Hotel Breaches
Hilton and Starwood this week acknowledged they have been hacked following last month’s data breach discovery by Trump Hotels and one earlier this year by Mandarin Oriental.
Ameranth Patents
San Diego-based Ameranth says the U.S. Patent And Trademark Office (USPTO) has concluded its review process of Ameranth’s lead ‘data synchronization’ patent under a second attempt to invalidate it under the Covered Business Method (CBM) review process initiated by many infringing Defendants.
Other Breaking News
In today’s CardFlash News Que: THREATMETRIX (award); AMERICAN EXPRESS (SCA); YSTATS (report); and ENTERPRISE (Chase).
AmEx SPG Card
The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express has been beefed-up with a new design and extra benefits. Among the new benefits: No Foreign Transaction Fees; Complimentary, Unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi; Complimentary Premium In-Room Internet Access; and Access to Sheraton Club Lounges for SPG American Express OPEN Card Members.
Vasant Prabhu
CardWeb.com’s CardExecs database of payments industry movers and shakers today features Vasant Prabhu, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Visa, Inc.
American Express Travel
While payment cards and travel are going through a revolution, new research shows 93% of travelers said that despite digital advances in the travel industry, the value of personal service cannot be replaced.
AmEx SPG
American Express is juicing up its Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card in August. With the enhanced product benefits, the new annual fee will increase from $65 to $95 effective August 11, 2015. The first year of Card Membership is free and $95 annually thereafter.
Freddie Awards 2015
Voting from 3.2 million frequent travelers reveals the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card is the top loyalty credit card in the Americas region. The annual Freddie Awards also voted American Airlines AAdvantage as the top frequent flyer program of the Year and Marriott Rewards as the top hotel loyalty programs in the Americas region.
Visa CFO
Visa named a NBCUniversal Media executive as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Vasant Prabhu takes over on February 9.
eGlobal Selected as Preferred ATM Supplier
eGlobal ATM services for the hospitality industry announced a renewed four-year partnership with Avendra to be a preferred supplier of ATM services to Avendra’s customers. Though eGlobal has been a preferred supplier of ATM services for Avendra for several years, this agreement represents an enhanced program for Avendra’s customers and reduces the number of preferred suppliers in the ATM services segment, making Avendra’s support for this offering clear. As an endorsement of this program, Sage Hospitality recently adopted the Avendra offering and is in the process of transitioning its properties over to eGlobal.
American Express Launches Gift Chain
American Express is celebrating the season of giving with The Gift Chain, an innovative new program that presents a surprise gift to cardmembers each time they shop at participating online retailers and spend $25 or more (up to 10 gifts, while supplies last). The Gift Chain consists of hundreds of thousands of gifts, ranging from $500 American Express Gift Cards to one-year ShopRunner memberships to $5 statement credits, and more. Plus, some gifts are shareable with three Facebook friends, enabling cardmembers to spread the joy this holiday season. To join The Gift Chain, cardmembers need to register an eligible American Express® Card and spend $25 or more at a participating online store between November 28 and December 21. Once cardmembers make a qualifying purchase, American Express will instantly send them an email revealing a surprise gift, which for select gifts could be shareable.
Starwood Joins MasterCard Worldwide Folio Data Program
MasterCard Worldwide and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced Starwood will participate in the MasterCard enhanced folio data program. Starwood will add nine new hotel brands and more than 1,000 properties worldwide to the program, expanding the number of business traveler-preferred hotel choices available from which corporate travel departments can receive line item expense data from employee corporate payment card purchases. The MasterCard hotel folio data program delivers travel expenses made on a card in line-item detail, electronically and on monthly invoices, to offer travel managers ease and efficiency in travel policy monitoring.