Infographic: MasterCard Top 10 Travel Tips

This upcoming weekend is a popular one for travel. Here in the United States, we are celebrating Memorial Day and across the pond in the UK, Monday is a bank holiday. As such, MasterCard is sharing its Top 10 Travel Tips detailed in this week’s Morning Brew.

A three day weekend often seems to lend itself nicely towards mini-vacations. Or if you’re like me, you will be celebrating at home with s’mores made in the microwave.Either way, we want to know which of the Top 10 Travel Tips from MasterCard you value the most.

Take our poll below and let us know of any others in the comments section.

Thanks to all of our voters. It was a close call but 30% of voters named El Naqui as their favorite Cashless Pioneer with Canada’s WagJag and No Cash in this Dough as close seconds. Be sure to check back for more stories.

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 My one year anniversary of working at MasterCard is fast approaching. Not only has that got me thinking about how fast a year goes by, but it also has me reminiscing about my first days on the job. Having just graduated college, I was extremely excited to start my communications career with a company that is socially savvy and understands the importance of digital media.

The state of how we communicate is constantly evolving and I am proud to say that MasterCard is not only keeping up but is helping to pave the way. The Cashless Pioneers series was developed to speak towards the benefits that electronic payments bring to merchants, consumers and governments in a more visual way. Who wants to sit down and read a long article when you can access the same information by watching a video?

The Cashless Pioneers series is a testament to MasterCard’s digital storytelling so I want to know what Cashless Pioneers story is your favorite. Below are a few of mine, let me know of any others in the comments section.

 Thanks to all of our voters. 64% planned on buying flowers for mom on Florist Friday.  

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In our special Morning Brew we revealed that in week leading up to Mother’s Day, it’s two days before that tends to be the busiest for U.S. florists – hence “Florist Friday”.

Last year, MasterCard (credit and debit) use the Friday before Mother’s Day totaled over $20 million – this is 35% over the average day in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day.

So we want to know, will you be buying flowers for mom this Friday, May 10? (I know I am!)

Take our poll and leave us a comment telling us how you are celebrating mom this year. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

At the first day of the Global Risk Conference, I’ve been impressed to learn just how much goes into keeping the confidential information of the millions of cardholders around the world private. Even the FBI is involved.

Okay they aren’t directly involved.

Shawn Henry, our keynote speaker was Former Executive Assistant Director of the FBI now President of CrowdStrike Services. His background shows the type of experience involved in protecting cardholder information and the breadth of the partnerships of those attending the conference.

This is a four day event for industry insiders who, like MasterCard, are working to push fraud out of the system. What have I learned so far? EMV (chip & PIN) transactions are an important development to ensure the continued security of payments. There may be some hurdles to overcome with the adoption of EMV technology in the U.S. but according to Shawn, “The financial services sector is innovative… They very much understand the risks. And they take this very seriously.”

He didn’t spill any state secrets, but there are a number of processes and products in place that do the things that keep my card working and ensure I’m the only Rebecca Kaufman out there that possesses my card information.

I am fortunate to be able to see electronic payment security up close, and I feel all cardholders should have an understanding of how their card protects them. Understanding all the work that goes on behind the scenes to mitigate fraud risk is as important as knowing how to pay your electricity bill from your phone. Don’t you think?

I’m a little embarrassed to admit just how much I need to learn about this topic. As a consumer, I feel this information is invaluable and I am excited to learn all I can from top subject matter experts who will be providing their insights at the conference.

As we count down the days to the conference, we want to know what security features you value the most.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all we discover so stay tuned to our blog and follow the conversation on Twitter over @MasterCardNews via #GlobalRisk.

If you have questions about any of the information, please feel free to leave a comment on our posts or ask me on Twitter @MasterCardBecca.

Thanks to all of our voters. 58% enjoy the added speed / convenience of traveling with a card and close behind, 34% of voters like earning rewards.

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Spring is in the air here at MasterCard. We just announced the launch of the ISIC MasterCard “Get Exploring”  challenge.

Over the course of three weeks, student teams will compete in challenges that focus on their love of travel in order to win some impressive prizes that range from a prepaid card to the trip of a lifetime for two.

Since the ISIC MasterCard is specifically designed for traveling students, it is convenient this challenge launched on the heels of Spring Break. Booking travel is near impossible with cash and we determined in our last poll that millennials are the Cashless Generation.

