PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- TripRewards(R) members now can earn extra points for hotel stays and enjoy no annual fee by using the new TripRewards Platinum Plus MasterCard(R) from MBNA America.

TripRewards members who use their TripRewards Platinum Plus MasterCard to pay for hotel stays at affiliated hotels can earn three points per dollar in addition to the ten points per dollar normally earned for qualifying hotel stays, for a total of thirteen points per dollar.

Cardholders also can earn two points per dollar for retail purchases anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Members can apply for the card at http://www.triprewards.com/.

The TripRewards Platinum Plus MasterCard enhances the current TripRewards program by allowing members to accumulate points for everyday purchases, building their total points balance more quickly.

TripRewards membership is free and available online at http://www.triprewards.com/ or by visiting any Super 8(R), Days Inn(R), Ramada(R), Howard Johnson(R), Knights Inn(R), Wingate Inn(R) or AmeriHost Inn(R) hotel in the United States or Canada or any Travelodge(R) hotel in the United States, or by calling toll- free, (800) FOR-TRIP - (800) 367-8747.

Featuring more than 6,000 hotels, points-earning opportunities with more than 40 earning participants and 270 point-redemption options, TripRewards is the world's largest hotel loyalty program, based on the number of participating hotels.

Its more than 5 million members may elect to earn TripRewards points, airline miles including Aeroplan miles or rail points for stays at Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn, Wingate Inn or AmeriHost Inn hotels.

The program's "open earn" structure allows members faster access to point earning by staying in Cendant-franchised hotels, renting Avis(R) and Budget(R) rental cars and purchasing everyday products and services from earning partners.

Likewise, TripRewards members can redeem their points for either hotel stays - with no blackout dates - or rewards including airline tickets, resort vacations, electronics, sporting goods, movie and theme park tickets and gift certificates.

A hassle-free online system allows members to check their point balance and redeem for rewards 24 hours a day.

New York City-based Cendant Corporation provides travel and residential real estate services to businesses and consumers in more than 100 countries. Cendant Hotel Group, based in Parsippany, N.J., is the world's largest lodging franchisor with 6,355 hotels representing 513,405 rooms on five continents under the Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Travelodge, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Wingate Inn and AmeriHost Inn brands. Cendant's franchised hotels sell nearly one out of every five economy and midpriced room-nights in the United States, and Cendant franchises 10.3 percent of the entire U.S. hotel room supply, according to Smith Travel Research and Cendant financial data. All hotels are individually owned and operated under franchise agreements with Cendant subsidiaries.

CONTACT: Jennifer Zimmerman, Manager, Communications, Cendant Hotel
Group, +1-973-496-0750, Jennifer.Zimmerman@cendant.com

Web site: http://www.cendant.com/