Loews Hotels & Resorts Announces Coordinated Effort With U.S. Department Of Homeland Security

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

About Loews Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 18 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada including the Loews Hollywood Hotel located adjacent to the Hollywood & Highland Center. The hotel features 632 guestrooms, including 32 suites and over 48,000-square-feet of meeting space. Located in major city centers and resort destinations in North America from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with a supremely comfortable, uniquely local and vibrant travel experience. For reservations or more information about Loews Hotels & Resorts, call 1-800-23-LOEWS or visit: www.loewshotels.com.

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About YouFirst Rewards
YouFirst is our way of thanking our best guests and building loyalty with new Loews' Hotels customers. One of the most inclusive hotel reward programs in the industry, YouFirst Rewards allows guests to begin receiving rewards after just one stay, such as free internet, late checkout, guaranteed rooms and upgrades for guests after only 2 annual stays. Our hotel rewards program is simple, rewarding guests based on the number of stays. It also offers amenities that are most meaningful to our customers. For more information visit: https://www.loewshotels.com/en/youfirst.

About Global Entry
At airports, program participants proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingertips on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and make a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit. Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment. While Global Entry's goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States.

About TSA PreCheck™
TSA PreCheck™ is an expedited 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. TSA is partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as U.S. air carriers as part of this initiative. Certain frequent travelers from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and certain members of CBP's Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate. TSA PreCheck™ is currently available for eligible passengers flying on participating airlines.

SOURCE Loews Hotels & Resorts