Intelligence – October, 21 2011

Intelligence – October, 21 2011

Choice Privileges is now partners with American Express Membership Rewards and 1800MD. …

Virgin America now partners with American Express Membership Rewards. …

Effective Jan. 1, 2012, AirTran Airways A+ Rewards members can no longer earn A+ Rewards credits for qualified stays at Priority Club Rewards hotels. …

TripIt has introduced a free Windows phone app. …

Malaysia Airlines is now partners with Etihad Airlines. Etihad Guest members can earn and redeem miles on Malaysia Airlines, and through Dec. 14, 2011, members can earn 2,000 bonus miles on their first eligible flight on Malaysia Airlines. …

Virgin America will begin seasonal service to Palm Springs, Calif. on Dec. 15, 2011.. …

Sir Richard Branson revealed that Virgin Atlantic would be joining a worldwide alliance in the near future. He said, “There is likely to be an announcement of an alliance coming very soon” but did not say which alliance the airline would join. …

Air China Phoenix Miles has partnered with agoda.com and members can now earn five miles for every 10RMB spent on hotels booked via http://www.agoda.com/promotion/airchina.html …

Hilton Worldwide has announced the first DoubleTree by Hilton hotel will open in spring 2012 in Zagreb, Croatia. Another hotel in Croatia, the Hilton Marjan Split, is currently under development. …

GOL and Aerolineas Argentinas have signed a codesharing agreement which, according to the press release announcing the tie-in, might include, “offering the benefits of their respective mileage programs.” …

Gulf Air Falconflyer members can now earn miles through using the Imtiaz MasterCard from Bahrain Credit. Each BD3 spent on the card earns one Gulf Air Falconflyer mile. …

Emirates is launching daily nonstop flights between Dubai and Dallas and Seattle from Feb. 2, 2012 and March 1, 2012, respectively. …

Groupe Aeroplan has been renamed Aimia. The organization said that the Groupe Aeroplan identity no longer is “an accurate reflection of the company, its employees, global footprint and unique full suite of loyalty management services.” …

India’s Tata Capital has partnered with Aimia to launch a multi-party coalition loyalty program in India similar to Nectar, Aimia’s coalition loyalty program in the U.K. and Italy. …

VOILA Hotel Rewards has entered into a partnership with Rosedale Hotel Group with hotels in Hong Kong and Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenyang, China. VOILA has also entered into a partnership with Starling Hotels in Switzerland. The Starling Hotel Geneva was formerly a Crowne Plaza hotel. …

SuperShuttle and ExecuCar are new Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards partners and members can earn 150 points one way for booking a ride to the airport with either company. Through Nov. 15, 2011, members will earn a bonus 50 points per one-way ride. …

China Airlines is now the official 15th member of SkyTeam, which strengthens the Asian presence for the alliance and brings three new destinations to the SkyTeam network: Okinawa and Miyazaki, Japan; and Surabaya, Indonesia. …

EVA Air Evergreen Club is now an earn and burn partner with Asiana Airlines and Air China. … American Airlines and Air Berlin are now partners and American AAdvantage members can earn and redeem miles when flying with Air Berlin. …

Budget Car Rental is a new Frontier EarlyReturns partner and members can earn miles for car rentals.