Taking Advantage of Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee

I love Hyatt and their amazing customer service. I even have a private line agent assigned to me who takes care of all of my problem. However, Hyatt is also known for being more expensive than other competitors. Therefore it's not uncommon for flyertalkers to take advantage of corporate rate (e.g: IBM rate;) or package discount. But one source of discount that people often overlook is the Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee (BRG). Basically if you can find a better rate, they will match it and give you an extra 20% discount. Even though the T&C is stricter compare to Marriott or Starwood, it is still worthwhile to fight for.
I decided last minute to head to NYC for my birthday weekend to see some boardway shows. The cheapest rate at Andaz Wall Street is $225. I found better rate on hoteltravel.com for $135 so I decided to give a call to Hyatt CS for a price match. 

Hyatt Rates

Here's my summary after trying for 1hr:
hoteltravel.com ($135+) DENIED. Reason: free account needed 
Innstant.com ($177 a/i) DENIED. Reason:T&C said credit card is not charged instantly 
Expedia.com, getaroom.com, dhr.com all have regular rate so no go.
Supervisor wouldn't do anything. She called the hotel to see if they would honor the rate from innstant.com. DENIED
At that point I was furious with Hyatt ridiculous BRG policy. I told myself not to give up and keep trying. Fortunately AA.com came to rescue me :D. Their rate is $132 so I gave Hyatt one last call. 20 minutes later and I got this:

I couldn't be happier:D They match the price and give me an additional 20%. In the end I pay $105/night for a room in NYC with excellent breakfast, 4PM check out, free in room drink+snack at Andaz and most important I got my stay credit and points. I save 53%.What an amazing deal!

Here's what I learn to take advantage of the Hyatt BRG:

• Always check for other websites for cheaper rate
• The competing website needs to clearly state the room type (King bed room, Superior, etc. Standard room will not work)
• It's a public rate ( so no go with Priceline Name Your Own Price)
• The website doesn't require users to create account/have membership to make reservation
• The website needs to confirm reservation instantly
• As always, YMMV

Next time when you book your hotel reservation, don't forget to shop around to get the best deal out there. You will be surprised how much you save!