Many companies in the hospitality and travel industries offer their own branded credit cards. Airlines promise frequent flier miles to users and hotels often give room upgrades and free nights in exchange for points accumulated on a credit card. In June, The Ritz-Carlton, in partnership with J.P. Morgan, launched the luxury brand’s first credit card that includes a wide variety of unique benefits for cardholders. The card comes with a hefty annual fee, but may offer considerable value for travelers who stay with the Ritz-Carlton several times a year.

As is common with hotel branded credit cards, the Ritz-Carlton card will give users a chance to earn room upgrades at properties around the world, including upgrades to the Club Level for three stays per year, a benefit that gives exclusive access to a plush lounge frequently stocked with exceptional food. Card members will also have the ability to earn complimentary recreational activities at various Ritz-Carlton properties, dining experiences, and spa services. Users will also have Gold Elite status in The Ritz-Carlton Rewards program.

Frequent travelers may consider the Ritz-Carlton card to have access to airport lounges and up to a $200 annual credit for airline incidentals. The card does not have foreign transaction fees.

The annual fee for the new Ritz-Carlton credit card is $395.  You can get more information about the card and apply online at  www.ritzcarltonrewardscard.com.

When checking into certain hotels in Southern California this summer, don’t be alarmed if you find some guests suddenly start singing out loud.

It’s just the JDV Hospitality ’Singing for an Upgrade” offer and video contest at five of their SoCal hotels. The concept is simple – the first guest willing to sing a song at check-in gets a free upgrade.

Singing for an Upgrade

Currently participating hotels include:-

1. Hotel Erwin in Venice, CA

2. Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles, CA

3. Pacific Edge Hotel in Laguna Beach, CA

4. Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach, CA

Another one – the Custom Hotel at Los Angeles Airport, will also join in later this summer, after it becomes a JDV run property.

The rules are that each hotel will be offering one free upgrade per day – to the first guest who starts singing at check-in. Each hotel also has its own compilation of songs from which the guest can choose to sing any one song.

Oh, and one more small thing – the whole performance gets recorded and the video will be uploaded to YouTube and Facebook where it will be voted on – a chance for viral stardom! Also, the winner gets free 2-night stays at the aforementioned five hotels.

The runner-up gets a 1-night stay at one of the five hotels, and a third place winner will get a $100 gift certificate for dining at one of the JDV restaurants in these hotels.

Even if the free upgrade for the day has already been sung for, guests can still belt out their own performance at check-in, have it recorded and entered into the contest.

The promotion is valid until Sept 30, 2011. More details here.

Photo – JDV

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