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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12387922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="katie-lowes" source="Orion">Katie Lowes</keyword> praised <keyword id="11995416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="shonda-rhimes" source="Orion">Shonda Rhimes</keyword> while promoting her partnership with <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=35871X1550380&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.2.0-stackpath&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fpost%2Fpreview%3Fpost_id%3D6177263590373e384d1980d7%26mode%3Ddesktop&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wyndhamhotels.com%2Flaquinta%2Fthankful-for-mom%3FCID%3DVN%3As66d6t2dwpi1a80&amp;xguid=&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=240&amp;xuuid=d275c2981392e41ab2b882e8828e5166&amp;xcust=xid%3Afr1635198522294gdg&amp;xjsf=other_click__contextmenu%20%5B2%5D;xjsf=other_click__contextmenu%20%5B2%5D">La Quinta by Wyndham</a>. </li><li>Lowes got her big break on "<keyword id="12243236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scandal" source="Orion">Scandal</keyword>" and next stars on Rhimes' new <keyword id="11892922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword> show, "<keyword id="12387923" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="inventing-anna" source="Orion">Inventing Anna</keyword>."</li></ul><p>Katie Lowes is set to star on her fourth <a href="https://www.insider.com/katherine-heigl-wanted-out-greys-anatomy-shonda-rhimes-2021-10">Shonda Rhimes</a> show, and she has nothing but praise for the groundbreaking showrunner - particularly when it comes to Rhimes' support for new parents.</p><p>While speaking with Insider to promote her new partnership with <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/thankful-for-mom?CID=VN:s66d6t2dwpi1a80">La Quinta by Wyndham for its "Thankful for Mom" virtual meetup events</a>, Lowes opened up about her positive experiences working with Rhimes, first on "Scandal" and more recently on the <a href="https://www.insider.com/shonda-rhimes-anna-delvey-netflix-show-inventing-anna-first-photos-2021-10">coming Netflix series "Inventing Anna"</a> about the notorious "fake heiress" Anna Sorokin.</p><p>"Shonda Rhimes is the greatest thing that ever happened to me, in my entire life, truly," she said. Lowes also said that it was Rhimes who gave her the idea to start her <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-katies-crib-30964454/">successful "Katie's Crib" podcast</a> - and also produced it through her company, Shondaland - while Lowes was pregnant with her first child, Albee Shapiro, on the set of the final season of "Scandal" in 2017.</p><p>The "Private Practice" actor specifically praised the way <a href="https://www.insider.com/izzie-prom-dress-greys-anatomy-custom-made-by-amsale-2021-10">Rhimes, a mother of three,</a> treated pregnant women and moms on the sets of her shows.</p><div type="image" title="Bellamy Young, Darby Stanchfield, Kerry Washington, Katie Lowes, Shonda Rhimes pose at party." height="1992" width="2657" msid="87267103" hostid="261"></div>"She took care of me so much so that she didn't even want me going up and down the stairs of my trailer. They built me a porch so that it was safe," Lowes said. "In fact, I should've had 7,500 babies while Shonda Rhimes was my boss, because she takes care of pregnant women and moms unbelievably well."<p>Support among fellow moms is another reason Lowes, who has two kids, wanted to partner with La Quinta for its <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/la-quinta-by-wyndham-teams-up-with-actress-and-podcast-host-katie-lowes-launches-virtual-meetups-to-help-moms-this-holiday-season-1030894460">virtual talks,</a> like "Boss Mom 101" and "Making Time for Mom," that seek to help busy moms tackle the holiday travel season.</p><p>"I've never felt more of a sense of community than being, like, covered in poop, your kid's screaming on a plane, and other women on the plane being like: 'I've been there, honey. You're doing great,'" she said.</p><h2><strong>Lowes also teased a bit about her next team-up with Rhimes, 'Inventing Anna'</strong></h2><p><a href="https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/shonda-rhimes-netflix-anna-delvey-1202838348/">Rhimes acquired the rights to adapt Sorokin's story</a> into a series inspired by the Cut article written by Jessica Pressler, "<a href="https://www.thecut.com/2018/05/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html">How Anna Delvey Tricks New York's Party People</a>," in 2018. Sorokin infamously tricked Manhattan elites into believing she was <a href="https://www.insider.com/anna-delvey-sorokin-fake-heiress-sentenced-prison-2019-5">a German heiress named Anna Delvey</a> and conned banks and socialites out of thousands of dollars in the process.</p><p>Lowes, who is from Long Island, New York, said her first thought when she learned Rhimes was adapting the story for Netflix was: "Please let there be a part for me in it. Please, please, please, please, please."</p><div type="image" title="First look image from &quot;Inventing Anna&quot;" height="1200" width="1599" msid="87267104" hostid="261"></div><p>Luckily, there was. In the show, which is set to premiere in 2022, Lowes plays a "natural-born follower" named Rachel, a fictional character <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g35441191/inventing-anna-cast-real-life-counterparts/?slide=8">thought to be inspired by</a> Rachel DeLoache Williams, a former Vanity Fair picture editor who was friends with Sorokin.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/my-friend-anna-book-anna-delvey-sorokin-rachel-williams-2019-7">DeLoache Williams wrote "My Friend Anna,"</a> a 2019 book about her experiences with Sorokin and how she ultimately realized her friend was a scammer after Sorokin conned her out of $62,000 during a trip to Morocco. She eventually worked with authorities to coordinate a sting operation that led to Sorokin's arrest in Los Angeles.</p><p>Lowes said Rachel was "so different from Quinn" on "Scandal" and she's excited for people to see her play a character inspired by a real person, something she'd never done before. She also praised her costar Julia Garner, who plays Sorokin, saying viewers would be "really blown away" by Garner's performance.</p><p>"I would forget my line, because I was so busy watching her. I'd be like: 'Oh, crap! It's me!'" Lowes told Insider.</p>

'Scandal' star Katie Lowes says she should've had '7,500 babies' while Shonda Rhimes was her boss because the showrunner treats working moms 'unbelievably' well

