NEW YORK
Loews Hotels & Resorts Chairman Jonathan Tisch and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced a joint effort today to promote the Trusted Traveler Network which incorporates the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) PreCheck™ programs. Loews Hotels is the first hotel and resort company to work in conjunction with the two offices within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer these programs to guests to enhance the travel experience.
Loews Hotels is offering YouFirst Platinum loyalty rewards members complimentary enrollment in the Global Entry program via an online process by incurring the cost of the $100 application fee for its most loyal guests. With a Global Entry membership, U.S. citizens are automatically qualified to participate in expedited screening with TSA PreCheck™.
"Partnerships are integral to the way we do business as a brand," said Jonathan Tisch. "Our collaboration highlights the importance of the public and private sectors working together to improve hospitality for all our guests, whether that be at our hotels or traveling through an airport."
"At DHS, we take seriously our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of passengers coming to and traveling throughout the U.S., while at the same time, helping facilitate lawful travel, trade and tourism," said Secretary Napolitano. "Collaboration with our private sector partners is integral to our mission and I'm pleased to announce our newest collaboration, which brings together a hospitality leader with two DHS programs that provide the traveling public more efficient, expedited travel opportunities – CBP's Global Entry and TSA PreCheck™."
Global Entry is a CBP program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk international travelers upon arrival in the United States. Using an automated kiosk, travelers scan their passports and fingerprints, answer the customs declaration questions using the kiosk's touch screen and proceed with a receipt to the exit with the whole process taking approximately a minute to complete.
TSA PreCheck™ is an expedited domestic screening initiative that is expanding to airports across the country. Implementing a key component of the agency's intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security, TSA PreCheck™ enhances aviation security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer to participate to expedite the travel experience.
"As the Loews Hotels portfolio continues to expand, we are dedicated to improving our guests' complete travel experience from airport security checkpoints to hotel check-ins," said Paul Whetsell, CEO & President of Loews Hotels & Resorts. "To be the first hotel brand to offer this service demonstrates that we understand the needs of travelers, especially those who travel frequently for business."
Current Platinum YouFirst members will receive an e-mail today with this exclusive one-time offer which will expire in 60 days.
