DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The Chase IHG Business Credit Card is offering an enormous 165,000-point bonus (worth over $1,000 in hotel stays), but not for much longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Credit Cards Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). The IHG Premier Business Card has one of the most valuable bonuses of any hotel credit card on the market. IHG; Chase; InsiderThe IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is currently offering an increased bonus, but only until 9:00 AM EST, June 28, 2023. Here's what you need to know before jumping on the increased IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card bonus. The IHG Rewards Business Card Is Worth Keeping Year After YearThe IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card comes with much more than just a hefty welcome bonus.

Persons: You'll, —, you've, there's, you'll, Cash, Wells, We're, It's, you'd, — Worthington Organizations: Business, Service, Brands, InterContinental Hotels, United, Card Citi, Card, Target, Walmart, Citi, InterContinental ®, Crowne Plaza, FDIC, Reading Chevron, Business Credit Card, InterContinental, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau, Business Credit, United Airlines, TSA, Rover Locations: You'll, Mexico, Southeast Asia, India, Columbus, Worthington, InterContinental Maldives

☆ A Nvidia-backed platform that turns text into A.I.-generated avatars boosts valuation to $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In this article NVDA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTAn animated avatar generated by the AI video platform Synthesia. To do that, Synthesia has created animated avatars which look and sound like humans, but are generated by AI. Synthesia is a form of generative AI, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The company doesn't disclose its sales or revenue metrics, though it says it "consistently driven triple digit growth," with over 12 million videos produced on the platform to date. Synthesia plans to ramp up investment into its technology, with a particular focus on advancing its AI research and making Synthesia avatars capable of performing more tasks.

Persons: Synthesia, Slack, Kleiner Perkins, Morgan Stanley, Victor Riparbelli, Matthias Niessner, Steffen Tjerrild, Lourdes Agapito, Philippe Botteri, Riparbelli, Nvidia isn't, it's, They're, Felix Capital, Atomico, they're, David Beckham, Beckham Organizations: Nvidia, CNBC, Accel, Facebook, Spotify, GV, FirstMark, MMC, YouTube, Netflix, Business, Iconiq, Felix, Meritech Locations: London, A.I

☆ US, European hotel rates may keep rising, industry executives say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Hotel room rates in the U.S. and Europe are rising and may get even more expensive as supply has failed to keep up with demand, industry executives said. The number of U.S. hotel rooms increased about 3% in April of 2023 from the same month in 2019. Some 153,000 hotel rooms were under construction in April of 2023, down from a peak of 220,000 in the same month in 2020, according to hotel analytics firm STR. U.S. hotel rates in May averaged $157.45 a night, up 17% from the same month in 2019. "For the past 20 years hotel operators were not daring enough to restate the prices of hotel rooms," he said.

Persons: Keith Barr, Barr, It's, Mark Hoplamazian, Michael Tran, Sebastien Bazin, Bazin, There's, IHG's Barr, Doyinsola Oladipo, Richard Chang, Paul Simao Organizations: YORK, Resorts, NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, RBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Paris, London, New York

☆ US, European hotel room rates could keep rising - industry executives
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Hotel room rates in the U.S. and Europe are rising and may get even more expensive as supply has failed to keep up with demand, industry executives said. Some 153,000 hotel rooms were under construction in April, down from a peak of 220,000 in the same month in 2020, according to hotel analytics firm STR. U.S. hotel rates in May averaged $157.45 a night, up 17% from 2019. "For the past 20 years hotel operators were not daring enough to restate the prices of hotel rooms," he said. Bazin said Paris hotel prices in the past six months cost 50% more than in 2019, while prices in London rose 30% over the same period.

Persons: Keith Barr, It's, Barr, Mark Hoplamazian, Sébastien Bazin, Bazin, There's, IHG's Barr, Doyinsola Oladipo, Richard Chang Organizations: YORK, Resorts, NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, U.S, Hotels, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Paris, London, New York

The new United credit card bonus offers can get you free flights on United and its partners. Other cards offering increased welcome bonuses are the United Quest℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card, and United Gateway℠ Card. For a limited time, four United credit cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses, worth up to 80,000 miles and 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward elite status. Earn 3x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel, 1x on all other purchases. Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges.

