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Bilt Rewards Launches Travel Portal with Benefits for Cardholders

Last year, the startup Bilt made a splash when it announced a new service that would reward users for paying their rent. That premise was then expanded upon with the launch of the Bilt Mastercard, which is issued by Wells Fargo. Now, continuing to capitalize on both the hype of their product and the demand for travel, Bilt has debuted another new offering for customers.

This week, Bilt Rewards announced the launch of the Bilt Travel Portal. Powered by Expedia, this new platform will be available exclusively to Bilt customers, including Bilt Mastercard users. According to Bilt and Expedia, the travel platform will give customers access to more than 700,000 properties, 500 airlines, 120 car rental companies, and more.

Using the portal, Bilt Mastercard customers can earn 2x points on bookings (note: the card already earns 2x points on eligible travel purchases by default) while other Bilt users will earn 1 point per dollar spent. What’s more, when Bilt Rewards members can redeem their points for bookings on the platform, their points will be worth 1.25¢ each. These points can be used in conjunction with cash as well. In these cases, the points portion of the purchase will be assessed at 1.25¢ each, while the cash portion will then earn 2x points when paying with the Bilt Mastercard.

Notably, while the Bilt Travel Portal will give customers more options, the service will continue working with its travel transfer partners as well. This includes airlines such as American, Air Canada, Hawaiian, AirFrance, and more along with hotel chains Hyatt and IHG. For all of these partners, Bilt users can transfer points at a rate of 1:1.

Announcing the new platform, Bilt Rewards Founder and CEO Ankur Jain said, “Travel is among the most important experiences to our members, who don’t want to be limited when it comes to using their hard-earned loyalty points. Partnering with Expedia Group enables us to give members a one-stop-shop with access to endless travel options, along with the easy integration to create a seamless booking experience.”

Additionally, Expedia Group’s SVP or Media & Brand Partnerships Christian Gerron said of working with Bilt, “We’re excited to power the Bilt Travel Portal, and to help the Bilt Rewards members build the vacation of their dreams simply by paying rent. Our innovative solutions provide Bilt Rewards with technology they need to build a wonderful experience and offer an unparalleled amount of travel options to their members.”

With the arrival of the Bilt Travel Portal, the Bilt Mastercard continues to look more and more attractive for renters. While the transfer partner program was already a win for many, there’s no doubt that the travel portal option will be more accessible for those who don’t want to have to navigate the world of airline/hotel currencies. All of this makes the Bilt Mastercard worth a closer look as we all await what the company will unveil next.