So we are curious. Millennial or not, what was your favorite benefit of traveling with a card this Spring Break?

Coming out of college I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. With degrees in Architectural Studies and Psychology, it’s easy to see I didn’t exactly fit the mold of a financial services analyst. What continues to impress me about MasterCard is not just that the mold didn’t matter, but my experiences with the people once I’d arrived. MasterCard’s most valuable asset is our community of employees; this community has always been willing to help me learn not only about the payments industry, but also about our role and vision for a World Beyond Cash.  Today, I see payments and what we do here at MasterCard in a whole new light, and am thankful for the experiences I’ve been afforded as a millennial at MasterCard. 

If you are ready for a challenging and engaging work experience, I’d encourage you to apply to #internswanted.  Good luck.

I am currently working with MasterCard Advisors. My day consists of running consulting projects on new product development, consumer portfolio benchmarking, and marketing campaigns designed to increase consumer card spending.

A special thanks to the colleagues in the video who shared their MasterCard experiences: Silvio Piserchia, Paola Iovino, Giulia Poto, Giulia Marseglia, Alberto Marangio, Chiara Alessandrini, Manuela Muschietello, Dalila Molinaro, Mary-Anne Higgins, Luca Lopez.

I’ll be honest; I didn’t know much about MasterCard beyond the credit card in my wallet when they approached me to help get the word out about the #internswanted campaign. After working with the team for the past several weeks, my curiosity around the idea of a cashless society has been sparked.

I started thinking about the actual cost of cash and was shocked to find how costly and inefficient it really is. It costs more to make pennies and nickels than what they’re worth. Realizing how rarely I use cash, this was a huge wake-up call to just how unnecessary cash is for our society.

In theory, almost everything I buy can be done with just one click or using a mobile app. When I think about how easy it is for me to order dinner from Seamless or buy a pair of shoes with Amazon’s 1-click, it reminds me  how convenient going cashless is. It’s simply easier to pay this way. I’m excited to see this ease and convenience make its way offline and into the real world more and more. MasterCard is leading the charge here and continuing to innovate the way we pay.

That’s why I feel #internswanted is a phenomenal opportunity for millennials. Our generation takes going cashless beyond just credit cards. We’re thinking mobile apps, e-commerce and how technology can transform the customer experience. Being so comfortable with these technologies at such a young age means we can think about how to expand them and make them better. We might as well take what we already know and turn it into a successful career opportunity.

It’s refreshing to see a company like MasterCard be fully supportive of our talents and perspectives, so I highly encourage all of my peers to apply for #internswanted program. If you’re in the U.S., applications need to be in by April 10^th but if you’re in Canada, they need to be in by April 7^th.

Good luck!

One of the things I value the most about the company is that MasterCard harnesses generational, cultural and professional experiences of employees to develop and enhance its products and services. Through the global diversity office initiatives and talent development programs, employees help to add real value to those in the communities we serve.

I have had the great fortune of being a part of both as the Global Communications and Membership Lead for MasterCard’s Young Professional Business Resource group, and as a participant in the Global Products and Solutions division rotational development program. In my short tenure at the company, I have been exposed to many different areas of the business and have seen the influence my work has had in helping to shape business decisions.

Related content:

• Millennials at MasterCard: Stefan from Canada
• Millennials at MasterCard: Clint from Singapore
• Interns Wanted to Join MasterCard’s Cashless Generation

The #internswanted program opened up the largest doors for me. Through the program, I was able to make a mark for myself and eventually work full time within the marketing team of one of the most powerful brands in the world. One could even say its priceless.

Related content:

• Millennials at MasterCard: Clint from Singapore
• Interns Wanted to Join MasterCard’s Cashless Generation

Thanks to all of our voters. 92% believe millennials prefer to pay with credit, debit, prepaid. The Cashless Generation appears to be just that…cashless.

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If you haven’t already heard the news, MasterCard has launched a global search for interns. #internswanted will task college students with developing a solution to the cash-based world we live in while applying for an internship.

Here at MasterCard, we consider millennials to be the Cashless Generation. We grew up using cell phones and computers so it’s only natural that we take payments digital too.

What do you think? Are millennials the cashless generation? Be sure to cast your vote below and follow the quest for internships on Twitter #internswanted.

