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The Points Guy hires cruise expert Gene Sloan to expand coverage
Scott Mayerowitz
Former Executive Editor
Former executive editor Scott Mayerowitz is one of the nation's leading travel experts, having covered all aspects of the industry for the past 15 years. He has extensive knowledge about the airline, hotel and cruise sectors, plus the loyalty programs and credit cards that power them.
Jan. 02, 2020
•
4 min read
The Points Guy hires cruise expert Gene Sloan to expand coverage
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TPG is kicking off the new year with an exciting new addition to our team.
One of the nation’s best-known cruise experts, Gene Sloan, is joining TPG full-time as a senior reporter for cruise and travel.
Sloan comes to The Points Guy after more than two decades at USA Today where he is best known for leading a multi-year expansion into cruise coverage, building it into a major franchise. Sloan founded, and for many years ran, USA Today’s award-winning online cruise section. His cruise stories have appeared in dozens of news outlets across the country.
For the last year, Sloan has also been contributing cruise content to TPG. This has included everything from a comparison of 16 different cruise lines to a first look at Royal Caribbean's new private island to a sneak peek at an all-new Norwegian ship.
In his new role, Sloan will spearhead a significant expansion of cruise coverage at The Points Guy as the site continues to broaden its focus on all areas of travel news.
Sloan has years of experience in building and expanding cruise-focused travel sites. In addition to founding USA Today Cruises, he helped launch a USA Today-owned cruise review site, Reviewed.com/Cruises, and a planning site, Experience Cruise.
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Sloan also has served as an on-air cruise expert for The Travel Channel, appearing in the channel’s “Cruises We Love!” series, and is the co-author of several Frommer’s cruise guides. In his early years at USA Today, he wrote about adventure travel and family travel in addition to cruising. His travel writing has taken him to 87 countries and all seven continents -- not to mention sailing on more than 150 ships.
As an avid flyer, Sloan also enjoys the view from 35,000 feet. He has earned lifetime Million Miler status with United and is now flying toward the same lifetime goal with American Airlines. For the record, he's on team aisle seat.
“I am thrilled to be joining what is quickly becoming one of the most important travel content sites on the internet,” said Sloan. “As big media has pulled back on serious travel content in recent years, it has created an opening for new, smart and nimble innovators in travel content such as The Points Guy.”
Sloan’s hire comes at a time of rapid editorial growth for The Points Guy. Founded just a decade ago by CEO Brian Kelly and initially focused on maximizing travel using points and miles earned through loyalty programs and credit cards, TPG has been adding staff at breakneck speed this year as it expands into broader coverage of airlines, hotels, resorts and destinations. TPG now has more than 100 employees with more key open positions to fill.
Driven by a mission of helping travelers “maximize their travel experience while minimizing spending,” The Points Guy sees more than 10 million monthly unique visitors to the site, with a social media following of more than 3 million.
Featured image by SINA ETTMER/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.