to Radisson groups Best Rate Guarantee Policy for example, please note every top brand has this policy) rules against the system and force the brand to match the lowest OTA (Online Travel Agent like Booking.com, Expedia etc.) rate — often with an extra discount on top.
Here is the exact method hotel insiders use to secure the cheapest possible branded hotel rate.

Now lets begin with an example for Radisson Blu Hotel, London South Keningston, Dates 29th December 2025 to 2 January 2026. The rates start with GBP 286.

1. Start on Meta Search, Not the Hotel Website

Do not waste time checking individual OTAs.
Google Hotels
Trivago
TripAdvisor (for rare wholesalers)
These platforms show all the OTAs and their hidden rates in one place.
Your goal: find the lowest publicly available price, often coming from a smaller OTA or a wholesaler. Below is is the screenshot from the google, it shows the lowest rates online for this hotel is GBP 261.

2. Screenshot the Lowest Price (This Is Critical)

If you see a cheaper rate on any OTA, take a clear screenshot showing:

• Date
• Room type
• Cancellation policy
• Total price

BRG teams reject claims without proof. Hoteliers know this, that is why the screenshot is non-negotiable.

3. Submit the Hotel’s Best Rate Guarantee Claim

Every major chain has a BRG form:

• Marriott Look No Further®
• Hilton Price Match Guarantee
• IHG Best Price Guarantee
• Accor Best Price Guarantee
• Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee

When your claim is accepted, you usually receive:

• Price matched to the lower OTA
• Extra 10–25% discount, OR
• Bonus points, OR
• First night additional discount

So if Booking.com shows 3,000 THB but Marriott shows 3,400 THB, BRG will match 3,000 THB and apply an extra discount.

This is why hoteliers never book without checking BRG opportunities.

4. If BRG Fails, Contact the Hotel Directly

This is an insider trick employees use for their own stays.

Call or email the hotel reservations team and say:

“I found a lower rate on [OTA]. Can you match it directly if I book with you?”

Hotels often say yes because:

• They pay zero OTA commission if you book direct
• They want the booking in their own system
• They want your email and loyalty number

You lose nothing by asking. Many hotels match the rate instantly.

6. Check “BRG-Friendly” OTAs That Often Trigger Discounts

Certain OTAs regularly show cheaper wholesale rates. These are BRG gold mines:

• Agoda
• Trip.com
• Traveluro
• Amoma-style aggregator clones
• Small local OTAs

BRG teams usually approve claims if the rate is clearly visible and bookable.

7. The Big Mistake: Only Checking Booking.com

Booking.com is rarely the lowest OTA.
Hoteliers know this.
The real low rates often appear on second-tier OTAs trying to compete.

If you only check Booking.com, you will never trigger a BRG in your favour.

8. Why This Method Beats Just Booking on an OTA

Online travel agents spend huge money on ads, but they do not always show you the cheapest branded hotels. They show you the offers they want you to book. Meta search, BRG claims, and direct contact with the hotel give you control again.

When you use this system, you see the whole market, catch leaked wholesale rates, and then force the brand to match or beat them. That is how hoteliers and frequent travellers quietly secure the cheapest branded hotels for peak dates, city centres, and big events while everyone else overpays.

Hoteliers get the cheapest branded hotel rates because they follow a system:

1. Start on meta search
2. Screenshot the lowest OTA
3. Submit BRG
4. Call hotel directly if BRG fails
5. Shift dates
6. Use “BRG-friendly” OTAs to trigger discounts

Do this once or twice and you will save more than most guests do in a year.

This is the reality behind the scenes — and now you can use it, too.