Los Angeles, CA — (SBWIRE) — 01/05/2012 — Loyalty Play Holdings has launched PlayWithPoints.com, the world’s first loyalty points based online casual skill game destination. Members of Scandinavian Airlines’ EuroBonus program, Etihad’s Etihad Guest program, AirBaltic’s BalticMiles program and Etisalat’s More Rewards program can now use their miles and points to compete in casual game tournaments to win travel and non-travel related prizes.

Stated Ahmet Goemleksiz, Partner Manager International of Loylogic, the rewards mall provider for the participating launch programs, “Loylogic prides itself on providing our valued customers with the most robust and rewarding loyalty products and services. We think that the Loyalty Play Holdings’ application represents the next level of loyalty program offerings and we are extremely excited to be one of the company’s launch partners.”

The launch of PlayWithPoints.com ushers in a new era in loyalty entertainment by combining two very popular, yet previously unrelated sectors – casual online gaming and loyalty programs. As a result, for the first time, the more than 500 million members of the frequent flyer and loyalty program community can utilize their loyalty points, miles, etc. to compete in casual game tournaments for a broad range of prizes.

“This is awesome,” stated Giana Perle. “I’ve always enjoyed playing online solitaire and other puzzle games and now I will be able to use some of my SAS EuroBonus frequent flyer miles to compete for prizes.”  Full story HERE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — CouponNetwork.com, a leading provider of digital and printable coupons powered by Catalina Marketing Corporation, is launching a new consumer savings solution called Video Rewards. This unique brand building and consumer rewards program allows companies to better engage and connect with customers through relevant, informational videos.

Video Rewards allows companies to leverage the power and reach of Coupon Network and other digital properties to increase brand engagement, customer interaction and coupon redemption rates. Coupon Network was designed to help savings-focused shoppers connect with their favorite brands and retailers, and Video Rewards extends the power and value of that connection. The program includes enhanced value coupons available to users who simply click on the “Coupon Details” tab and watch a short informational video from the brand. After watching the video, which plays within the Coupon Network site, users automatically receive a higher value on the brand’s digital or printable coupon offer. Brands build deeper relationships and recognition with consumers, who in turn receive bigger immediate savings and incentives.

“Video Rewards demonstrates the potential of online couponing to deliver significantly more consumer and brand engagement versus more traditional mass or paper couponing vehicles,” said Susan Gear, General Manager of Coupon Network. “Our goal is to help consumers build deeper relationships with their favorite brands, as well as discover new products and brands. On Coupon Network, consumers connect not only with our unique offers and savings, but with the essence of the brand through rich, interactive content. Coupon Network continues to be the place to go for consumers to save money on their favorite brands.”

  Full Story HERE

  ezRez, a software company that develops white-label travel commerce and loyalty redemption platform and a loyalty payments engine for digital wallets, has acquired social loyalty rewards startup Topguest. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

[This story from TechCrunch, to visit please click here] – As we’ve written in the past, Topguest is a loyalty program that rewards users for engaging with brands on social networks. The startup lets you earn points simply by checking-in to hotels, airports and more on social networks like Foursquare, Instagram and Facebook.

Topguest allows users to integrate with rewards programs such as United MileagePlus, Continental One Pass, Virgin America, IHG Priority Club and Hilton HHonors to earn reward points check-ins and receive exclusive offers and bonuses as well. For example, a Virgin America Elevate member waiting to board a flight can use Topguest to check-in on Foursquare and earn bonus Elevate miles.

Topguest recently announced a white-label product that allow brands to customize their communication with each of their customers, based on their social networking activity. Loyalty programs can carefully target and customize offers that are relevant to each member.

The startup has raised $2 million in funding from the Founders Fund, SV Angel, SoftTechVC, Keith Rabois, Kal Vepuri, Naval Ravikant, and Joe Lonsdale. Peter Thiel is an advisor as well.

Founded in 2003, ezRez works behind the scenes with more than 200,000 travel suppliers, loyalty programs and payment providers globally, including AirAsia, American Airlines, United Airlines, Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, JetBlue, American Express and PayPal. The company’s back-end technology that lets you book hotels and rental cars with points and cash through various travel companies’ rewards programs. Collectively, more than 20 billion reward points are redeemed through the ezRez platform annually.

ezRez is also rolling out a new digital wallet product that will allow loyalty program members to use their loyalty program points to pay for merchandise and services anywhere PayPal is accepted.

Topguest actually works with many of the same loyalty programs but adds the social and mobile component, rewarding consumers for “check ins” and other social behavior on Facebook, Foursquare, Instagram and Twitter. Full Story HERE