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DaysInn/photos_stream">Days Inn Facebook</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Days Hotel is part of the Wyndham chain.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Impactive Capital co-founder Lauren Taylor Wolfe told attendees at the Sohn Investment Conference that her firm is going to advocate for changes to Wyndham Hotels' energy use to increase the value of the hotel chains' stock.</li><li>Wyndham, which includes brands like Days Inn and recently bought La Quinta Inns, is protected from new competition like AirBnB because of its low prices, Wolfe said.</li><li>The fund believes improvements to the hotels' air-conditioning systems and lighting systems will both save the company money and help the environment.</li></ul><p>An activist hedge fund with its eyes set on helping the world believes it can push for changes at Wyndham Hotels that will save the company money and protect the environment.</p><p>Impactive Capital, a young do-good fund, believes that "low-hanging ESG fruit" like installing motion-sensor lighting systems and modern air-conditioning systems will both improve the bottom line of Wyndham and help the environment, fund cofounder Lauren Taylor Wolfe told attendees at Monday's Sohn Investment Conference.</p><p>"There's no hotel we'd rather own than Wyndham," Wolfe said. </p><p><em><strong>See more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sohn-conference-founders-next-wave-hedge-fund-talent-2019-4">Meet the 5 rising stars presenting their investment ideas at the world's highest-profile hedge-fund conference</a></strong></em></p><p>Wyndham, which owns brands like Days Inn and recently bought La Quinta Inns, is insulated from disruptors like AirBnB because it primarily plays in the economy and mid-scale hotel subsections, Wolfe said. For example, Wolfe said that all rooms of Wyndham available in Boston are cheaper than the average AirBnB.</p><p>But its focus on potential savings on energy and water usage is what Impactive believes sets it apart from other activist hedge funds that look for "short-term quick fixes."</p><p>The fund is planning to push for a mandatory green program for all the brands owned by Wyndham, which would require hotels and motels to give loyalty points to people that reuse towels and linens. </p><p>Wolfe said it would create a "triple benefit" of increasing engagement in a brand's loyalty points, saving money on water usage, and helping the environment. </p><p>Impactive Capital has been backed by the California State Teachers' Retirement System, which gave the fund $250 million with a private-equity-like commitment of six years. </p><p>Wolfe said <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sohn-conference-founders-next-wave-hedge-fund-talent-2019-4#lauren-nicole-wolfe-the-cofounder-of-impactive-capital-is-an-esg-activist-4">in an earlier interview</a> with Business Insider that the strategy Impactive is using requires a longer time horizon as they push companies to diversify their boards, change their emission polices, and promote more underrepresented groups.</p><p><em><strong>See more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cppibs-president-is-skeptical-of-impact-investing-2019-5">The president of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, one of the world's biggest investors, explains why he's skeptical about private equity's buzzy 'do good' strategy</a></em></p><p>"This is a conversation that is happening in every boardroom," Wolfe said, referring to ESG. She believes Impactive will be able to grow its boardroom influence by offering long-term ESG solutions and proving that her fund is not planning on selling their investment the moment it goes up.</p><p>"We wanted to take a different approach to activism - we have a longer time horizon," she said.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-when-hold-in-your-pee-too-long-2018-6">If you're going to see the 3-hour-long 'Avengers: Endgame,' plan your bathroom break wisely. Here's what can happen if you hold your pee too long.</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

A hot young activist fund is pushing for change at Wyndham Hotels to save the company money and help the environment

<ul class="summary-list"><li>While on vacation in Nashville, three friends arrived to find their hotel's front desk abandoned. </li><li>With no one to check them in, they began working the desk, documenting the adventure on TikTok.</li></ul><p>Three friends said they went into "manager mode" last week after arriving at a La Quinta hotel in Nashville only to find the front desk was left unattended. </p><p>In a series of TikTok videos posted by 27-year-old Aaron Howard, the friends chronicled their adventure, which began once they saw no one was actively working the front desk to check them into their room — so they said they started "working" the reception area themselves: The trio told Insider they began answering phone calls, assisting angry customers, calling shuttles, and even serving breakfast once people began filing in around 6 a.m.</p><p>A video about their experience went viral with over 900,000 views and over 120,000 likes. Commenters joked the friends deserved free stays with the hotel as well as "hotel concierge" to be added to their resumes.</p> <p>In a statement to Insider, a representative for La Quinta's parent company, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, confirmed that the front desk had been unstaffed that night. </p><p>"Following conversations with the hotel's management team — this location is an independently owned and operated franchise — it's our understating this incident occurred due to a staff member prematurely leaving an overnight shift in the early hours of the morning and not notifying management," the statement read. </p><p>The representative added that once management was notified, they sent a new employee to staff the front desk. The employee who left their shift is no longer with the company, the representative said.</p><p>"Hotel management has advised us the staff member in question is no longer with the hotel and at this time, are working to address and make right any concerns from impacted guests, including the three individuals at the center of the story," the statement continued. </p><p>The representative said that included a two-night stay at one of Wyndham's resorts, in the form of rewards points. </p><p>While the hotel stay is a nice perk, the friends said that landing a freebie wasn't why they made the videos. </p><p>"We didn't expect any compensation," Kenzie Brooks, one of the friends, told Insider. "We were still going to pay and stay there as normal when an employee got there. Just do good things with good intentions."</p><div type="image" title="The exterior of La Quinta Inn &amp; Suites by Wyndham Nashville Airport/Opryland." height="512" width="683" msid="103766815" hostid="261" sizebytes="53916"></div><p>According to Howard and Brooks, a new employee arrived for their shift between 7 and 8 a.m.</p><p>Before the employee arrived, though, the friends spent a few hours putting their new hotel management skills to work. They looked around to make sure the employee hadn't fallen asleep somewhere, and even called the manager, who they said had no idea that the front-desk employee had left. They spoke with a maid, who told them "no one had been there for hours," they said.</p><p>Once it was clear no one was around to help them out, the friends got to work.</p><p>"So, instantly we're like manager mode. We run businesses back home. Manager mode kicks in. We're like, 'Alright, let's see what we can do,'" Brooks said in a follow-up video.</p> <p>Over the course of a few hours, the group filmed themselves behind the desk, answering calls, and explaining to customers that they didn't actually work there. Once 6 a.m. rolled around, they even pulled out the breakfast buffet for other hotel guests. </p><p>They brought out the easiest parts of a continental breakfast, like muffins, yogurts, and cereal, they said.</p><p>"People, at the end of the day, really just need to hear that it's going to be OK," Brooks told Insider. "We just tried to comfort all the customers in any way that we knew how."</p><p>Ultimately, a manager from a neighboring hotel arrived and got them a room at the hotel nearby — for free. All in all, they said, it was a fun, albeit hectic, experience for the trio.</p><p>"It's all about who you surround yourself with," Brooks said. "And we definitely made the most of it."</p>

