Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE: JPM], and HyCard Inc., an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation [NYSE: H], announced today that EMV chip technology is now available on the Hyatt Credit Card, an industry-first for a U.S. hotel credit card.

The addition of EMV chip technology enhances the already generous travel rewards associated with the Hyatt Credit Card. Cardmembers benefit from no foreign transaction fees, while earning 3 Hyatt Gold Passport® Points for every $1 spent at Hyatt destinations worldwide, among many other first-class features.

"Offering EMV chip technology on the Hyatt Credit Card is an extension of our commitment to provide cardmembers best-in-class service and products. This new feature offers cardmembers convenience and peace of mind that cannot be matched by any other U.S. cobranded hotel card," said Robin Schettini, general manager, Chase. "Our Hyatt cardmembers will benefit from the card's premier travel benefits and the ability to safely and easily conduct transactions when travelling internationally."

The Hyatt Credit Card's new EMV chip technology features a microchip as well as a traditional magnetic strip to accommodate merchants in the United States. The embedded and encrypted microchip makes the Card more secure and enables safer processing and storage of data. Chip technology is the gold standard in Europe, Canada, and regions of Africa and Asia, among other geographies.

"Hyatt's goal is to be the preferred brand in every segment we serve," said Chris Walker of Hyatt. "We think our guests will appreciate that Hyatt is the first U.S. hospitality company to offer a credit card with technology that makes it easier to use the card worldwide."

The Hyatt Credit Card benefits include the following, all for a $75 annual fee:

2 Award Nights at Hyatt properties worldwide after first purchase
No foreign transaction fees
Earn 3 Hyatt Gold Passport Points for every $1 spent at Hyatt
Earn 1 Htt
Earn 1 Hyatt Gold Passport Point for every $1 spent everywhere else
Automatic Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum membership - and maintain Platinum status as long as a cardmember
Receive 1 Award Night in a category 1-4 property every year on cardmember anniversary
No limits on points earned

The Hyatt Credit Card with chip technology can be used everywhere traditional magnetic strip cards are accepted in the U.S. and in more than 130 countries abroad where chip technology is implemented.

Today's announcement also marks the fourth credit card in the Chase portfolio to offer EMV chip technology. In 2011, Chase became the first major U.S. bank to offer this innovation to its customers.