Visa Europe has reached critical mass for V.me by Visa acceptance in the UK. Currently, 55% of the UK’s issuance base, or 60 million cardholders plus thousands of UK’s retailers are in place to commercially rollout V.me by Visa at scale in the UK this year.
Best Western International today announced that it is streamlining the hotel booking process by working with Google to allow guests to pay for their stay using Google Wallet. The brand will integrate Google Wallet within the Android version of its popular “Best Western To Go®” application and mobile website viewed through a browser on any device, allowing customers to seamlessly complete their reservation through this safe and secure platform. By adopting Google Wallet, Best Western is reducing the amount of steps consumers need to take to complete a mobile reservation.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its 2011 Black Friday shopping survey results, wherein 226 million shoppers visited stores and websites over the shopping weekend, up from 212 million last year, with total spending reaching an estimated $52.4 billion. GreenPath reminds shoppers to consider to PLAN and think before using credit; stick to a shopping list; and to remember we can’t have everything we want.
MasterCard Worldwide and Barclaycard US have re-launched their
rewards card program with Best Western International. Cardholders can
now earn five Best Western Rewards points, up from the 3.3 points earned
previously for every $1 spent at Best Western and one point for every $1
spent away from Best Western. The Best Western Rewards program also
features unique point redemption options in addition to hotel stays such
as gift cards, Best Western Travel Cards, dining rewards, theme park
awards, gas and auto rewards such as car rental certificates and
charitable contributions. In addition, the card program now features
other World MasterCard benefits, such as up to 5,000 bonus points for
balance transfers for new cardholders; 0% on balance transfers for the
first six months for new cardholders and exclusive point redemption
discounts and offers. Travelers who sign up for the card and use it once
will receive 16,000 bonus points, which is enough for a free nightâs
stay at roughly half of Best Westernâs 2,200 North American hotels. In
addition, cardholders who use the card for $6,000 in purchases within a
calendar year will earn an upgrade to Elite status in the Best Western
Rewards program, which entitles them to at least a 10% point bonus on
all Best Western hotel stays.
Best Western Rewards loyalty program members are getting a head start on paying for
their summer vacations. AIR MILES reward miles collectors residing in Canada who complete two
stays at any Best Western hotel in Canada, the United States or the
Caribbean Islands between April 4 and June 20 will earn 40 bonus AIR
MILES reward miles. Members registered for the promotion who also
complete one qualified stay between June 21 and August 31 will earn an
additional 80 bonus AIR MILES reward miles. Bonuses are in addition to
the 20 reward miles they already can earn on each stay. Best Western has more than 4,000 locations in 80 countries.
Now through May 30, Best Western Rewards loyalty program members who stay two times will earn a $50 Best Western Travel Card for use like cash at any of the chainâs 4,000 global hotels. Best Western is also offering a 250-point bonus for those who book their stays on www.bestwestern.com and a 1,000-point bonus for those who pay for each of their qualified stays with the Best Western Rewards MasterCard credit card. Elite members of Best Western Rewards who register and complete two qualified stays during the promotional period also are automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win 100,000 Best Western Rewards bonus points. Members also have the option to complete two stays at any Best Western hotel during the promotional period, and an additional stay over the summer, to earn 1,250 Bonus Aeroplan Miles. On top of the 250 miles they already earn on each stay, this option offers a total of 2,000 Aeroplan Miles after with just three stays.
Best Western is offering Best Western Rewards members free $10 bonus gift cards with the purchase of a $100 Best Western Travel Card online now through December 31. Available through one of several retailers, the bonus gift cards can be used at Best Western, Best Buy, Macy’s, Starbucks, Walmart, AMC Entertainment, Olive Garden and Red Lobster. The Best Western Travel Card can be used to pay for accommodations and related incidentals at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide and is offered at Best Western member hotels.
MasterCard and Best Western have teamed for a fall promotion to award
bonus “Rewards” points. According to CardTrak’s “Card Incentives”, the
special offer runs through November 22nd. Guests who stay any two,
three, or four nights this fall and use a MasterCard will earn double,
triple or quadruple points. Members who opt to receive airline rewards
receive the double, triple or quadruple rewards after any two, three or
four stays. In addition, Rewards members who book online during this
promotional period will receive 250 bonus points, or up to 500 points
after two online bookings. Best Western has more than 4,000 locations in
80 countries.
Travel executives from MasterCard, Best Western and
Southwest Airlines met for the third annual “Business Travel Summit” to
discuss strategies to counter the economic downturn. Mastercard
continues to focus on
stronger expense tracking for small business travelers to reduce costs
and receive perks such as
rental car upgrades and cash back for purchases, while also eliminating
certain fees for checked bags that some airlines have implemented.
Travel brands are using the economic slowdown to grow
business-to-business relationships in an effort to provide new
value-added services to their customers. Southwest Airlines and Best
Western recently announced a partnership that provides Best Western
Rewards members the opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards credits for each
qualifying hotel stay.
The Best Western International hotel chain is rewarding members of Best Western’s Gold Crown
Club International with double points or double miles when they stay two or more nights and pay with a MasterCard.
Program members who register for the promotion and book
their hotel stay online at bestwestern.com receive a 250-point
bonus when they stay during the promotional period.
Best Western & MBNA Canada have partnered for the launch of
the “Best Western Platinum Plus MasterCard” to provide customers
with travel rewards. These travel rewards provide cardholders points
for staying at any Best Western location and for everyday
purchases. In addition to the complimentary 5,000 GCCI points
rewarded for a customer’s first purchase, rewards are distributed as
1.5 points for every dollar in retail purchases made with the card.
Furthermore, 50 GCCI points are rewarded for each cash advance,
balance transfer and access check that totals over $50. The Best
Western franchise supports 4,200 independently owned hotels across
80 countries, hosting 400,000 on a nightly basis while the Bank of
America subsidiary, MBNA Canada, is endorsed by nearly 500
Canadian organizations.
Pay By Touch announced that Robert M. Sigler, Co-Founder and President of the Global Trust Ventures private equity fund, joins the company as CFO. Sigler has over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, investment banking, mergers, acquisitions, capital markets, private equity, divestitures, venture strategy and management at leading companies such as Sanford Bernstein, Credit Suisse, Price Waterhouse and the Financial Accounting Foundation. He has served as Founder, CEO and/or CFO of a number of private companies and is the Co-Founder and President of the Global Trust Ventures private equity fund, a significant investor in Pay By Touch.