For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

NEW YORK - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today traveled to New York to join U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar, Loews Hotels & Resorts Chairman Jonathan Tisch, and Loews Hotels & Resorts CEO and President Paul Whetsell to announce a new partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the Loews Hotels & Resorts to promote the Department’s expedited traveler programs, which includes CBP’s Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Pre✓™. 

“At DHS, we take seriously our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of passengers coming to and traveling throughout the U.S., while at the same time, helping facilitate lawful travel, trade and tourism,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Collaboration with our private sector partners is integral to our mission and I’m pleased to announce our newest collaboration, which brings together a hospitality leader with two DHS programs that provide the traveling public more efficient, expedited travel opportunities – CBP’s Global Entry and TSA Pre✓™.”

Through this new partnership, Loews Hotels is offering its YouFirst Platinum loyalty rewards members complimentary enrollment in the Global Entry program. CBP will review the applicant’s information, conduct an in-person interview at a CBP enrollment center, including providing fingerprints, and successfully complete a background check. CBP has also worked with American Express and United Airlines who currently provide reimbursements for their top-tier customers, and continues to partner with other private sector entities to expand the network of Global Entry members.

“Partnerships are integral to the way we do business as a brand,” said Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts, Jonathan Tisch. “Our collaboration highlights the importance of the public and private sectors working together to improve hospitality for all our guests, whether that be at our hotels or traveling through an airport.”

Currently available at 30 U.S. airports, Global Entry streamlines the screening process for trusted travelers through biometric identification and reduces average wait times by 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in under five minutes. More than a million trusted travelers now receive Global Entry benefits, and these travelers have used its automated kiosks to expedite their entry more than three million times since the program’s inception.

The Global Entry program is another way DHS and CBP are helping to promote new initiatives to increase travel and tourism in the United States while encouraging job creation to stimulate our economy, and maintaining the highest standards of security.

The TSA Pre✓™ pre-screening initiative allows eligible passengers to volunteer information about themselves to expedite their screening experience. Eligible passengers enter a separate security lane where they will undergo expedited screening, and may pass through screening technology without removing shoes, light outerwear, belts, or laptops or 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels from their carry-on. To be eligible, participants must be U.S. citizens traveling through one of the 25 participating U.S. airports and members of CBP Trusted Traveler programs or select frequent flyers of participating airlines.  More than 2.8 million passengers have received expedited screening through TSA Pre✓™ security lanes since the initiative began in October 2011.

For more information, visit www.cbp.gov/globalentry

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