The news: American Express bolstered its array of hotels and resorts for Platinum members ahead of its much-anticipated Platinum refresh.

The credit card company also debuted exclusive Amex experiences at the US Open Tennis Championship this week.

Luxury travel upgrades: 

• American Express Travel added over 400 locations to its network of global properties for Platinum cardholders across 49 new destinations. Ranging from boutique hotels to premium resorts, the scale of Amex’s travel portfolio is now the largest of any issuer.
• Cardholders who book through Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts can get complimentary breakfast for two and a guaranteed 4:00pm checkout time. 
• Platinum members who select properties through The Hotel Collection can unlock hotel booking credits, property credits, early check in, late check out, and room upgrade upon arrival. 

Match point: For tennis enthusiasts, Amex’s US Open Tennis Championship offers a premium sports experience for cardholders and two guests of their choice. 

Amex members can customize their own US Open hats and shoelaces at the American Express Card Member Lounge. While working on their own designs, members can sip the custom cocktail for the US Open, the Grey Goose Honey Deuce.

Other on-site perks include a refresh station for hair, makeup, and sunscreen touch-ups and a perfect-for-socials video creation station for capturing members’ rallies on a mini court.

Platinum cardholders at the US Open can relax at the Centurion Lounge, dining on meals prepared by Chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Mike Solomonov and cocktails by Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg.

Our take: Expanding its resort collection can help Amex cement its dominance in the premium travel card space. 

Its lineup at the US Open signals the power of experiential rewards, which craft a unique, memorable experience for members that extends beyond cash or material incentives—a clever way to distinguish itself from rivals like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

This content is part of EMARKETER’s subscription Briefings, where we pair daily updates with data and analysis from forecasts and research reports. Our Briefings prepare you to start your day informed, to provide critical insights in an important meeting, and to understand the context of what’s happening in your industry. Non-clients can click here to get a demo of our full platform and coverage.