hotel

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. launched a $10 million advertising campaign on Sept. 16 to spread awareness of its new brand positioning. The Marriott-owned hotel chain created the effort, which includes direct mail, email, social media and banner ads, with Los Angeles-based agency Team One.

The amount of money spent at US merchant locations increased by 8.8% in June, compared with the prior year, according to First Data Corp.'s SpendTrend analysis for the month. The report measured credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks spending.

Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa will launch a campaign this fall using direct mail, email, social media and banner ads, said Michael Winfield, president and CEO of the company. The Bermuda resort is working with Merge Consumer Marketing, which it selected last month as its AOR after an RFP process that included five agencies.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is allowing Priority Club Rewards members to use their points at competitor hotels through its "Hotels Anywhere" program. The company introduced the initiative May 18 after an April soft launch.