News and notes from around the interweb:

• The CEO of Minor Hotels, which bought HNA Group’s stake in NH Hotels, thinks the short-lived Hyatt offer for NH Hotels was ’embarrassing’.

• Virgin Atlantic 90,000 mile signup bonus is back the full 90 requires $25,000 spend and waiting a year, you can get 75,000 miles at $12,000 spend within 6 months and adding two authorized users. (HT: Doctor of Credit)

  Virgin Atlantic miles are among the least valuable, but there are sweet spots like booking ANA first and business class awards to and from Japan.

  

• There are several great hotel deals right now with ‘Amex Offers’ which are savings or bonuses you can add to your American Express card account. They’re at the bottom of your account summary page. (HT: One Mile at a Time)

  My Platinum Card by American Express had deals for Hilton and Kimpton spend.

  

  

  My Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card by American Express had a deal for Marriott spend.

  

• Aimia, the company that is selling Aeroplan back to Air Canada, has appointed a chief strategy officer to help figure out what the company should do going forward.

  They still own pieces of other loyalty programs, most prominently 49% of Aeromexico’s Club Premier. Do they just become a passive owner? Do they sell what’s left and wind down? They had been active players promoting spinoffs but Air Canada’s decision to terminate its agreement with Aeroplan makes those less popular right now.

• Bank of American is out with a new 40,000 mile signup bonus for the Alaska Airlines Visa marshallll posts it noting that the email he received contained a ‘verification code’ that Bank of America could ask for “if verification is required” but that isn’t something you need to enter in order to apply. Apparently these emails are going out to California, Washington state, and Alaska residents, perhaps others as well.