According to CardTrak, Carlson Hotels Worldwide and Bank of America have just launched a new affinity card, allowing cardholders to earn 2,000 bonus points for each stay at a Carlson hotel. The standard rate of earning is 3 points per dollar spent. These points can be redeemed for free hotel nights, which start at 15,000 points per night, or airline miles, merchandise and gift cards.

If you make your first purchase before July 31, 2006, you’ll earn a bonus of 20,000 points. If you wait until August 1, 2006 or later to make your first purchase, your bonus is 10,000 points. For further details, see http://www.goldpointsplus.com/.