A group of friends started working at a hotel's front desk after finding it abandoned. Their story went viral on TikTok.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2023 Super Bowl will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. </li><li>Glendale is a suburb of Phoenix located on the west side of the valley. </li></ul><p>Super Bowl LVII is just around the corner, and this year's teams will square off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.</p><p>Glendale is a Phoenix suburb situated on the valley's west side. As a Phoenix local, I can tell you that the buzz has been building in the city for weeks leading up to the big game. Finding a place to stay can be challenging with so many visitors flocking to the city, but there are still plenty of hotels and resorts with vacancies that I would recommend to family and friends. </p><p>I've lived in Phoenix for over a decade and am very familiar with the valley's layout, what to expect traffic-wise when commuting, and know many hotels and resorts in the valley. I've outlined six options that still have availability for game day as of publishing.  </p><p>To choose the hotels on this list, I looked for accommodations with a 3+ star rating from users on Google, which are located within a 15- to 40-minute drive from the stadium, and are available to book for the big game as of Friday.</p><p>In terms of cost, the reality is that this is a very busy weekend in the valley, and limited availability across the metro makes for higher prices than usual. Each of these hotels is priced to start between $400 and $2,500 per night.</p><div type="image" title="Glendale, Arizona, October 10, 2018: State Farm Football Stadium" height="2366" width="3155" msid="97387407" hostid="261"></div><h2>Comfort Suites Peoria Sports Complex is a 3-star hotel that's a 15- to 25-minute drive to the stadium, with rooms starting at $695/night</h2><p>State Farm Stadium is a straight shot from Comfort Suites Peoria Sports Complex via either the Loop 101 or 83rd avenue. Depending on traffic, you'll get there in 15 to 25 minutes, which makes this hotel one of the more  convenient options. The hotel also is located close to some great restaurants, like <a href="https://thesocialaz.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">The Social</a> and <a href="https://www.revolutaqueria.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Revolu Modern Taqueria + Bar</a>, and shopping areas, as well. </p><p>The closer location and 4-star rating means you'll pay a higher nightly rate of $850 to stay there over Super Bowl Weekend. True to the name, the hotel consists of only suites, which means you'll get a bit more space compared to some other stays, in my opinion. Rooms also include free Wi-Fi and breakfast, as well as access to an outdoor pool and fitness center. </p><p><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=63d3f2df3295302ed93dd674&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.choicehotels.com%2Farizona%2Fpeoria%2Fcomfort-suites-hotels%2Faz125%3Fmc%3Dllgoxxpx" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Book Comfort Suites Peoria Sports Complex</a></p><h2>Cambria Hotel Phoenix-North Scottsdale is a 3-star hotel within a 25- to 35-minute drive to the stadium, and room available at $1,299/night</h2><p>While Cambria Hotel Phoenix-North Scottsdale may look a bit far on the map, it's only a 25 to 35 minute drive from the stadium. That's because it's located right off the 101 loop highway, which means you can take the freeway the entire way to the stadium versus dealing with street traffic, which I anticipate will be packed during Super Bowl weekend. </p><p>From the hotel, it's also a quick drive to <a href="https://shopdesertridge.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Desert Ridge Marketplace</a>, an open-air shopping center that I like with cool local restaurants like <a href="https://shopdesertridge.com/directory/dining/barrio-queen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barrio Queen</a> and <a href="https://www.hulasmoderntiki.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hula's Modern Tiki</a>.</p><p>The nightly rate is about $400, which makes this three-star hotel one of the more economical choices. You'll also get free Wi-Fi, free parking, and access to a fitness center and outdoor heated pool and hot tub.</p><p><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=63d3f2df3295302ed93dd674&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.choicehotels.com%2Farizona%2Fphoenix%2Fcambria-hotels%2Faz379" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Book Cambria Hotel Phoenix</a></p><h2>Comfort Suites Glendale - State Farm Stadium Area is a 3-star hotel that is a 4- to 6-minute drive from the stadium, starting at $999/night</h2><p>This three-star hotel in Glendale is mere minutes from the stadium by car, making it a good choice for those who want to stay super close to the weekend's festivities. Depending on whether you're OK walking on major streets, you could also take the 30-minute walk to and from the stadium. </p><p>While this hotel has fewer frills than others on this list, it comes with a 4.3 Google rating as of Friday, and includes an outdoor pool and hot tub, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. The rooms also have workspaces, a fridge, microwave, and a sofa bed so you can fit one or two more guests. </p><p><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=63d3f2df3295302ed93dd674&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.choicehotels.com%2Farizona%2Fglendale%2Fcomfort-suites-hotels%2Faz296" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Book Comfort Suites Glendale - State Farm Stadium Area</a></p><div type="image" title="Scottsdale" height="667" width="889" msid="97387410" hostid="261"></div><h2>Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a 5-star hotel in North Scottsdale, a 30- to 40-minute drive from the stadium, with rooms starting at $2,150/night</h2><p>Located about 30 minutes from State Farm Stadium in North Scottsdale, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is one of the valley's most luxurious hotels, in my opinion. And with over 1,000 rooms and suites, it's massive and has plenty of space to accommodate out-of-towners. </p><p>This five-star hotel is also a great pick, in my opinion, if you want to pamper yourself before or after the Super Bowl. Notable features I like include stunning vista views, outstanding hospitality including bell staff and room service, a golf course, spa, restaurants, and multiple pools with daybeds and cabanas.</p><p><a href="https://www.fairmont.com/scottsdale" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">Book The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess</a></p><h3><div type="image" title="The Hilton Garden Inn Surprise Phoenix Arizona hotel CREDIT: Hotel Management Group" height="3000" width="3999" msid="97387411" hostid="261"></div></h3><h2>The Hilton Garden Inn Surprise Phoenix is a 2-star hotel with rooms available for $699 per night, and a 25- to 30-minute drive from State Farm Stadium</h2><p>The Hilton Garden Inn Surprise is about 25 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in the town of Surprise, another suburb in the northwest region of the Phoenix metro area. The hotel is about a 25-minute drive from State Farm Stadium. The queen and king-bed rooms include a Keurig, microwave, and mini fridge for storing pre-game refreshments.</p><p>The hotel also has a gym, outdoor pool and lounge area, and an on-site restaurant as well as a grab-and-go snack shop that's 24/7. Like many of the hotels on this list, the nightly rates are much higher than the usual due to the uptick in demand for the big game, but on the bright side: It's a great option for Hilton Honors loyalists who can rack up points on a short stay.</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/entity/CgoIybu-29D5-IJvEAEae0FBQm5CM25YcVh2c2FvdmVRUkdQbkJKbjRFVzZsc3Fqd1dSb3h4YV9FYWZnX0s3UFA0cmJZTTVTZWdCSUdTVHJpT2hJUWNoTjU4NFU1THFLaFlwb29vNlQwa0c3ekQ5OWpidmhEbGRULU9aRHdQVFBMRjFGWWxQc2lMTQ/overview?q=glendale%20arizona%20hotels&amp;gsas=1&amp;rp=CgRYAGAAOAGoAgA&amp;utm_campaign=sharing&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_source=htls&amp;ts=CAESCgoCCAMKAggDEAAaIAoCGgASGhIUCgcI5w8QAhgLEgcI5w8QAhgNGAIyAggBKgkKBToDVVNEGgA&amp;ap=MAFa_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" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Book The Hilton Garden Inn Surprise Phoenix </a></p><h2>The La Quinta Wyndham Phoenix Thomas Road is a 2-star hotel that's a 15- to 25-minute drive from the stadium, with rooms starting at $999/night for Super Bowl weekend</h2><p>The Wyndham hotel brand is known for affordable properties, and I think its Phoenix hotel on Thomas Road is a great low-budget option for Super Bowl weekend. Rooms range from double to king beds, and king and family-sized suites that can accommodate larger groups of football fans. </p><p>The hotel's amenities include free Wi-Fi, an in-room coffee-maker, and free buffet breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. It's about a 15- to 20-minute drive from State Farm Stadium, and near the midtown Phoenix area where the <a href="http://heard.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Heard Museum</a> and <a href="https://phxart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Phoenix Art Museum</a> are located, for art-lovers staying in town an extra day or two.</p><p><a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/phoenix-arizona/la-quinta-inn-phoenix-thomas-road/rooms-rates?hotel_id=52780&amp;checkin_date=02/11/2023&amp;checkout_date=02/13/2023&amp;adults=2&amp;children=0&amp;rooms=1&amp;brand_id=LQ&amp;iata=00093752&amp;cid=ME:d2uwlduahvh850w:52780" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Book La Quinta Wyndham Phoenix Thomas Road</a></p>

6 hotels near Glendale, Arizona, you can book right now for the 2023 Super Bowl, recommended by a local

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12387922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="katie-lowes" source="Orion">Katie Lowes</keyword> recalled guest-starring on "<keyword id="11899350" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-sopranos" source="Orion">The Sopranos</keyword>" while promoting her partnership with <a href="https://www.insider.com/reviews/out?platform=browser&amp;postSource=in%7C6176d5141d21a109da386833&amp;sc=false&amp;sessionid=1636998221108npf0x992&amp;type=ALREADY-AFFILIATE-LINK-NOT-AMAZON&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%2F%3Fid%3D35871X1550380%26isjs%3D1%26jv%3D15.2.0-stackpath%26sref%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.insider.com%252Fpost%252Fpreview%253Fpost_id%253D6177263590373e384d1980d7%2526mode%253Ddesktop%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wyndhamhotels.com%252Flaquinta%252Fthankful-for-mom%253FCID%253DVN%253As66d6t2dwpi1a80%26xguid%3D%26xs%3D1%26xtz%3D240%26xuuid%3Dd275c2981392e41ab2b882e8828e5166%26xcust%3Dxid%253Afr1635198522294gdg%26xjsf%3Dother_click__contextmenu%2520%255B2%255D&amp;xcust=xid:fr1637002183942hde">La Quinta</a>.</li><li>She also spoke about her relationship with Connie Britton after babysitting the actor's son.</li></ul><p>Katie Lowes might be best-known for her role as Quinn Perkins on the Shondaland hit "<keyword id="12243236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scandal" source="Orion">Scandal</keyword>," but early in her career, she had a small role on <a href="https://www.insider.com/sopranos-cast-photos-where-are-they-now-2021-9">"The Sopranos"</a> — and she had an absolute blast filming it.</p><p>While speaking with Insider to promote her new partnership with <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/thankful-for-mom?CID=VN:s66d6t2dwpi1a80">La Quinta by Wyndham for its "Thankful for Mom" virtual meetup events</a>, Lowes opened up about her experience on the set of the hit HBO drama, describing herself as a "costar's costar" for one episode.</p><p>"I can't believe I even got to do that. It was so wild," she recalled, explaining that her scenes were filmed close to where she grew up on Long Island and her whole family came to watch her work. "And they were all so nice to my family. I had one line, like who cares?"</p><div type="image" title="Katie Lowes." height="3200" width="2628" msid="87726736" hostid="261"></div><p>Lowes remembered the cast of the mob drama being close to each other behind the scenes."They were all just such a family. That was the vibe they had on set, which you could tell on the show," she said. </p><p>The actor, who <a href="https://www.insider.com/scandal-star-katie-lowes-7500-babies-shonda-rhimes-2021-10">will next star in Shonda Rhimes'</a> upcoming <a href="https://www.insider.com/shonda-rhimes-anna-delvey-netflix-show-inventing-anna-first-photos-2021-10">Netflix series "Inventing Anna,"</a>  based on the real-life story of "fake heiress" Anna Sorokin, also got a masterclass in her craft while working on "The Sopranos." </p><p>"I couldn't tell the difference between when they would start acting and them as people," Lowes admitted, calling everyone's acting "seamless." </p><p>She particularly remembers the interesting way star <keyword id="12063299" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="james-gandolfini" source="Orion">James Gandolfini</keyword> would prepare before the cameras started rolling. "I remember him getting into character with the heavy breathing that he would do," she said, imitating the mobster's intense breaths. "He wasn't like that in real life. He would put on this breathing." </p><h2>Katie Lowes worked as a nanny before becoming a <keyword id="11898468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tv" source="Orion">TV</keyword> star, and even babysat Connie Britton's son</h2><p>Before her big break on "Scandal," Lowes was in Los Angeles, auditioning for acting jobs and earning money by nannying and babysitting her neighbors' kids. It's quite a nice gig when your <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/501432/scandal-star-was-connie-britton-s-nanny-i-was-so-upset-when-she-got-her-little-show">neighbor is "Friday Night Lights" star Connie Britton</a>. </p><p>Lowes said Britton didn't want her to be her son's nanny or a personal assistant because Britton believed she'd be successful as an actress. "I think you're really good. You're an actress. And you're going to book work. Let's not have you be my personal assistant," she recalled Britton telling her.</p><p>"The next week, I booked 'Scandal,'" Lowes continued. "And then she and I were on the red carpets together for years, because 'Nashville' was ABC and 'Scandal' was ABC. And now we're really good friends."</p><div type="image" title="Connie Britton Katie Lowes" height="1671" width="2228" msid="87726737" hostid="261"></div><p>She admitted that her prior experience nannying for other people's kids did not prepare her for motherhood. "I traveled with everyone else's kids. You'd think it would prep me for my own. It didn't really," she said. </p><p>Part of the reason why she partnered with <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/la-quinta-by-wyndham-teams-up-with-actress-and-podcast-host-katie-lowes-launches-virtual-meetups-to-help-moms-this-holiday-season-1030894460?_ga=2.108887364.735317806.1636310571-145619950.1633120273">La Quinta for its virtual talks </a>to empower mothers to travel with kids is that she knows how hard it can be. The event offers conversations like "Boss Mom 101" and "Making Time for Mom," to help mothers feel ready to take on holiday travel. </p><p>Lowes said that while traveling with her two young children can be hard, it's always worth it.</p><p>"I've never come home and been like, 'We shouldn't have done it.' I've always come home and been like, 'That was awesome. We all got stronger,'" she said.</p><p>La Quinta By Wyndham's "Thankful for Mom" event runs through November 17.  </p>

'Scandal' star Katie Lowes recalls bringing her entire family to 'The Sopranos' set when she guest-starred: 'I had one line, like who cares?'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12387922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="katie-lowes" source="Orion">Katie Lowes</keyword> was so captivated by Julia Garner's performance on the "<keyword id="12387923" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="inventing-anna" source="Orion">Inventing Anna</keyword>" set she'd forget lines.</li><li>Lowes stars as former Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams in the <keyword id="11892922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword> show.</li></ul><p>Netflix's new hit drama <a href="https://www.insider.com/inventing-anna-netflix-cast-real-people-photos-anna-sorokin-2022-2">"Inventing Anna,"</a> from "Grey's Anatomy" creator <keyword id="11995416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="shonda-rhimes" source="Orion">Shonda Rhimes</keyword>, required Julia Garner to transform into the notorious "fake heiress" <a href="https://www.insider.com/anna-delvey-writes-about-inventing-anna-and-life-in-jail-2022-2">Anna Sorokin</a> (aka <keyword id="12215464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="anna-delvey" source="Orion">Anna Delvey</keyword>) — and Garner's performance even stunned her costars, like Katie Lowes.</p><p>Lowes, who plays Sorokin's former friend Rachel DeLoache Williams on the show, called Garner "an exceptional artist" in an interview with Insider in October promoting her <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/thankful-for-mom?CID=VN:s66d6t2dwpi1a80">partnership with La Quinta by Wyndham</a>. She also admitted that sometimes she'd "have to be reminded" that she had her own job to do while watching Garner in a scene on the "Inventing Anna" set.</p><p>"I was in a scene with her and I would forget my line because I was so busy watching her. I'd be like, 'Oh, crap! It's me,'" the <a href="https://www.insider.com/scandal-star-katie-lowes-7500-babies-shonda-rhimes-2021-10">"Scandal" alum</a> recalled. </p><div type="image" title="Katie Lowes in &quot;Inventing Anna.&quot;" height="2012" width="2682" msid="89626246" hostid="261"></div><p>Like many of the characters on "Inventing Anna," Lowes' character is based on a real person. The real Williams, a former Vanity Fair photo editor and author of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/my-friend-anna-book-anna-delvey-sorokin-rachel-williams-2019-7">2019 book "My Friend Anna,"</a> had befriended Sorokin before Sorokin scammed her out of thousands of dollars during a luxurious group vacation to Morocco.</p><p>As depicted in the intense seventh episode of "Inventing Anna," called "Cash On Delivery," Sorokin left Williams with a <a href="https://www.insider.com/anna-delvey-sorokin-trial-morocco-trip-villa-kardashian-2019-3">$62,000 bill for the Morocco trip.</a> The fallout from that incident (and Williams' failed attempts to get repaid by Sorokin) ultimately led to Williams going to the police and <a href="https://www.insider.com/my-friend-anna-book-anna-delvey-sorokin-rachel-williams-2019-7">helping set up a sting operation</a> where Sorokin was arrested in Los Angeles.</p><p>At trial, <a href="https://www.insider.com/whats-true-inventing-anna-delvey-sorokin-differences-netflix-show-reality-2022-2#sorokin-left-rachel-williams-with-the-bill-for-that-morocco-trip-11">the jury acquitted Sorokin</a> of the prosecutors' charge alleging she stole from Williams, Insider's Jacob Shamsian previously reported. Sorokin was ultimately <a href="https://www.insider.com/anna-delvey-sorokin-trial-story-fake-heiress-2019-4">found guilty of eight of the 10 charges</a> brought against her, including four counts of theft of services, three counts of grand larceny, and one count of attempted grand larceny. She ultimately <a href="https://www.insider.com/inventing-anna-netflix-where-is-real-anna-delvey-sorokin-jail-2022-2">spent around three-and-a-half years behind bars</a> before being released from prison in February 2021, at which point she was re-arrested by ICE.</p><p>Sorokin currently remains in immigration detention.</p><p>Lowes told Insider that playing Williams challenged her for a specific reason. "I had never played a real-life person before," she said, also describing Williams as "so different" than her "Scandal" character, Quinn. </p><div type="image" title="Katie Lowes in &quot;Inventing Anna.&quot;" height="2397" width="3197" msid="89626247" hostid="261"></div><p>Lowes, who has worked on several of Rhimes' earlier shows, was well aware of Sorokin's story before it was adapted for Netflix because she's a "born and raised" New Yorker. </p><p>"I had heard about it in the zeitgeist, this con artist," she told Insider.</p><p>When Lowes first heard it was Rhimes who got the rights to the story, based on a <a href="https://www.thecut.com/article/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html">2018 New York magazine article</a> journalist Jessica Pressler wrote about Sorokin's schemes, she was hopeful that she could have a role in the story that had fascinated her.</p><p>"I was like, 'Please, let there be a part for me in it. Please, please, please, please, please,'" Lowes recalled.</p><p>"Turns out, there was," she added.</p>

'Inventing Anna' star Katie Lowes says she was so mesmerized watching Julia Garner's 'exceptional' transformation into Anna Sorokin that she'd 'forget' her lines sometimes

<p><em>Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Richard Kerr</span></p><p class="caption">Richard Kerr.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Rewards points and frequent-flyer miles can help anyone <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> for free or cheap, but active-duty servicemen and women in the US military have unique travel needs.</li><li>Fortunately, there are a few specific programs and benefits for military servicemembers that can help them take advantage of points and miles rewards programs.</li><li>Business Insider spoke with Richard Kerr, a US Navy veteran who runs the Facebook group Award Travel 101 and writes about points and miles. He shares his advice for servicemembers looking to travel more without spending an arm and a leg.</li><li>His biggest tip: Start by opening the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Platinum Card® from American Express</a>, since <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-servicemembers-get-american-express-platinum-credit-card-with-no-fee-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx waives the annual fee</a> for active duty servicemembers, and take advantage of that card's benefits.</li></ul><p>Servicemembers and their families often find themselves traveling frequently, whether for assignments, new postings, or just to visit friends and family back at home - and that's not to mention well-deserved vacation.</p><p>Of course, the logistics of travel as a servicemember can be inconvenient - even more so than for civilians.</p><p>Richard Kerr, a veteran who spent nine years in the US Navy, knows this firsthand. While stationed in Seattle in 2012, he was offered leave for Christmas just a few days before the holiday.</p><p>"Plane tickets were about $1,500 each to go back home to Atlanta," he said in an interview with Business Insider. "I hadn't seen my family in a year because we were deployed, so we decided to cough up the money."</p><p>Kerr, who founded the 56,000-member Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/awardtravel101/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Award Travel 101</a>, decided that he never wanted to be in the situation of deciding between saving money and seeing family again. Today, he's visited over 45 countries.</p><p>"I figured that there's gotta be a better way to travel," he said. "So I found points and miles."</p><h2>Using points and miles to travel for less</h2><p>Credit card rewards points, frequent-flyer miles, and hotel loyalty points can all be redeemed for free, or significantly discounted travel. Each specific program has its own system - for instance, Delta miles and American Airlines miles work differently, and credit card points generally work differently than frequent flyer miles - but in general, all travel rewards programs can be used for travel.</p><p>Although cash prices for tickets were high in Kerr's case, they might not have been quite as high if he'd had enough miles and used them to book.</p><p>That's because booking frequent-flyer "award tickets" is different from buying reservations outright - you can<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/transferable-points-credit-card-2018-1">read more about how it works here</a>. In most cases, the cash price and the miles price of a ticket aren't directly linked, so it's possible that while a flight's cash price may have gone up, its mileage price stays on the lower side.</p><p><strong><em>Learn more</em></strong><em>:</em> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-credit-card-reward-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019</em></a></p><p>Even if the mileage price has gone up, meaning you would get a lower value for each mile if you used them, rather than saving them for another time, having points and miles on hand can help in the event of last-minute travel, whether due to surprise leave or an unexpected emergency.</p><p>While some credit cards earn airline frequent flyer miles, and some earn fixed-value points or cash back, other cards earn flexible transferable points, which can be used as cash, to book travel at a fixed value, or transferred to a partnering frequent flyer program. Those are typically the best points to earn, at least initially.</p><h2>Servicemembers are in a unique position to take advantage of points and miles</h2><p>Even if you don't fly or stay in hotels frequently for your job, it's possible to earn tons of points and miles through other methods. Opening credit cards and earning the big new membership bonuses, earning rewards on normal spending, signing up for promotions, and using various cash-back and rewards tools can be incredibly helpful.</p><p>One major advantage that servicemembers have when getting started in the points and miles game: They can get the annual fees waived on the best credit cards.</p><p>"If you're in the military, you really need to take advantage of the no-fee [benefit] on the big American Express and Chase cards," Kerr said. </p><p><em><strong>Learn more</strong></em><em>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-credit-cards-affect-your-credit-score" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here's how to collect valuable credit card sign-up bonuses while helping your credit score</a></em></p><p>"You can get these large bonuses and you can get the huge benefits of the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx Platinum Card</a> for no annual fee. That's gotta be first." </p><p>Active duty servicemembers and their families can request the fee waiver by <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/help/service-members-civil-relief.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contacting</a> American Express online, or by calling the number on the back of their cards - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-servicemembers-get-american-express-platinum-credit-card-with-no-fee-2018-7">you can read more about it here</a>. Chase will also waive the annual fee on its cards, including the lucrative <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Sapphire Reserve</a>, for active duty servicemembers who call the number on the card and make a request.</p><p>In addition to getting those two big cards, earning the bonuses, and using the benefits, Kerr suggests looking at other credit card options - but unlike the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx Platinum</a> and <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sapphire Reserve</a>, which have easy-to-use and fairly universal benefits, the best additional options vary between people. Do some research online to figure out your best option.</p><p>"Be willing to invest a little bit of time to get over the learning curve and see the value that's there," Kerr said.</p><p>You'll also want to consider where you're stationed, Kerr said. Different credit card and airline programs can be advantageous depending on what airlines and alliances you have access to.</p><p>"Get really familiar with the airlines and learn how you can book them with points and miles to apply to the routes you're going to fly most often," he said.</p><h2>Saving on the highway</h2><p>Of course, traveling is more than just flying. Whether someone is planning a road trip or looking to rent a car, Kerr has suggestions on ways to save or maximize expenses.</p><p>Both the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Sapphire Reserve</a> and the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx Platinum</a> offer car rental benefits, including discounts and elite status with agencies like <a href="https://fave.co/2v72KBF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avis</a>, <a href="https://fave.co/2v8yxlW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National</a>, <a href="https://fave.co/2PlRmvf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enterprise</a>, and <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hertz</a>. The <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral">Sapphire Reserve</a> also offers primary rental car insurance, as long as you pay with the card and decline the collision damage waiver coverage offered by the rental agency.