We recently spoke with Sisy Vicente, General Manager Chase Card Services about the Marriott Rewards co-branded cards.
InsideFlyer
Please briefly describe the cards Chase offers for Marriott Rewards members.
Sisy Vicente
The Marriott Rewards Premier card offers consumers 50,000 bonus points after their first purchase, a free night stay upon account approval at select hotels, a free night stay every year upon account anniversary and a 15-night credit toward Elite status. Cardholders earn five points per $1 spent at Marriott, two points for every dollar spent at restaurants, rental car agencies and on airline tickets purchased directly with the airline, one point for every dollar spent on other purchases and one Elite Night credit for every $3,000 spent on the card. There are no annual fees the first year and absolutely no foreign transaction fees. Marriott Rewards cardholders receive 30,000 bonus points after their first purchase–that’s enough for four free nights at a category 1 hotel–and two free nights upon account approval at select hotels. Plus, they receive a 10-night credit toward Elite status. Cardholders will receive three points per $1 spent at over 3,500 Marriott locations worldwide, one point per $1 spent elsewhere and one Elite Night credit for every $3,000 spent on the card. These cards have unlimited point accumulation with no expiry date.
IF
Can you give us a behind-the-scenes look at how the loyalty program and Chase work together to decide what card benefits are offered?
Vicente
The goal of Marriott Rewards and Chase Card Services is to provide benefits for reward cardholders who frequently stay at Marriott properties. We took into consideration the travel habits of a Marriott Rewards member and designed a credit card rewards program that is specifically tailored to meet their needs.
IF
What do these cards offer that others don’t?
Vicente
If someone is a frequent traveler and guest at the Marriott properties, then carrying Chase’s Marriott Rewards card offers great advantages. Not only do cardholders accumulate points, free nights and elite night credits, Premier cardholders have access to unique and exclusive experiential events, ranging from exceptional food and wine tastings to meeting athletes after sporting events. These events showcase some of Marriott’s greatest properties and access is limited to Marriott Rewards Premier cardholders only.
IF
Why should a business traveler own the Marriott Rewards card?
Vicente
The Marriott Rewards Credit Card product suite was designed with the business traveler in mind. We understand that customers want to reap benefits from their business travel and we reward our customers for choosing Marriott as their preferred hotel by offering accelerated bonus points on Marriott stays. They can use these points for future business travel savings or even turn those points into opportunities for personal travel. Cardholders can redeem their points for free night stays with a variety of options and enjoy card benefits such as no foreign transaction fees.
IF
Are there any promotions in the works or new benefits being added to the cards?
Vicente
We are always looking at ways to enhance the cardholder’s travel experience. Just this month, we added EMV chip technology to the Marriott Rewards Premier card. The card has EMV chip technology that features a microchip as well as a traditional magnetic strip to accommodate merchants in the United States. The embedded microchip makes the card extremely difficult to copy, because the encrypted chip enables safer processing and storage of data. Chip technology is the gold standard in Europe, Canada and regions of Africa and Asia, among other geographies. So cardmembers can travel globally, while feeling like a local. Anyone applying for one of those cards will receive one with the EMV chip. If a customer already has the card and wants the chip, they can call the number on the back of their card and ask for one to be sent to them. Otherwise they will be rolling out over time. In addition, we removed foreign transaction fees for Marriott Premier Cardholders. Eliminating foreign exchange fees saves cardholders approximately three percent on overseas expenses.
IF
What do cardholders say they like most about the cards?
Vicente
Consumers have told us that they appreciate being eligible for upgrades and elite status just by being a cardholder. This makes any trip, whether business or pleasure, more enjoyable. And with the Elite Night credits upon sign-on, all of our cardholders have a minimum of Silver status. Cardholders also like the ability to earn rewards on their everyday travel spend, be it business or personal.
IF
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about the cards?
Vicente
Chase is committed to delivering quality service and unique experiences to our cardholders. Marriott Reward points can also be used for airline miles, merchandise and future vacations at Marriott’s 3,600 locations worldwide, including JW Marriott, Courtyard, Renaissance, Autograph, Edition, AC, Bulgari and Fairfield Inn & Springhill Suites.
