INDUSTRIAL and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts held a joint press conference at China World Summit Wing Beijing last week to announce the launch of the ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card.

    Shangri-La is ICBC’s first co-branded credit card hotel partner. ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card is also China’s first high-end platinum credit card that uses a metallic logo of card networks.

    According to the latest data released by Payments Source, the number of credit cards issued by ICBC has reached 115 million, making ICBC the world’s largest credit card issuing bank. In addition, the annual spending and loan balance of ICBC credit cards have reached 2.8 trillion yuan and 430 billion yuan, respectively.

    Taking the lead in the industry, ICBC has initially realized its goal “to be the world’s largest card issuing bank and create China’s No. 1 credit card brand.” ICBC’s comprehensive strength is being steadily transferred to the new driving force to serve the entire economy and promote economic transformation.

    A renowned luxury hotel group, Shangri-La currently operates 98 Shangri-La, Hotel Jen, Kerry and Traders hotels worldwide. The group’s well-known loyalty program, Golden Circle, is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Golden Circle Award Points program this year.

    In five years, Golden Circle membership has increased from 1.7 million to 4.5 million, with members based in China accounting for 38 percent. Golden Circle has been continuously redefining what loyalty to customers means and elevating rewards and recognition to create the ultimate experiences for guests.

    The partnership between ICBC and Shangri-La is built on a value shared by both brands, to consistently provide customers with excellent services and exclusive rewards. The ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card features ICBC’s special financial function that supports 10 foreign currencies on one card. It uses the chip medium and provides more secure and convenient payment services at home and abroad through partnership with UnionPay, MasterCard and VISA. The card also uses dual numbers, an advanced product design, making it a fully functioning ICBC platinum credit card as well as a Shangri-La Golden Circle member card for earning automatic points at the point of sale.

    In addition to the financial functions, the ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card offers unparalleled privileges and benefits for food and room experiences at Shangri-La properties worldwide.

    Cardholders are entitled to earn triple points for spending at all Shangri-La hotels and resorts, enjoy a 15-percent discount when dining at Shangri-La hotels and are exempt from the card’s first-year annual fee.

    Additional promotions include a 10-percent discount on the best available guestroom rates; up to 20 percent off annual membership fees for fitness centers; fast-tracked membership upgrades; and 1,000 bonus Golden Circle Award Points for new cards upon spending more than 30,000 yuan within the first three months of card issuance.

    With these benefits, the new ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card is a dream that customers can carry with them, a dream that comes closer into focus every time they reach into their wallet.

    At the press conference today, representatives of the first cardholders were invited to the card presenting ceremony. They expressed that they are looking forward to the triple points and other superior benefits of the card.

    From the first card to the 10 millionth card, from the first customer to the 10 millionth customer, the ICBC Shangri-La Credit Card is designed to reward loyalty and fulfill one’s passion for life.(SD News)