</p><p>At the gas pump, Kerr suggests using a card that offers bonus points on fill-ups. For example, the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/hilton-honors-american-express-ascend-card/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card</a> offers 6x points per dollar spent at US gas stations, while several Citi cards - like the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/citi-thankyou-premier-sign-up-bonus-offer-2018-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citi Premier Card</a> - offer bonuses. However, because their rewards programs offer more flexibility than any others, Kerr suggests focusing on Chase and AmEx.</p><p>"Some of the Citi cards have really great deals, but if you're getting no annual fee on the Chase cards and AmEx cards, that's what you want to maximize," he said.</p><p>Some cards from Chase like the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-freedom-unlimited℠/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Freedom Unlimited</a>, which is marketed as earning 1.5% cash back, actually earns 1.5x points per dollar, which can be pooled with points earned from other Chase cards - including the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sapphire Reserve</a>.</p><p>Kerr also suggests linking cards to programs like Shell's Fuel Rewards. Between the savings Fuel Rewards offers on fill-ups - especially because you can earn Fuel Rewards discounts at other retailers besides Shell - and the points you can earn from credit card rewards on fuel, benefits can add up quickly.</p><p>"Yesterday, I filled up 20 gallons of gas for a net total of about $0.38," he said.</p><p>He recommends signing up for <a href="https://join.fuelrewards.com/frconnect/registration.html?partSrcId=awardtravel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fuel Rewards</a>, which is running a partnership in conjunction with Award Travel 101 - you'll get Gold status right away, and immediately start saving $0.05 per gallon.</p><h2>Saving on hotels</h2><p>While you can use points to cover hotel stays, in many cases, Kerr suggests servicemembers take advantage of government rates to just pay outright - and to earn more points on those stays.</p><p>"Government rates can be found at all the chains, and can be found worldwide," he said. "I've found some amazing government rates through <a href="https://track.flexlinkspro.com/a.ashx?foid=1067927.136618689&amp;foc=2&amp;fot=9999&amp;fos=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marriott.com%2Fdefault.mi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marriott</a>, <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=257137&amp;awinmid=3624&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hilton.com%2Fen%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hilton</a>, and <a href="https://www.hyatt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hyatt</a> when I've traveled the world. Even AccorHotels, which is Europe and Middle East-centric, for people who are stationed over there," he said.</p><p>To get the government rate, simply request it while booking (you can usually check a box while searching online), and keep your military ID handy when you check in.</p><p><em><strong>Learn more:</strong> </em><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-credit-card-deals-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 of the best credit card offers this month - including two huge hotel bonuses that end soon</a></em></p><p>Another suggestion is to join certain hotel programs that give you complimentary elite status if you're in the military.</p><p>"<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Quinta Hotels</a>, which is now part of <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wyndham</a> - you can get Wyndham status and La Quinta status, which actually gives you like 12% off every hotel stay just for being in the military," Kerr said.</p><p>Similarly, some Las Vegas casino chains offer substantial military benefits.</p><p>"They're actually really awesome," he said, "like free nights, and free $100 dining credits."</p><h2>It all comes back to earning points with fee-waived credit cards</h2><p>Ultimately, Kerr suggests prioritizing a credit card rewards and benefits strategy above anything else.</p><p>"When I was in, I got the credit cards that earned me all the points, and then I used to look for government rates," he said. Coupled together, that helped him maximize leisure and leave time with his family, letting him visit home or go on vacation.</p><p>Of course, it can be hard to get started with the points and miles game. Kerr suggests starting by opening the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx Platinum</a> and <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Sapphire Reserve</a> (although make sure you have a plan to meet the minimum spending requirement to earn the bonuses before you open them), and then, once you have a feel for how points-earning and card benefits works, going in deeper.</p><p>"On <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/awardtravel101/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Award Travel 101</a> on Facebook, learn all the tips," he said. "I've got tons of military on there that ask me questions all the time based on my experience."</p><p><em><strong>Learn more: </strong></em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activate-american-express-platinum-credit-card-benefits-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Here's exactly what to do as soon as you open an Amex Platinum credit card to get up to $2,000 of value in your first year</em></a></p><p>Also, Kerr recommends searching around and reading points-and-miles blogs that you find interesting, and checking out message boards like FlyerTalk.</p><p>Ultimately, the biggest piece of advice he has for servicemembers looking to use points and miles is to - at least initially - focus on transferable, flexible rewards currencies. like Chase Ultimate Rewards, AmEx Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou points.</p><p>"Because our travel patterns change so differently and we aren't sure where we might be next year, you really need to make sure that you have transferable points so that your options stay as wide as possible," Kerr said.</p><p>Once you have the <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AmEx Platinum</a> and <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Sapphire Reserve</a> and gotten their fees waived, check out our guides to all the benefits to make sure you're getting the most of them:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-express-platinum-credit-card-perks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why the AmEx Platinum is worth it - especially for anyone who travels</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-credit-card-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase's Sapphire Reserve credit card has a high annual fee - but here's why it's worth it</a></li></ul><h2>Last but not least, a word of warning</h2><p>Keep in mind that while annual fees are waived for active duty personnel and their families, interest is still charged on any carried balances, and negative reports can still affect your credit score. Be sure that you don't spend more than you can afford, and try to avoid carrying balances - in other words, treat your credit card like a debit card.</p><h3><a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/the-platinum-card-from-american-express/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to learn more about the AmEx Platinum Card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy</a>.</h3><h3><a href="https://thepointsguy.com/card-details/chase-sapphire-reserve/?utm_campaign=bi_041619_military_award_travel&amp;utm_source=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy</a>.</h3><p class="tagline"><p><em>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. We occasionally highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to adopt a certain investment strategy. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of our recommendations, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners. This does not influence whether we feature a financial product or service. We operate independently from our advertising sales team.</em></p><p><em>Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p></p>

