The Marriott Rewards Chase card is promoting its rewards perks to on-the-go business travelers with an exclusive sponsorship of the new Gayot.com mobile application.

Gayot offers reviews of restaurants written by professionals. By sponsoring the app, The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase is able to reach Gayot’s audience of business travelers and promote the rewards perks that come with the card, such as the ability to earn five points for every dollar spent at Marriott properties.

“Through Travora’s partnership with Gayot, Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase delivers the moments that matter to travelers seeking the finest culinary experiences available,” said Alec Tallman, vice president of marketing at Travora Media, New York.

“For business travelers, the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase makes their leisure time all the sweeter,” he said. “The partnership with Travora elevates the Gayots as tastemakers, while providing a premium showcase for the fine cuisine at available to busy travelers at Marriott.”

Gayot worked with Travora Media to develop the app and find a sponsor.

A good fit
The Marriott Rewards Chase card sponsorship includes branded placement across the Gayot.com site and the Restaurant Issue newsletter pages as well as a sponsored custom video series showing food critic Sophie Gayot interviewing chefs.

One out of every three mobile searches is for a restaurant, per Travora Media, making restaurant review site Gayot a good fit for the mobile space.

The company’s first app showcases the most highly rated restaurants in the United States, top ten lists, exclusive video interviews and restaurant reviews.

App users will be able to access Gayot Annual Restaurant issue, which includes a list of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.

Additionally, mobile users can make reservations as well as share details and reviews about a particular restaurant via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook.

The app is available for the iPhone and iPad.

In the market
Brands targeting business travelers are embracing mobile because it enables them to reach this audience when they are on the go and in the market for a restaurant, hotel or rental car.

By sponsoring the Gayot app, the Marriott Rewards Chase card is able to reach potential new customers who are likely users of travel rewards programs.

Other Marriott brands are also looking to in-app advertising as a way to reach a desired audience.

For example, Courtyard by Marriott is driving hotel bookings as the launch sponsor on AccuWeather’s revamped iPad application, where users can find the nearest Courtyard by Marriott hotel and learn more about the brand (see story).

Additionally, Marriott’s Fairfield Inn & Suites is using mobile video advertisements to drive last-minute hotel bookings, which are running inside the TV.com iPhone application (see story).  

“Travora specializes in delivering premium travel and lifestyle sponsorships, helping advertisers deliver moments that matter to consumers –across desktops, tablets, and the mobile devices they keep at hand,”  Mr. Tallman said. “Travora and Gayot continue to seek new sponsorship opportunities.”

Final Take
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York