If our lives represent the sum of our experiences, then MasterCard is about to make life a lot more interesting. For some, it might be chartering a private jet to remote areas of the world. For others, it’s having a professional chef come to your home to teach a gourmet cooking class for you and your friends. Others still dream of playing a round of golf at one of the world’s top courses while enjoying VIP access to PGA events.
MasterCard Worldwide announced today that it’s setting out to make these and many other dreams come true. The company introduced MasterCard Unique Experiences, a new program designed to offer a unique set of benefits to its U.S. World MasterCard(R) and World Elite(TM) MasterCard(R) cardholders.
The program, which is exclusive to World and World Elite MasterCard cardholders in the U.S., provides access to fine dining, plush spas, high-end shopping, live performing arts events, golfing, and other unique experiences. MasterCard is committed to developing innovative products and programs that appeal to the affluent segment, and empower them to live life to the fullest. MasterCard’s Global Premium Collection has also been updated for 2007 to include a greater breadth of offers across a variety of merchant categories. The Collection provides a wide-ranging assortment of special cardholder offers that deliver memorable experiences. More than 100 offerings and experiences are now available for premium cardholders worldwide.
“MasterCard has deep insight into the mindset of today’s affluent segment, and is leveraging that insight to deliver cardholder benefits that will be embraced by the marketplace,” said Jeff Portelli, Group Executive, Global Consumer Credit Products, MasterCard Worldwide.
“MasterCard Unique Experiences and our Global Premium Collection provide our partners with a tremendous array of experiences and offers. We are delivering highly attractive product and service offerings that will help both issuers and merchant partners drive incremental spending while taking MasterCard to a top-of-wallet position within the affluent segment.” According to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 19 million households with an annual income of more than $100,000, in the U.S. alone.
Cardholders can take advantage of the MasterCard Unique Experiences program by choosing from a variety of categories. These include:
— Culinary – A wide variety of high-end culinary experiences, including the Celebrity Chef Tour. Unveiled for the first time publicly today, MasterCard is the Official Card of the Celebrity Chef Tour — one of the most highly-regarded culinary events in the United States.
The Celebrity Chef Tour, benefiting the James Beard Foundation, replicates the experience of dining at the historic James Beard House by bringing America’s premier chefs, including Lynn Crawford, Executive Chef at 57 in the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City; Roy Yamaguchi, founder of the acclaimed Hawaiian Fusion empire of Roy’s Restaurants; and former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib to exclusive venues in various cities across the country. There will be 16 Celebrity Chef Tour events, held from April through December.
— Entertainment — Prime seating, at no extra charge, to live performances around the country, including Chicago, The Color Purple, Avenue Q, Phantom of the Opera, and many more.
— Lifestyle — Guaranteed treatment appointments at luxurious day spas, personal shopping consultations at upscale retailers, and a selection of VIP packages at MasterCard-sponsored professional golf tournaments.
Among the golf events available to cardholders are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Senior British Open, and the MasterCard Masters. Packages include deluxe accommodations, tournament entry tickets, welcome cocktails, fine dining every evening, and an assortment of sightseeing excursions and activities.
The MasterCard Unique Experiences program is available in major markets across the U.S., including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix/Scottsdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
World and World Elite cardholders will also have full access to the benefits offered by this year’s Global Premium Collection. This includes:
— Complimentary nights and upgrades at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental.
— Deluxe culinary trips to Italy, France, or Spain courtesy of the International Kitchen, the leading provider of authentic small group Cooking School Vacations to Europe.
— Exceptional resorts, spa services, and VIP treatment at Grand Lido Resorts & Spas, The World’s Finest Clubs, and Willow Stream: A Fairmont Spa.
— Memorable experiences and adventures from Abercrombie & Kent, The Full Experience Company, and Total Experience.
— Discounts at premium retailers such as Levenger, Ross-Simons, and Simon Pearce.
World and World Elite MasterCard cardholders can access the unique experiences and premium collection offers available to them by visiting http://www.priceless.com. They can easily book many of the experiences directly online. World Elite cardholders may also access the Unique Experiences program by calling the World Elite Concierge Service.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 16 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to http://www.mastercard.com.