To deepen our relationship with Millennials, we are taking #internswanted global. The program launched in Canada in 2011 and uses social media to engage this generation in all things cashless. This year, Millennials from Canada, U.S., China, Singapore, Italy and Turkey will all have the chance to submit their cashless ideas to land a dedicated number of coveted MasterCard internships designed for this special program. With internships available in key company departments such as emerging payments, technology, marketing, communications, product and issuer management, college students from around the globe will have a chance to make their mark at MasterCard as the Cashless Generation.

To get those cashless juices flowing, we’re launching a series of webisodes demonstrating the issues a cash-based world will face in the future.

We are also producing a special blog series, Millennials at MasterCard, where you’ll hear from current Gen Y-employees about MasterCard and what it’s like to work here.

With full program details available on Facebook in Canada and on our website in the U.S., we invite you to spread the news about our 2013 #internswanted campaign. Tell that millennial you know it isn’t too late to apply for a position by submitting their cover letter and resume, along with a creative submission around a world beyond cash, for their chance to land an internship with us. The search in Canada and the U.S. is already underway, with the other countries following suit in the coming months.

Good luck!

Like I did before I started working here, you may think that MasterCard is just a financial institution — this is not true.  We’re actually a technology company that works in the financial services, or better yet, payments space.  So how are we helping?  Our technology enables financial inclusion for billions of people around the world.  Our products offer increased safety and security.  Think about it.  It’s a lot safer to carry a credit or debit card than a wad of cash.

And for me personally, MasterCard has offered opportunities I never dreamed of – I’m in my late 20′s and live in Singapore!  If you’re looking for a place where you can get experience in one of the fastest growing industries in the world, where you’ll be offered a seat at the table and encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas, MasterCard is the place for you.

Related content:

• Millennials at MasterCard: Stefan from Canada
• Interns Wanted to Join MasterCard’s Cashless Generation

But don’t just take one millennial’s POV. I asked my friends and family what they thought and they came back saying MasterPass will enable them to pay for the things they need – no matter where they are.

The enthusiasm around MasterPass was generated so quickly among my peers because this is something that just makes sense for us. After all, we were born in an era of technology and computers. We rarely go anywhere without our phones, so it’s a natural progression to start using them to make payments. It was refreshing to not have to explain every detail of my work; MasterPass is something my friends just understood.

What about you? What do you think about MasterPass? And, how do you see MasterPass adding value to your life? Let us know in the comments section below or tweet us @MasterCardNews using #MasterPass.

Thanks to all of our lovebirds who voted. 57% of voters said when it comes to electronic payments, they love it all: convenience, speed and security.  

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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we want to know what you LOVE about electronic payments. Is it the convenience of not having to count out cash, the speed of swiping (or tapping) and going on your way or is it simply knowing your money is being handled in a secure way?

These are all reasons to fall in love this Valentine’s Day. We’re curious: will cupid’s arrow be striking you and your MasterCard?

The results are in! 91% of voters go cashless when it’s time to pay the bill. Thanks to all our voters; be sure to check back for our Valentine’s Day poll.

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We’ve all been there… that awkward moment when the bill comes at a restaurant and everyone starts scrambling to split the check.

Who’s going to pay cash, who’s paying with a card, who has small change, what about the tip?

We want to know your preferred way to pay when you’re out to eat. Are you the type to count your cash, or swipe and go? Do you encourage those you are with to use a certain method to make things easier?  

Take our poll and leave a comment to share some of your restaurant experiences!

We asked and you answered. 93% of voters are starting the year off right and will be using less cash in 2013; 55% of voters will use less cash in order to earn more rewards. Thanks to all who took our poll and please look out for our next poll: we’ll be getting your feedback on dining out.

It’s that time of year again…the beginning. Time to set goals for the year to come and resolve to make changes. So why not make 2013 the year you use less cash?

There are significant financial and social costs to cash. Ever think about how much it costs to produce and transport cash? But it isn’t just governments; consumers find themselves using cash less for a host of reasons: convenience, concerns about cash being dirty, security, rewards and an easier time keeping a budget.

I know what you’re thinking, “I never keep my New Year’s Resolutions.” Admittedly, I’ve failed at keeping several of my own, but using less cash might not be as difficult as watching less TV, trying something new or waking up far too early each morning to start an exercise routine.

