American Express and TripAdvisor team up to launch enhanced travel planning experience

NEW YORK - American Express and TripAdvisor launch a first-of-its kind integration that allows Card Members in the US, UK and Australia to connect their American Express Cards with their TripAdvisor profiles to post Card Member reviews, access exclusive Card Member hotspot lists and get special merchant offers.

TripAdvisor users will now see an "Amex Traveler" badge after a Card Member connects their eligible Card with TripAdvisor at www.tripadvisor.com/amex.  Additionally, users will see a card icon and "Amex Card Member Review" next to reviews on TripAdvisor when an American Express Card Member has made a transaction with their connected Card and then written a review for that place. All American Express Card Member account information stays in a secure and protected American Express environment; Card Member data is never passed to TripAdvisor.

The integration also leverages the American Express Spend Graph – an aggregate, anonymous mapping of Card Member spending and location data that shows compelling trends in dining, travel and entertainment. On TripAdvisor, participating Card Members will get exclusive access to lists of hotspots in popular travel destinations powered by American Express Spend Graph data. They will also receive relevant offers from merchants around the world.

"American Express Card Members are active and passionate travelers and diners, and their experiences and reviews are well-informed and powerful," said Leslie Berland, senior vice president, Digital Partnerships & Development, American Express. "This partnership with TripAdvisor – the world's largest travel community – represents the intersection of technology, data, community and commerce to add relevant context to our Card Members' reviews."

"This exciting partnership underscores our commitment to help travelers plan and have the perfect trip," said Severine Philardeau, vice president of partnerships for TripAdvisor. "By connecting their American Express Cards to TripAdvisor, Card Members get access to content and exclusive offers provided by American Express merchants."

Once an American Express Card Member connects their eligible Card with TripAdvisor, they unlock three new offerings on the platform, which can all be accessed directly from the exclusive American Express Card Member hub.

Card members get credit for reviews
Starting today, when a Card Member who has connected their eligible Card with TripAdvisor leaves a review at a location where they have used their connected Card, the review will be labeled as an "Amex Card Member Review." In addition, they will be badged as an "Amex Traveler" in their TripAdvisor profile. The new review and profile features provide additional, relevant context for all TripAdvisor users to take into consideration while travel planning.  And at launch, when a connected Card Member's first review as an "Amex Traveler" is approved and published on TripAdvisor, they will get a one-time American Express statement credit for $5 in the US and Australia and £5 in the UK.

Hotspots for card members, by card members
American Express Card Member Hotspots are exclusive lists of the top restaurants and hotels trending with Card Members in select cities. Lists are created by leveraging aggregate American Express Spend Graph data in some of the most popular travel locations around the world. Card Members who have connected their Card with TripAdvisor can view the lists by selecting their destination city and travel type.

Card member perks pay off
Card Members can also now discover exciting perks – offers from American Express merchants around the world on TripAdvisor that they can redeem for couponless savings when they spend on their trip. To redeem an offer, a Card Member can simply click on the offer to save it to their connected American Express Card, and then use that Card to make a qualified purchase in-store or online with that merchant. Savings are delivered via an automatic statement credit issued by American Express. This new functionality on TripAdvisor is powered by the same proprietary American Express Card Sync technology that enables couponless offers on platforms like Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter and Xbox.

Participating merchants at launch include:

    American Express Travel (US)
    Bam-Bou (UK)
    California Pizza Kitchen (US)
    D&D Restaurants (UK): all restaurants including Launceston Place, Bluebird, Skylon and Coq D'Argent
    Maggiano's Little Italy (US)
    Merivale (AUS): Est, Mr Wong, Palings Kitchen & Bar, The Fish Shop, Uccello
    The Palm (US, UK)
    Urban Purveyor Group (AUS): Ananas Bar & Brasserie, Bavarian Bier Cafe, Sake Restaurant & Bar, The Cut Bar & Grill.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews