Business class flights, luxury hotel stay and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch football live in London Watching the UEFA Champions League Final live was just one of the many experiences that five Citibank customers (one not pictured) and their loved ones enjoyed on their paid trip to London, made possible by the bank’s partnership with Mastercard. Mr Aaron Tan was enjoying a quiet dinner with his fiancee when an email notification lit up his phone, and he was in for a surprise. He was chosen as one of just five lucky winners in Singapore, selected by a draw of over 21,000 qualified Mastercard credit and debit cardholders, for the UEFA Champions League Mastercard Priceless Experience*.
The prize was not just tickets to the UEFA Champions League Final to catch Real Madrid face off with Borussia Dortmund. Thanks to Mastercard, the official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, and Citibank Singapore, Citibank cardholders were offered an all-expenses paid four-day, three-night trip to London for two: two-way business class flights, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, curated private tours around London and a stay at a prestigious hotel. “The hotel’s service was better than anything I’ve experienced so far,” the 32-year-old recounts, having been escorted, together with his fiancee, to his spacious hotel room upon arrival – an uncommon luxury in Central London – and given a detailed tour.
This royal treatment was just the beginning, Mr Tan found. He and his fiancee joined the other winners and their companions to a host of unforgettable events, from a surprise appearance by football legend Cesc Fàbregas over dinner to private tours of iconic landmarks. For football fan Dane Stevenson and his partner, who had never visited London or flown in business class before, the trip was a dream come true.
“I was in utter disbelief and very excited,” Mr Stevenson adds. He had entered the Mastercard-provided UEFA Champions League draw via the Citi Mobile App simply because it involved the prestigious tournament, never expecting to win. The experience far exceeded his expectations.
“It was apparent that Mastercard and Citibank Singapore had spared no expense to look after us, from the lavish dinners, the private tour of Wembley and London to the farewell gifts,” the 38-year-old adds. “You could really tell the organisers cared about the customers and their experience.” An electrifying football atmosphere up close As the first bank in Singapore to partner with Mastercard for the 2023/24 season of the tournament, it goes without saying that the winners were given prime seats at Wembley Stadium for the draw winners.
Watching the game live from such a great vantage point may have changed Mr Tan’s experience of watching football on TV forever. For 32-year-old Aaron Tan and his wife, watching a match live at Wembley Stadium and experiencing the fans' enthusiasm first-hand was the highlight of their trip to London. PHOTO: CITIBANK SINGAPORE “When you watch it on a screen, you’re a lot more focused on the match, the players and the commentary.
But this doesn’t capture the atmosphere in the stadium,” he explains. “You get caught up in the vibe and you’re much more invested in the game because of that,” Mr Tan adds. Likewise, 40-year-old football fan Martin Lim describes the finals as “the experience of a lifetime”, one that began long before entering the stadium.
Describing the palpable energy, he adds: “Supporters of different teams were cheering and playfully taunting each other. Fans from all over the world who spoke different languages came together in something of a massive carnival. It was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
” Even his wife, a non-football fan, soaked up the atmosphere, to his surprise. “She never understood why people were into the game or clubs. But as she watched the match, she was intrigued by the enthusiasm of the fans and was immersed in the entire experience,” he says.
Spending quality time together, reliving experiences The trip was not just about watching the finals for Mr Lim; it was their first getaway as a married couple since having three children. “We finally feel like we’re on honeymoon again, visiting the iconic sights of London together and not having to worry about our kids. It also makes me think of trying new things together in the future,” he says.
Travelling together for the first time since having children, 40-year-old Martin Lim and his wife enjoyed quality time together while visiting some of London’s treasured landmarks like Buckingham Palace. PHOTO: CITIBANK SINGAPORE Mr Johnny Tan, 50, and his wife thought the same, having had the opportunity to rekindle old memories by winning this priceless experience. “Although we have seen the London Eye and Tower Bridge before, the feeling is different now,” says Mr Tan, noting how much of the city he and his wife remembered had changed.
Having visited London briefly two decades ago, Mr Johnny Tan and his wife took the time during the trip to explore more attractions, including the St Paul’s Cathedral. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MR JOHNNY TAN Comparing the blurry photos they took in London 20 years ago with their new crisp pictures taken with their mobiles, Mr Tan appreciates the chance to capture the same memories again. In particular, nine-year-old Luke Maguire’s visit to Wembley Stadium will be forever immortalised in the match replay.
An unforgettable experience for a young football lover Citibank Singapore is the first bank in Singapore to collaborate with Mastercard to offer the Player Mascot Mastercard Priceless Experience* Package, and Luke’s father, Mr Scott Maguire, 44, happened to be its lucky winner. Nine-year-old Luke Maguire (centre) not only revelled in the rare chance of accompanying Brazilian footballer Rodrygo Silva de Goes to the field but he also met other Real Madrid icons like English midfielder Jude Bellingham (second from right). PHOTO: CITIBANK SINGAPORE This gave the young football fan the once-in-a-lifetime experience of accompanying a player – from his favourite team, no less – onto the pitch.
“It was such an incredible prize to win, and I thought it would be an amazing experience that Luke would remember for the rest of his life. I wish I could’ve done that when I was a nine-year-old!” Mr Maguire says. When he broke the news to Luke, who had followed the tournament up to this point, the latter thought he was joking.
While a Real Madrid fan, Luke was thrilled to have met players from Borussia Dortmund, such as Dutch footballer Ian Maatsen and Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson. PHOTO: UEFA “I thought it was a prank. I didn’t think it was real.
Most of my friends at school didn’t believe me either until they saw me on TV,” Luke says. Despite being a new experience for Luke, Mr Maguire encouraged him to be confident and just enjoy the moment. “I think it was the effect of being surrounded by his superheroes.
Luke remembers all the players around him, high-fived them and said he would never wash his hands again,” Mr Maguire recalls with a laugh. “It was breathtaking to walk onto the pitch with so many people and professional players. When people ask me how it felt, I just say it was amazing.
” Mastercard is a long-standing sponsor of the UEFA Champions League. The most prestigious competition in European club football – the tournament featured the 32 best teams in Europe and ran from June 2023, building to the UEFA Champions League Final in June 2024. Mastercard is passionate about bringing you closer to the action through its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League.
Revel in extraordinary lifestyle privileges with premium banking with Citibank Singapore Winning the Player Mascot Mastercard Priceless Experience package and travelling to London with his son were some of the many lifestyle privileges Mr Scott Maguire has enjoyed since joining Citigold Private Client. PHOTO: CITIBANK SINGAPORE From free airport lounge access and hotel stays to incredible one-of-a-kind opportunities, Citibank Singapore empowers its customers to pursue their passions and what truly matters to them. With a Citibank Mastercard debit or credit card , customers can select from a range of rewards, cashback and redemptions in travel, hospitality, shopping and dining that best suit their needs.
They can also win curated experiences through seasonal offers and promotions . Customers can take their lifestyle benefits up a notch when they become Citigold and Citigold Private Client customers. They can enjoy an expanded range of private banking privileges, including zero conversion fees on foreign currency spending, premium hotel membership statuses, and complimentary golf course entrance and lesson fees worldwide.
Join Citigold or Citigold Private Client today and take advantage of exclusive welcome rewards. *All five winners of Citibank's UEFA Champions League Mastercard Priceless Experience participated in the draw via the Citi Mobile® App: Every $1,000 spend on their Citibank credit or debit Mastercard equates to one chance in the draw; Citigold Private Client customers had to spend at least $6,000, with a minimum Assets Under Management (AUM) of $2.5 million to qualify for a separate Player Mascot Mastercard Priceless Experience draw.
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