Chase Manhattan Corp. has created a program to reward its credit card customers in good standing with a discount dining card.
The dining card. In Good Taste, marketed by IGT Services Inc., entitles cardholders to a 25% discount on the price of a meal, excluding tax and tip, at participating restaurants.
Similar to other discount dining cards, like the Transmedia card, customers charge the full price of a meal to Chase's dining card, but the actual payment is made through their Chase credit cards. The 25% deduction appears as a credit on their monthly statements.
"We feel we have a product for everybody," said Charlotte Gilbert, Chase spokeswoman. "It's one more enhancement we offer as a reward for our customers in good standing."
The Chase offer is specific to areas where IGT has participating restaurants, including New York City, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Atlanta.
Marketed Through Mail
Chase began the promotion with a three-phase mailing.
Annual membership fees for the dining card are $48 for the first year and $25 yearly thereafter. For its credit card customers, Chase waives the fee for the first year, and if usage reaches at least $250 annually, the card will remain free. Otherwise, there will be a $10 fee.
IGT Services, based in Miami, has 150,000 cardholders, a little less than half of rival Transmedia, also based in Miami. But IGT offers its cardholers discounts on goods and services like airlines, hotels and limousines, while Transmedia sticks to restaurants.
IGT Chairman Robert Roth has said he hopes to reach a million new cardholders through Chase over the next few years.