Persons: Nicolas Economou, —, we've, Here's, We're, You'll, It's, Cardholders, it's Organizations: United, Getty, Service, United Airlines, Star Alliance, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Chase United, PQP United, United Club, Reading Chevron, Canada, Quest, TSA, Airlines, Chevron, Card, Free Locations: Chevron

☆ Should You Get a Credit Card Just for the Sign-Up Bonus?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +12 min

Card perksMany credit cards, especially travel credit cards, offer a variety of perks that can add value to your cardholder experience. If a specific premium travel credit card offers benefits on brands you already use, it could make sense to choose that card even if its sign-up bonus isn’t the best around. Credit scoreCredit card issuers typically don’t disclose a minimum score requirement, but most rewards credit cards with sign-up bonuses stipulate that you need good credit. That said, your credit score is just one factor that card issuers consider when you apply for a credit card. A new credit card isn’t worth it if it threatens your financial security—no matter how good the sign-up bonus.

Persons: Ben Luthi, Chase, you’ll, ”, Derek Flanzraich, you’re, Matthew Goldman, Hyatt, Goldman, FICO Organizations: Chase, Target, Walmart, Express, “, American, Citi, Venture, Southwest Airlines, Marriott, Hilton Locations: Chase, Ness, Europe

But the 20% rebate on travel purchases (up to $200 back) easily makes this superior to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer. Meanwhile, those with a Chase Sapphire Reserve can book travel through the Chase Travel Portal at a rate of 1.5 cents each. Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve®Consider statement credits and complimentary membershipsThe Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Green Card offer various credits that can effectively reduce the annual fee you pay to be a cardholder. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's $300 travel credit is much more versatile than the Amex Green card's annual statement credits, since it applies to virtually any travel purchase. The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a $550 annual fee, while the Amex Green Card charges $150 per year.

The blue-chip index (.FTSE) and the mid-cap FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) rose 0.3% each, as of 0830 GMT. Oil and gas sector (.FTNMX601010) jumped 1.7%, with firm crude prices and a weaker dollar supporting gains. The U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank hiked interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) earlier this week. Though the ECB signalled more hikes were to come, the Fed indicated a potential pause in its monetary tightening. "As long as inflation doesn't move higher, it looks like the Fed has done enough in the near term."

The IHG Premier Business Card now has one of the most valuable bonuses of any hotel credit card on the market. IHG; Chase; InsiderThe IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is currently offering an increased bonus for a limited time. Here's what you need to know before jumping on the increased IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card bonus. The IHG Rewards Business Card is worth keeping year after yearThe IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card comes with much more than just a hefty welcome bonus. What to know about the new IHG Business credit card bonusThe IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card now comes with an abnormally large bonus worth an average of $1,073 in hotel stays.

The Citi Premier® Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are both mid-tier credit cards that offer generous rewards, impressive (and overlapping) transfer partners, and travel perks. Here's a look at how the Citi Premier® and Sapphire Preferred stack up against each other. Compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardCiti Premier® Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Winner: TieShopping and travel benefitsAs mid-tier cards, the Citi Premier® and Sapphire Preferred offer standard benefits like no foreign transaction fees. Winner: TieTravel and purchase protectionsTravel and purchase protections are essential benefits you should consider when deciding between the Citi Premier® and Sapphire Preferred.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Here's how to use the Chase Gopuff credit and make the most of this perk. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThere's no registration or activation required to use the Chase Gopuff credit. Chase Freedom cards (Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom® Student credit card, and Chase Freedom® )) Chase Sapphire cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Card, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card)Chase Ink cards (Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, Ink Business Premier Card , Chase Ink Plus Card), Chase Ink Plus Card) Aeroplan® Credit CardAer Lingus Visa Signature® CardBritish Airways cards (British Airways Visa Signature® Card and British Airways Visa Card)Iberia Visa Signature® CardDisney credit cards (Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card and Disney® Visa® Card)Premier Visa Card and Disney® Visa® Card) The World Of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit CardIHG credit cards (IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card, IHG® Rewards Classic Credit Card)Marriott credit cards (Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card , Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card , Marriott Bonvoy™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Business Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Card), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card , Marriott Bonvoy™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy™ Premier Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Business Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Card) The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit CardSouthwest credit cards (Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Employee Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Classic Credit Card)Starbucks ® Rewards Visa ® CardRewards Visa Card United credit cards (United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card, United Gateway℠ Card, United℠ Business Card, United Club℠ Business Card , United Club SM Card, United SM Presidential Plus SM Card, United MileagePlus ® Select Card, United MileagePlus ® Awards Card, and United MileagePlus ® Card, United SM Presidential Plus SM Business Card), United Club Card, United Presidential Plus Card, United MileagePlus Select Card, United MileagePlus Awards Card, and United MileagePlus Card, United Presidential Plus Business Card) Chase Slate Edge℠How to use the Chase Gopuff creditIf you haven't used Gopuff before, start by visiting Gopuff.com to set up your account. Remember, your order must be at least $10 in order to receive the Chase Gopuff credit.

