Citi Introduces ‘The Reserve’ for Strata Elite Cardholders, Providing Premium Hotel Perks

Citi is entering the premium hotel booking space with the launch of The Reserve by Citi Travel, a new luxury hotel collection designed to compete directly with American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and Chase’s The Edit.

The program is available exclusively through Citi Travel with Booking.com, and currently, only Citi Strata Elite℠ Card holders are eligible to access it.

With elevated hotel benefits like complimentary breakfast and experience credits, The Reserve aims to deliver added value to luxury travelers using Citi’s newly revamped credit card lineup.

Let’s dive into the key details of Citi’s new luxury hotel program.

Citi Revamps Card Lineup With New Strata Cards

The launch of The Reserve by Citi Travel is part of a bigger refresh to Citi’s travel credit cards.

The issuer recently rolled out a new lineup of Strata cards — the refreshed name for Citi’s revamped travel credit card offerings:

• Citi Strata℠ Card — a solid entry-level option for everyday spending
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card — a mid-tier travel card that replaces the old Citi Premier^® Card
• Citi Strata Elite card — a brand-new premium card aiming to take on The Platinum Card^® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

All 3 cards work with the Citi Travel with Booking.com portal, but it’s the Citi Strata Elite card that gets you into The Reserve, unlocking extra hotel perks when booking stays at 4.5- and 5-star hotels worldwide.

The Reserve by Citi Travel Benefits

The Reserve by Citi is a curated hotel collection featuring luxury properties worldwide, available for booking through the Citi Travel portal. Similar to other luxury hotel collections from competing issuers, The Reserve bookings include:

• Daily complimentary breakfast for 2
• Free Wi-Fi
• A $100 experience credit (varies by property)
• Early check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades (when available)

These perks mirror those offered by other premium travel card programs.

For example, The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express provide similar benefits through Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR). Chase Sapphire Reserve^® cardholders have access to The Edit by Chase Travel, while cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card can book luxury stays through the Capital One Premier Collection.

How The Reserve by Citi Travel Differs

Unlike Amex FHR and Capital One’s Premier Collection — which use their own booking platforms and hand-pick properties for a more exclusive experience — The Reserve by Citi Travel is powered by Booking.com. That could mean access to more hotels overall, but it may not have the same carefully curated, high-end feel you get with the other issuers’ hotel collection programs.

We’re still in the early days for Citi’s program, so some features and integrations may evolve over time. But for a first step into the luxury hotel space, The Reserve offers a compelling new option — especially for travelers already in the Citi ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

The launch of The Reserve by Citi Travel gives Citi Strata Elite cardholders a fresh way to unlock extra value on luxury hotel stays. With perks like daily breakfast, experience credits, and potential upgrades, it’s a welcome addition to Citi’s growing travel ecosystem.

While it’s still early, and the program is just getting off the ground, The Reserve shows promise. It may not yet offer the same boutique feel or depth of options as some other issuer programs, but it’s a solid start — and one worth exploring if you’re looking to elevate your next hotel stay using Citi’s newest premium card.