Category: Customer Strategy Network

Loyalty points and late deals from new online booking tools

April 15, 2012

LONDON, April 15 — Room77 has announced that it will offer hotel loyalty points for users that book through its site. In a break from the tradition of many online travel agencies, where earning points for discounted hotel rooms is normally not an option, the site revealed this week that it would allow users to pick up points for popular programs when they book using the site.

The booking tool, which made its name by allowing users to get details of specific rooms in hotels and request their favourite ahead of arrival, said that allowing users to collect points on bookings addresses one of the most common complaints travellers have about booking rooms online. FULL STORY HERE

Shoppers Stop First Citizen Loyalty programme grows to 2.5 million customers ~It is the biggest and most successful Loyalty programme in this category~

April 1, 2012

Mumbai, March 26, 2012: The First Citizen Loyalty Programme of Shoppers Stop has now crossed a milestone of 2.5 million members. With a growing base of over 2.5 million members contributing over 72% to sales annually, Shoppers Stop First Citizen loyalty programme is the biggest and most successful programme in this category.
Under this programme, customers who sign up for the First Citizen membership with Shoppers Stop are treated to various offers and special privileges such as the exclusive First Citizen lounge at every store, facility to redeem their reward points directly at the cash counter, exclusive cash counters for Golden Glow members, exclusive preview of Sale and other annual offers to name a few. Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Vinay Bhatia, Customer Care Associate and Senior Vice President – Marketing and Loyalty, Shoppers Stop Ltd. expressed, “The First Citizen Loyalty Programme has now crossed 2.5 million members who contribute over 72% to turnover. Clearly, this denotes a base of thoroughly engaged, loyal and serious shoppers. Our First Citizen members are entitled to various special privileges. We have introduced numerous innovative benefits exclusively for First Citizens such as Choose Your Sale Date (an exclusive one-day sale for the customer).  Full Story HERE

Hotel Loyalty Scheme Case Studies with focus on the Middle East

January 9, 2012

Few people would disagree that the last two or three years have been incredibly challenging for the hotel industry. However, it’s during such times that creativity and innovation come to the forefront to answer the question ‘how can we fill our hotel?’
For many hotel chains, the loyalty programme is an integral part of the answer and the Middle East has witnessed a variety of initiatives for generating repeat business in 2011. These range from some chains introducing an existing programme to the region to extending a programme to go beyond the rooms segment to capture and reward non-residential spend. While such initiatives are applaudable, at the end of the day, it’s all about results, which are measured in a variety of ways depending on the objective.
Christophe Landais, managing director for Accor Middle East explains the strategy and measurement criteria for Accor’s A|Club: “The main strategy is focused on three objectives: to raise awareness of the programme within the region, recruit additional members and strengthen the loyalty of our clients by developing repeated business. We measure our success with the progression of the number of members we have, which will reach 8 million worldwide by the end of 2011 and also by the number of active members, representing 41% as of November 2011.  Full Story HERE

Loyalty Play Holdings Launches First Competitive Gaming Destination Powered by Frequent Flyer Miles

January 6, 2012

Loyalty program members can now use their miles and points to play casual games, compete, and win upgraded awards and prizes.

 

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

Coupon Network Launches Innovative Video Rewards to Bring Branded Digital Content and Increased Savings to Consumers

December 20, 2011

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

First loyalty program for Australia’s entertainment and sports travel sectors

December 13, 2011

Australian-owned event and incentive specialist, cievents, has created the country’s first loyalty program for the entertainment and sports travel industry.

cievents has partnered with leading Australian entertainment and sports travel management company, Stage and Screen Travel Services, to design and launch the innovative ‘Backstage Advantage’ program.

Developed by ciloyalty, cievents’ loyalty division, the program targets Stage and Screen clients including sports organisations and teams, and companies operating in the film, television, broadcasting, performing arts, music, fashion and creative media sectors. Backstage Advantage is an interactive web-based program in which these companies’ travel bookers earn reward points every time they book travel with Stage and Screen. Once travel bookers have accrued enough points they can shop virtually from an online Stage and Screen catalogue which includes a huge range of products from homewares, to cosmetics and accessories, to the latest electronics.

Travel bookers can also have the chance to earn extra points during special bonus months, and attend exciting industry events with Stage and Screen. They are kept up to date with the latest industry travel deals and news through a regular newsletter.

While the bookers are personally rewarded for their loyalty, their companies also benefit from travel cost savings. By making all bookings through Stage and Screen, travel policy compliance is higher and better savings are achieved.  Full story from Travel Daily News HERE

[Tech Crunch] Travel Rewards Redemption Company ezRez Buys Social Loyalty Check-In App Topguest

December 13, 2011

  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

Herefordshire Takes Getmapping Vertical, and Oblique Imagery plus Elevation Data

October 25, 2011

Hartley Wintney, October 25, 2011 – Herefordshire Council has purchased a package of geo-spatial data from Getmapping. The package includes the latest 12.5cm resolution imagery of the whole county (2,400 sq km) plus 10cm resolution and oblique imagery for Hereford itself. This is complemented by Getmapping’s Digital Surface (DSM) and Digital Terrain Models (DTM) of the county, derived from the same aerial survey. The height data replaces data previously acquired, but now no longer licensed, under the terms of the new Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA).

Herefordshire Council makes extensive use of its imagery across a wide range of departments for uses such as environmental protection, contaminated land management, flood risk assessment, conservation and planning. The oblique imagery is used in combination with MultiVision software which enables accurate 3D measurements to be taken, reducing the need in many cases for a site visit. The measurements can be taken direct from the oblique photography using the tools provided, making it possible to ascertain building heights and elevation areas, calculate distances and much more.

Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral

MultiVision, is a unique product that combines vertical aerial photography with oblique photography in a single software environment. The Getmapping Digital Elevation Model provides the essential ‘xyz’ 3D geometry that enables MultiVision to combine the vertical and oblique photography. With MultiVision the centre of the screen is taken up by a vertical aerial photograph, a mouse click on any point in this image prompts the software to display 4 oblique photos taken from multiple directions, normally N, S, E and W. These multiple perspective views ‘look inwards’ towards the chosen point in the vertical image making it really easy to understand what is being viewed on the ground whilst providing lots of additional information that a vertical image alone cannot deliver.

“Under the old Mapping Service Agreement (MSA), Local Authorities benefitted from special terms for the supply of Intermap NEXTMap Britain height data, serviced by Getmapping. The new PSMA, which replaces the MSA does not have any provision for height data so previous licenses have expired,’ said Dave Horner, Managing Director of Getmapping. We have an extensive range of height data including datasets derived from own flying programme which means customers can have imagery and height data captured from the same survey.  In addition we have a full range of LiDAR and we still service the full Intermap NEXTMap Britain datasets.

Groupon Launches Rewards Program, Gives Businesses More Control

September 28, 2011

Today Groupon announced Groupon Rewards, a new program allowing consumers to unlock special Groupon deals from their favorite local businesses through repeat visits. Consumers earn rewards at participating merchants simply by paying with the credit or debit card they have on file at Groupon.com. After spending an amount set by the merchant, the consumer unlocks the ability to purchase a special Groupon for that business.

What’s exciting about Rewards is how easy it is for both merchants and consumers. As a shopper, you don’t have to worry about a loyalty card or remembering to check in – we do all the work behind the scenes. And as a merchant, Rewards works with your existing POS system to help you track redemption and ROI while incentivizing future purchases. Pretty cool stuff.  FULL STORY HERE