A navy vet who's been using points and miles for 7 years explains how active-duty servicemembers can travel for less

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArubaMarriott/photos/a.382030764625.157988.373487484625/10154620444524626/?type=3&amp;theater">Aruba Marriott Resort &amp; Stellaris Casino/Facebook</a></span></p><p class="caption">Loyalty pays. (Pictured: Aruba Marriott Resort &amp; Stellaris Casino.)</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Saving on accommodation is the easiest way to stretch your vacation budget.</p><p>For many, the sharing economy provides a low cost and unique means of <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel">travel</keyword>. It's no secret Airbnb and other room and house rental sites like VRBO have done a number on the hotel industry. In 2015, one-third of US leisure travelers stayed in private accommodations, <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/travel-hospitality-industry-outlook.html">according to a report</a> by Deloitte.</p><p>Still, hotels maintain one essential perk you won't find elsewhere: Loyalty programs.</p><p>Many of these programs hook travelers by touting free nights, room upgrades, personal concierges, and other rewards for racking up overnight stays - but some are better than others.</p><p>On Wednesday, U.S. News &amp; World Report released their annual ranking of <a href="http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Travel-Rewards/">the best hotel rewards programs</a> for everyday travelers, based largely on the ease of earning and redeeming free stays.</p><p>To compile the list, U.S. News considered 17 loyalty programs associated with major hotel brands that have at least 50 US properties and allow you to join without any prerequisites, like a previous stay at one of its hotels.</p><p>U.S. News also factored in membership benefits, like free amenities, affiliated credit cards, redeemable experiences, and geographic reach, including number and size of locations. The hotel groups vary in size, the smallest with 375 locations and the largest with more than 5,000 worldwide. You can read U.S. News' full methodology <a href="http://travel.usnews.com/methodology/">here</a>.</p><p><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/marriott-rewards/">Marriott Rewards</a> came out on top, in part because of its large network of hotels in desirable locales, and its generous rewards, which include a complimentary night stay for all new members, and the ability to book sporting events and concerts with points.</p><p>Below, check out the rest of the top 10 travel rewards programs for 2017 (for detailed information on each program, follow the links back to U.S. News):</p><div title="Page 2"><div title="Page 2"><h3>1. Marriott Rewards</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/marriott-rewards/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.92</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 4.8</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 4.5</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 5</li></ul><h3>2. Wyndham Rewards</h3><div title="Page 2"><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/wyndham-rewards/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.74</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 5</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 4.5</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 4.4</li></ul><h3>3. Choice Privileges</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/choice-privileges/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.53</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 4.9</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 5</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 3.6</li></ul><h3 title="Page 2">4. World of Hyatt</h3><div title="Page 2"><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/world-of-hyatt/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.43</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 4.8</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 3.3</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 5</li></ul><h3>5. Best Western Rewards</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/best-western-rewards/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.28</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 4.6</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 3.5</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 4</li></ul><h3>6. IHG Rewards Club</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/ihg-rewards-club/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 4.24</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 3.9</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 4.8</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 4</li></ul><h3>7. La Quinta Returns</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/la-quinta-returns/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 3.94</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 5</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 2.7</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 3.2</li></ul><h3>8. Club Carlson</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/club-carlson/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 3.66</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 4.1</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 1.8</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 3.6</li></ul><h3>9. Starwood Preferred Guest</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/starwood-preferred-guest/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 3.55</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 2.3</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 4.7</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 4.6</li></ul><h3>10. Leaders Club</h3><ul><li><strong><a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/leaders-club/">Overall score</a>:</strong> 3.51</li><li><strong>Ease of earning a free night score:</strong> 5</li><li><strong>Geographic coverage score:</strong> 1.7</li><li><strong>Additional benefits score:</strong> 2.6</li></ul></div></div></div></div>     <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/null-stern-hotel-swiss-alps-no-walls-video-2016-9">This stunning 'hotel room' in the Swiss Alps has no walls</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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