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If you care about spending money wisely on travel, you’ll want to watch the one-on-one interview we conducted with President of Chase Branded Cards Pam Codispoti, who manages the Sapphire, Freedom, Slate and Ink portfolios.
Armed with questions from TPG readers, The Points Guy spent more than 20 minutes grilling Codispoti about the various ways consumers can squeeze maximum results from the spectacularly popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card. In addition to discussing the card’s purchasing power (3x points on dining and travel, including things like Uber, taxis and tolls) and the mammoth amount of bonus points you’ll get at sign-up (100,000 after you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account), Codispoti explained why this card went viral so quickly and why early adopters tend to be millennials. Check out the video below for more.
And yes, she addressed some controversial topics:
Why did some cards arrive in plastic instead of metal, and when will the metal cards come back?
(Skip to 14:11).
Can I apply if I live in Australia or Canada?
(Skip to 17:40).
What’s up with the 5/24 rule, which forbids consumers from getting cards if they’ve signed up for five or more cards in the last 24 months?
(Skip to 15:38).
How many guests can I bring into lounges with my Priority Pass access?
(Skip to 20:30).
Immediately after the Q&A, Chase hosted an event entitled “The Evolving World of Travel,” a panel discussion with Chrissy Teigen, Nigel Barker, and Kelly Wearstler that was moderated by Skift’s Jeremy Kressmann.
All three celebrities were surprisingly candid and frequently hilarious. Here are some of the highlights, in their own words.
Chrissy Teigen on Learning Local Cuisines
“I think we had sushi in Italy last Thanksgiving. That was random, but we want to appreciate the local lifestyle. Whenever we go to a country, one of the first things I sign up for at any hotel is a cooking class to appreciate every ingredient and flavor they use. To see a farmer’s market or grocery store is so much fun for me.”
“If anyone looked at my Instagram, they would see a broad dynamic between the foods I love. What I love about the Reserve card is I can eat at Shake Shack or do an eight-course tasting menu at Per Se, and the next day eat pizza on the street and be just as satisfied and know I am very happy with my Chase rewards.”
Chrissy Teigen on How Social Media Enhances Travel
“As an addict to social media, I feel like I discover things I wouldn’t see if I weren’t on Twitter and Instagram all the time. One of the first things I do when I land is pick out what I want to eat, whether it’s chicken or ribs. I want to know who does it best. So where better to ask than on Twitter? People have strong opinions and share pictures from the last time they were there.”
Nigel Barker on Dressing Up for Airplanes
“I’ve spent so much time traveling. The first 20 years after high school… there wasn’t a single month I didn’t spend time in a different country. I lived out of suitcases constantly. Travel was still elitist then, luxury, special. I would pout a suit. My parents told me: dress up, you might get upgraded.”
Kelly Wearstler on Airbnb
“I love it. Last Christmas we went to Hawaii and went surfing on the North Shore. But there are no hotels there. Well, just sketchy ones. So we went on Airbnb and found this charming house on the water. And it happened to be in Elle Decor maybe five years ago. It was so cute. There was a bamboo bar and little coconut cups, and when we arrived it was spectacular. Incredible kitchen; the owner is a chef. One of the beauties of staying at an Airbnb vs. a hotel is that you’re not distracted by housekeeping or dinner reservations.”
Kelly Wearstler on Hotel Design
“You can’t go too far. Have you stayed at a hotel and the design feels forced? You have to have a balance. There has to be a great tension between classic and old school and things that are tech and advanced. Because we are humans. And you can Facetime your child, but there’s nothing better than a hug.”
Source: thepointsguy.com