It looks like Citi is introducing a new hotel program for Strata Elite, Strata Premier and Citi Prestige, called The Reserve. Benefits are similar to Virtuoso or Chase’s The Edit.
Have not seen anything from Citi on this, but rates are appearing on Citi Travel now. However, for the few properties I’ve checked so far, The Reserve rates are not competitive at all, compared to regular rates bookable through the Citi portal.
At first I thought this would help with the rumored new annual travel credit being useable only on hotels via the travel portal and only on minimum 2 night stays, but if the rates are inflated that doesn’t help much.
If Citi keeps their portal rates the same I think this is going to be the worst card deal ever. The Prestige 4NF has become almost unusable as they took out most of Southern Asia a few months ago. Without a usable hotel credit this card is worthless.
Citi’s travel portal is so effing terrible at almost everything a travel portal is supposed to be.