Compare the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardChase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Here's what to know if you're trying to decide between the Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Sapphire Preferred. Transfer PartnersThe Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Sapphire Preferred card earn transferable rewards you can send to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Travel and Purchase ProtectionsBoth the Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Sapphire Preferred have noteworthy travel insurance and purchase protection. The Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a relatively new entry to the travel rewards space, while the Sapphire Preferred is a tried-and-true classic.

How to earn American Airlines milesThere are myriad means of earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®While not as lucrative as some of the other available American Airlines credit cards, at least the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't charge an annual fee. Earn miles flying American Airlines and boost your earning with elite statusAside from using co-branded credit cards, one of the best ways to earn American Airlines miles is to actually fly the airline and its partners. Earn miles flying American Airlines' partnersYou can also earn American Airlines miles on over a dozen airline partners. The best ways to redeem American Airlines milesAs with earning American Airlines miles, there are plenty of ways to use AAdvantage miles when the time comes.

Persons: CitiBusiness, Cardholders, gunning, Silver, That's, AAdvantage, American Airlines Miles Worth, you'll, Eric Rosen Eric Rosen, Condé Organizations: Business Insider, Citi, Mastercard, Citi ®, American Airlines, American, AA, oneworld, Barclays, Airlines, AAdvantage, American Airlines Admirals Club, AA itineraries, American Airlines oneworld, Alaska Airlines British Airways Cathay, Iberia Japan Airlines Malaysia Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian Airlines S7 Airlines American Airlines, Air, Cape Air China Southern Airlines Etihad Airways Fiji Airways GOL Airlines Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin, British Airways, Etihad, Nike, Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott, Hyatt and American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Cathay, British, Eagle, Admirals Club, National Geographic, Bloomberg Locations: Iberia, Cape Air, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, East, Africa, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Kenya, Laos

☆ The Amex Centurion 'black' card has a $5,000 annual fee and a long list of luxury perks, but you can get many of the same benefits with the Amex Platinum
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Anna Baluch | Angela Fung | Sarah Silbert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It makes premium credit cards like the Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Amex Business Platinum Card ($695) look downright affordable. Benefits of the Amex Centurion black cardThe Amex Centurion card isn't just a status symbol; it has some great perks, including some unique benefits like complimentary Delta elite status that you won't find on other cards. The Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott**, but not with IHG and Relais & Châteaux. Unsurprisingly, there's no comparable benefit on the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cards**. Once again, the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services.

If you have one of the Chase IHG Rewards credit cards, you'll earn an extra 10 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or 5 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Other ways to redeem IHG pointsOpt for airline miles instead of IHG Rewards pointsIf you'd rather receive airline miles for your stays instead of IHG Rewards points, that's an option, though redemption rates vary by airline. Transfer IHG points to a friendThere's also an option to transfer IHG points to a friend or family member at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points, or buying them through IHG's website. Some of these redemptions are as low as 100 IHG points, so if you haven't had any activity in your account recently, this is a good way to keep your IHG points from expiring. Use IHG points to attend special eventsThrough IHG Auctions, you can redeem IHG points for concerts, sports, special events, or other experiences.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Chase is offering big elevated bonus offers on the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card, but they're only available until the end of the day on April 5, 2023. You can redeem IHG points at brands like Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hotel Indigo, and Kimpton. Insider's Featured Credit Cards for Travel Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. You'll typically get the best return by using IHG points for stays at over 6,000 hotels across 18 brands worldwide.