What appeals to me about using my card are the rewards I accrue. If I reach for my card instead of cash, I get points for every dollar I spend. At the end of the year, that adds up to a flight to that vacation I’ve always wanted to go on, an entirely new collection of shoes or a savings for my next several car payments (sometimes you need to be practical).

 Are you ready to resolve to use less cash?

In 2010, I was a high school student looking to make some extra cash – buying and selling iPhones on Craigslist, selling P90X, selling collectibles, etc.  A manager at Best Buy hired me the day I turned 16, and I stayed for 2 years. There I learned about technology, customers, and how to balance a budget.  Subsequently, I made “iRepair”, an iPhone repair business, the business plan for my NFTE class. I learned how to repair phones, found a supplier, and advertised via social networks. I won my classroom and regional NFTE business plan competitions. I expanded the business to do more than just repair iPhones and changed the name to TechWorld.

Throughout the NFTE experience, I met many people who were eager to help my business grow; entrepreneurs, teachers, and coaches from the corporate sector.  These mentors helped me make my business plan the best in the country. The insight they provided and their confidence in me is invaluable.

Today, I’m in college and running this small business.  I’m not exactly sure what the next phase will be, because we are still somewhat at the mercy of Apple, but now we service phones all around the USA with an average 2-3 day return or locally in under 45 minutes – all taking payments online!

I want to thank NFTE, and most importantly MasterCard, for giving me this opportunity. They’ve revolutionized the cashless payment system that allows my business to thrive. Without their sponsorship to support NFTE, kids like me couldn’t take this life changing journey.

Now, when you think about the payment card you prefer to use, the benefits are most likely a top indicator and reason it becomes your preferred card.  Having access to a card that incorporates benefits directly related to one’s core beliefs is indeed cutting-edge, and as a practicing Muslim I am excited about this product and its ability to raise awareness of the Islamic faith.

Ongoing diversity and financial inclusion will not only change the way we think about our business, but also provides unique opportunities for MasterCard to leverage its technology to connect people around the world despite our differences. It helps build cultural intelligence in order to succeed and lead in innovation.

As the Purchase chapter lead of EAST BRG, it’s great to see that Qibla credit card reflect our capability to develop a highly innovative payment solution that caters to the need of the local marketplace. The Qibla credit card is one of the many ways MasterCard is catering to the needs of the consumers, and hopefully making their lives easier…

What other ways can MasterCard identify unmet needs and identify new opportunities?

I found myself in a similar situation to many college students across the country this past September–I had to buy my textbooks. Needless to say, my initial excitement for my classes was quickly stunted by the reality that purchasing my books would cost me a pretty penny. To make matters worse, it seemed like everyone was buying their books on that same day. Daunted by the long lines and discouraged by the sky-high costs, I was in a state of dismay. I briefly considered the idea of putting up with the prices and waiting in line, but then I remembered I had my MasterCard.

My MasterCard saved the day. I abandoned my fellow students stuck in the bookstore gridlock and rushed back to my dorm room. Reading lists in hand, I logged onto a website that sells textbooks at a discounted price. In no time at all, I had purchased all of my books for hundreds of dollars less than what they would have cost at the bookstore.

Using my MasterCard made the process of buying books safer, faster and yes, much cheaper. Prior to this summer, I wouldn’t have given much thought to how useful my card really is. Having participated in the #MasterCardChallenge, I have much greater appreciation for the piece of plastic in my wallet that saves me time, money and peace of mind.

As part of the MasterCard Bill Payment team, I started to reflect on unbanked and underbanked consumers around the world. Imagine what it might feel like to wait in line for hours at a biller’s location to pay a bill in person with cash.  And then to trust the biller wrote the correct account number and payment amount down on a piece of paper. Talk about an opportunity to improve the consumer’s experience in nascent and emerging markets.

Even in the developed U.S., there is an opportunity to improve the consumer’s bill payment experience with cash.  For example, checking services impose high convenience fees to consumers. Luckily, MasterCard provides solutions like prepaid and payroll cards that allow consumers to confidently participate in the global economy in ways not possible decades ago.

35,000 feet above ground, I reflected on what MasterCard is doing to provide tools for financial literacy and inclusion to consumers around the world.  I love experiencing what our Research and Development team is whipping up in their “Labs” and what we do to provide cardholders with priceless experiences only possible with a MasterCard.

