New York - Loews
Hotels & Resorts is the first hotel company to offer membership in the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's trusted-traveler programs as an amenity to a
segment of its frequent customers, the organizations announced here today.
“Our newest collaboration brings together a hospitality
leader with two DHS programs that provide the traveling public with more
efficient, expedited traveling opportunities,” DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano
said. “These programs are popular and effective, and we are pleased to partner
with Loews, who will provide complimentary Global Entry enrollment for select
Loews members.”
In addition to quicker processing through customs, Global Entry membership automatically qualifies travelers for the Transportation
Security Administration’s PreCheck traveler-prescreening program, which
expedites security clearance at certain airports.
Effective immediately, Loews will offer free Global Entry membership, which usually carries a $100 application fee, to its platinum-level
YouFirst loyalty program members, about 2,500 travelers, said Loews president
and CEO Paul Whetsell. The company will explore ways to expand the offering to
more travelers, including as a possible value-add for its corporate travel
clients, he said.
“As we expand that program, we will look to modify that
slightly, and we will continue to work to get all of our customers in,”
Whetsell said. “This is a first step.”
Loews chairman Jonathan Tisch added that the company’s sales
force would encourage and work with corporate clients and association
executives planning events at Loews properties to get travelers enrolled.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection deputy commissioner David
Aguilar said the agency is working to get more hotels to implement similar
programs.
“We are doing everything we can to partner up with as many
of these entities that will facilitate our growth of this very important
program,” Aguilar said. “We have our officers going out and recruiting within
the travel industry—not only the hotels, but anything affiliated in the travel
industry.”
More than 1.2 million people currently are approved to use
Global Entry benefits, Aguilar said. They are available at 30 U.S. airports,
and the department aims to expand that this year, Napolitano said.