American Express takes part in clients' adventures

MANILA, Philippines - Before coming up with any getaway plan, American Express card members have learned to check the compelling offers available to them online in 66 countries covering hotel room rates, tours, shopping, and dining, among other categories.

This summer in San Francisco, for instance, they can enjoy a complimentary wine tasting in a Napa Valley cellar and up to 20 percent savings on tickets to popular exhibits like the Tutankhamun collection at the Young Museum offering 130 outstanding works from the famed Egyptian ruler’s tomb.

Closer to home, among the exceptional values they can enjoy are savings of up to 50 percent on room rates at a popular resort in Boracay and hotels in Cebu and Davao; up to 20 percent savings for a gourmet meal at top-end Makati and Manila hotels; and even free appetizers or desserts at a range of hot dining places in Metro Manila when they use their American Express credit card.

“An American Express card means extraordinary value and privileges in travel, leisure, shopping and dining almost anywhere in the world,” points out Ma. Nannette R. Regala, first vice president and Consumer Lending Group Marketing head of BDO.

BDO program manager Abigail Cifra explains that the American Express Selects Program was launched a few years ago in countries that issue the firm’s credit cards to make the card member feel that he truly has access to “A World of Privileges.” American Express representatives annually negotiate for deals and offers from establishments favored by clients.

For 2009, 41 hotel partners, 35 retail merchants, 120 dining outlets, and 25 wellness merchants, among others, offer card members savings and privileges in the Philippines alone. “Multiply all those categories by the number of countries where American Express is located and you get an idea of the savings, services and offers enjoyed by our card members,” Cifra disclosed.

The list of partners and merchants is updated every year to reflect the evolving tastes of clients, most of whom are affluent. To simplify matters, card members everywhere in the world only need to log on to www.americanexpress.com/selects to view all the offers of the American Express Selects program by country and category.

The plethora of privileges has prompted savvy card members to explore the website for ideas for their next getaway. Says Cifra: “We’ve designed the stream of offers and savings to be so compelling that card members make it a habit to check our website even before stepping out for dinner.”

She discloses that the company’s goal is to make American Express a part of a client’s every adventure. For more details, call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 814-4777.