As the plane neared the airport and the flight attendant reminded us passengers to turn off our electronic devices, I powered down excited about the tremendous opportunity MasterCard has to serve and better the consumer’s experience while ridding the world of cash.

How can electronic payments improve the consumer’s experience?  Join the conversation and share below.

As a millennial, I love digital deals, but my inbox seems flooded with them every day. More often than not, I delete these without opening them, even though I signed up for these alerts. Sure, I love a great bargain but I’m not interested in purchasing something just because I can get it at a discounted price. I haven’t quite developed my extreme couponing skills. That’s why I’m excited about this new deal. It will deliver more personalized, relevant deals based off my spending habits. I’m especially looking forward to the day when these offers pop up on my phone. How about you? What is the most convenient way for you to find, deals, sales or coupons?

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If this was 20 years ago, I’d probably have loads of maps, mixtapes (I’m talking about cassettes), travel books and of course, cash stuffed in my wallet and hidden in envelopes in suitcases.

But this is 2012. And I’m a Millennial.

With minimal planning besides a basic route, all we needed was a GPS, our smartphones and a MasterCard. With a combination of debit, credit and prepaid cards, and some cash for emergencies, we took off without looking back.

I found that as a cashless traveler, I really had almost no trouble at all. There were very few instances where I had to use cash. Shenandoah National Park and the Grand Canyon both accepted credit cards; even the smallest restaurants weren’t cash-only; and obviously hotels only accepted a valid card.  The only instances where I had issues were vending machines for snacks and the tolls through New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. However, we already know that these have been replaced with cashless methods.

Not checking into hotels until 1 a.m. on some long driving days, it was a load off my shoulders (and wallet) not to worry about having tons of cash on me. I was also able to track my spending, as well as of my fellow travelers, in order to ensure we were splitting the costs evenly.

But overall, the biggest takeaway I had from my #cashless road trip would be the emergence of mobile phones in every day traveling. There is a lot of buzz around mobile payments right now and I can see even clearer now as to why. Like I said earlier, we left with a GPS, our smartphones and cards. But in all honesty, we didn’t need the GPS – a smartphone could have done the work for us (and sometimes did). But while paying for things with plastic cards posed almost no problems, why do we still have to carry them around? I didn’t encounter too many places, maybe only one that wasn’t a chain, which accepted mobile payments. But if we have come to a time when cash isn’t needed and our phones can do everything for us – when will mobile payments be fully embraced?

On any future road trip, I’m ready for the #cashless challenge. Are you?

Let’s face it: this generation is Millennializing everything in its path – from who we are, to what we make, to how we engage, what we own and what we share.

At Scratch, we’re seeing the Millennial generation challenge so many industries. In our business and across Viacom, we obsess over Millennials because they are literally transforming our business.

MasterCard’s formation of the YoPro BRG was a great move from day one. From its launch in 2010, to the recent global webcast, this group is a powerful way for MasterCard to harness the power of Millennials and invite them to create the future. The #MasterCardChallenge is another great development: elevating young voices within the organization, amplifying them beyond, and welcoming transformation – it’s our best shot at winning, with them and in the world they will create.

When it comes to the fast-evolving world of payments, we know Millennials won’t stand by and wait. Our research shows that Millennials evaluate brands differently than older generations. Payments are no exception, and it’s an area ripe for reinvention. Some themes we see emerging within the generation feel particularly relevant:

• Millennials live in what we’re calling the “Apiary”– a hive-mind mentality that is the resource and reality of their lives. They are deciding, creating and consuming collectively, collaboratively and socially. Whether through collaborative consumption platforms, or projects like This Exquisite Forest, the apiary is the world they inhabit and collaboration is the norm.
• They’re gettin’ after it – through side hustles and sidepreneurship, we’re seeing Millennials going after their dream jobs. Just look at Thomas Suarez or Millie Peartree
• This is the generation of lifetrackers, from where they go out (see Foursquare) to how they make and share memories (see Instagram). Digital breadcrumbs are part of their world and built into who they are.

In all, they’re a generation built on collaboration, entrepreneurship, and transparency. And it’s not just them – they are emblems of the ways the world is changing. How will you embrace them? Crack that question and you’re off to a good start. Can’t wait to see where the YoPros take us next.