☆ More millennials are turning 40 — and they're changing travel as we know it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

And they're bringing their tech-savviness, social consciousness and spending habits in tow, which is transforming a travel industry intent on staying ahead of the times. "When it comes to nearly all travel behaviors, millennials are the generation most likely to engage — and they do so often," said Lindsey Roeschke, travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult. Where millennials stayFrederic Lalonde, CEO of the travel app Hopper, said its customers are twice as likely to stay in a home than a hotel. "It's all driven by our primary users, who are millennials and Gen Z," he said at the Skift Global Forum 2022. Since 2019, Airbnb home rentals increased the most among travelers with children aged six and younger, according to the company.

☆ 5 cheaper alternatives to popular high-annual fee cards
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Ariana Arghandewal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

It has a $150 annual fee, which can be offset by a $200 annual cash bonus when you spend $200,000 or more per year. With a steep annual fee and high spending requirements, the Spark 2% Cash Plus Card can be a tough sell for some business owners. Hilton Honors American Express Card instead of the Hilton Honors SurpassHilton's no annual fee card still provides generous perks. It has offers a $300 annual travel credit to partially offset the $550 annual fee, along with a Priority Pass membership. The card’s $395 annual fee is mostly offset by a $300 annual travel credit (valid on Capital One Travel bookings) and 10,000 anniversary miles (worth $100).

☆ Travel demand fuels a boom in Asia Pacific — in hotel rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Hotel rates are at an "all-time high," Alan Watts, Hilton's Asia-Pacific president, told "Squawk Box Asia" on Thursday. In parts of Asia Pacific, hotel rates are climbing even higher. Rates in Asia are skyrocketingThe travel boom in Asia Pacific has been "phenomenal," said Watts. Average hotel rates across Southeast Asia have gone up more than 10% since 2022, according to data from the travel booking company Traveloka. Ctrip, the leading travel booking website in China, also told CNBC that average hotel booking prices in Bangkok jumped by around 70% in late January.

☆ Here's how much daily rates are up at Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Hyatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how much daily rates are up at Hilton, Marriott, IHG and HyattThese days hotels are less focused on occupancy – and more on room rates. That's because even though the number of travelers hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels, revenues for some companies nearly have, due in part to rising room rates.

☆ Holiday Inn-owner IHG profit jumps on holiday demand, higher room rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Holiday Inn-owner IHG Plc (IHG.L) reported higher full-year profit on Tuesday, helped by strong occupancy demand during the holidays and higher room prices, and said it would buyback shares worth an additional $750 million in 2023. The Crowne Plaza, Regent and Hualuxe owner said the Americas market saw the strongest recovery, with RevPAR in the year up 3.3% from 2019, while Greater China was down 38% as travel restrictions were still in place. Hotel chains were affected by uneven recovery in China as a rise in COVID-19 infections led to indefinite lockdowns. The latest additional buyback comes after the company said in August it would back shares worth $500 million. Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ IHG CEO: Demand returning to pre-pandemic levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIHG CEO: Demand returning to pre-pandemic levelsKeith Barr, CEO at IHG, discusses the company's results, the removal of Chinese Covid restrictions, and employment trends in the hospitality and leisure industry.

☆ Hotels share revival shrugs off two crises
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hotel groups are in restoration mode. Chief Executive Keith Barr reckons the year ahead will continue to see strong demand, boosted by China’s re-opening. In 2019, the People’s Republic accounted for around 10% of the hotel market, and its citizens spent over $250 billion on international tourism, according to the World Tourism Organisation. Yet Covid-19 may still hurt spending in the Middle kingdom, and geopolitical tensions may lead to fewer Chinese people travelling. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Dry clean your clothes in this climate startup's vending machine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dry cleaning is not only costly for consumers, it's costly to the environment as well. While some industrial dry cleaners are opting for greener chemicals, others are looking to change the whole business model. Presso is an Atlanta-based startup that invented what looks like a vending machine for dry cleaning, but its process is a little different. The process, however, takes only a few minutes and can cost up to 80% less than traditional dry cleaning, depending on the garment. None of the process of even doing logistics inside a dry cleaning facility, none of that exists anymore," said Jain.

Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Limited benefits beyond earning Hilton points Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Keep in mind that transferable credit card points — like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One miles — are generally more valuable than hotel points or airline miles. That's worth around $500 in stays, according to Insider's valuation of Hilton points.

Search resuls for: "IHG"

25 mentions found