Global Traveler: How can frequent travelers and entrepreneurs benefit from the American Express Membership Rewards Program and the Pay with Points feature?
Robin Korn: American Express’ Membership Rewards offers Cardmembers a wide depth and breadth of rewards offerings, with more than 140 program partners across a variety of categories including travel, retail, dining, entertainment, merchandise and experiences. People who want rich travel rewards have many redemption choices. In fact, our Pay with Points feature gives our Cardmembers the ease of redeeming points for travel with no blackout dates or restrictions all with one click of the mouse. Cardmembers can use points to cover all or part of the costs of any airline ticket, hotel room or cruise booking. By visiting the American Express Travel website (www.membershiprewards.com/paywithpoints) travelers can search for the lowest price for their travel booking and pay for their travel itinerary directly with Membership Rewards points. In addition, our Membership Rewards’ Points Transfer feature allows Charge Cardmembers enrolled in a frequent flyer or frequent guest program to transfer points online into one or more participating partner airline or hotel programs. With 34 airlines in the program, we have the globe covered.

GT: What does American Express Membership Rewards have that other card programs don’t?
RK: Membership Rewards is an industry-leading broad-based rewards program that allows customers to redeem points for more of the things they want. Rewards programs have an aspirational element, allowing customers to save points for special experiences, items or trips they may be hesitant to buy on their own. The Membership Rewards Exclusives program offers a new robust selection of travel, entertainment and merchandise every few weeks. Exclusives features many of the great experiences and travel packages we offer our Cardmembers, such as a VIP Indy Race League package presented by AirTran, a golf tournament package at Oakmont Country Club hosted in partnership with the USGA and an upcoming Athens Spectacular Escape package that includes two tickets on one of Continental Airlines’ inaugural flights from New York to Athens, Greece, and a four-night stay at the five-star Hotel Grande Bretagne, part of The Luxury Collection.

GT: What exciting developments do you have planned for members?
RK: American Express is always striving to better serve our Cardmembers and deliver innovative features for program enrollees. Recent new program benefits include:
First Collection is a line of luxury rewards exclusively for Platinum and Centurion Cardmembers. The collection includes premium partners, such as: Baccarat, Chopard, Davidoff, Neiman Marcus, Lamborghini, Mikimoto, Monarch Billiards, Tiffany & Co., Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Steinway & Sons.

Bonus Points Mall is an online shopping mall featuring 160 retailers, where Cardmembers can earn at least double rewards points for virtually every dollar spent through the Web site.

Flight Finder and Room Finder is a new online tool that allows charge Cardmembers to search, transfer and book with points for available reward flights and reward hotel rooms from select Membership Rewards travel partners.

GT: Tell us about your career at American Express.
RK: During my 17-year career at American Express, I have held a variety of jobs including marketing, business and product development and general management. I have remained at American Express because I believe that American Express is a premier and innovative financial services company that is leading the way in the premium space. My current job is particularly exciting as we are making transformational enhancements to the Membership Rewards program that will keep the program at the forefront in the rewards space and will keep the American Express Card in the front of our Cardmembers’ wallets.