Welcome back to The Wise Marketer. Every Monday, our team of editors curate a list of the latest customer loyalty, marketing, and other relevant news. Our goal is to make it simple for busy professionals to quickly digest important news and trending topics. Show your support by joining our mailing list to gain access to exclusive content, events, and promotions. Or you could just follow us on social media!
- Expedia consolidates 3 loyalty programs to form central rewards hub
- Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist launch new loyalty program dubbed Expedition Perks
- Sparkfly and Lunchbox join forces to drive transformational customer acquisition and loyalty
- Discount supermarket chain Aldi announces plans to open 100 new stores in the UK by 2023
- Mastercard enters the buy now, pay later space as industry competition heats up
- Accor launches new payment card to meet changing consumer expectations
- Nonprofit group Transwave Jamaica highlights possible problems with the government's latest data privacy legislation
- Concord Hospitality partners with AT&T to provide hotel employees with AT&T's Staff Alert, a wearable connected solution designed to keep employees safe
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS
Expedia unifies loyalty programmes in one global rewards platform
Highlight: With more than 145 million members across its current and separate rewards programmes, Expedia Group already has one of the largest loyalty platforms in the world. According to Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands, creating travel products and features that are simple to use and even more rewarding for those who travel with the company is vital. “We want our customers to get the most of their travel experiences, plain and simple. No one needs to do anything right now, but soon their current rewards will be even more valuable, as they will gain access to the world of Expedia Group through one consolidated, easy to use programme,” Gieselman added.
Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist Launch Expedition Perks Loyalty Program
Highlight: Expedition Perks is free to join and allows members to earn access to concierge-like customer service via the Gearhead program, the company's in-house product and activity experts. Members of Expedition Perks can receive access to a personal Gearhead, who can help with trip planning, gear, and apparel purchases and receive outdoor guidance pre, during, and post pursuit. "We believe our customers deserve the best loyalty program in the industry with access to personalized expertise from Backcountry's Gearheads, our team of outdoor experts who help our customers get the most of their outdoor experience, as well as other valuable rewards simply by gearing up and interacting with us, not by paying additional fees," says Backcountry chief marketing officer Sarah Crockett. "Expedition Perks gives our members a truly unique and customized experience, as well as the ultimate flexibility to enjoy their hard-earned cash rewards."
RETAIL NEWS
Sparkfly and Lunchbox Partner to Deliver Engaging and Personalized Experiences for Restaurant Goers
Highlight: The partnership will merge Sparkfly's offer management, digital wallet and transaction services with Lunchbox's mobile and online ordering technology and customer data platform (CDP), bringing to life real-time offer redemption data for modern day restaurants. The two companies will work together to deliver leading-edge marketing programs that strengthen the guest-restaurant relationship, bolster the brand’s bottom line with commission-free food ordering and delivery, and effectively drive transformational customer acquisition and loyalty. “At Sparkfly, we make it our mission to provide unmatched experiences for brands while empowering digital marketers to be able to innovate even faster to meet their customers’ needs,” said Sparkfly CEO Catherine Tabor.
Aldi plans another 100 stores as expansion drive continues
Highlight: The supermarket, which already operates 920 UK outlets, plans to open the stores by the end of 2023 and says it will create 2,000 jobs in the process. It is also expanding its logistics infrastructure with a number of developments including a new 1.3 million sq ft site in Leicestershire. It revealed plans for store growth as its latest financial figures for the 12 months to December 2020 were released today… Further investment is being made into its click and collect service and technology initiatives to support further growth. This includes the trial of a new checkout-free concept store in Greenwich, London, which will use a system of cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence to identify the items customers take from shelves, alleviating the need to go through a checkout.
PAYMENTS NEWS
Mastercard taps into buy now, pay later market with latest offering
Highlight: Mastercard Inc on Tuesday launched a buy now, pay later service, tapping into a market that is threatening to chip away at the dominance of credit cards as a main source of payments. The buy now, pay later sector got a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic as cash-strapped shoppers were attracted to the service due to the ease of making part-payments for products they bought online or at stores, without additional costs or fees. That, in turn, has led to a surge in business at some of the biggest players in the market, including Klarna, Affirm Holdings, Afterpay Ltd and PayPal Holdings Inc, while driving a string of big takeover deals… Mastercard said on Tuesday its Mastercard Installments program will allow consumers to pay for online and in-store purchases through equal and interest-free installments, adding that it will be available in markets across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Accor Loyalty Program Launches Payment Card
Highlight: Around the world, card payments are expanding rapidly, especially with the advent of “contactless” payment for small value amounts and e-commerce transactions. In response to changing banking practices, Accor is meeting customers’ needs and supporting their everyday lives by launching a payment card through its loyalty program. The goal? To meet changing expectations and provide even smoother and more interconnected experiences. Until now, members of the ALL loyalty program have enjoyed personalized offers to live, work and play in the world of travel, sports, restaurants, entertainment, etc. Already available in France, the ALL – VISA payment card means that ALL is open to as many people as possible by letting members collect points on daily purchases.
DATA & PRIVACY NEWS
Transwave Jamaica objects to new data privacy law
Highlight: The Government of Jamaica is designing and developing the National Identification System (NIDS), aiming to capture and store personal identity information for citizens and persons ordinarily resident in Jamaica… The website named an advocate, Renae Green, executive director of the trans rights non-profit group TransWave Jamaica, as being concerned. The latest attempt would require any Jamaican who wants to apply for an ID to give authorities documentation showing their sex assigned at birth, which would be displayed on the back of the card, it was noted… “For a lot of trans people who are in the process or have transitioned, they just want to be able to exist and go about their business. What that looks like for a lot of people is not having to disclose their trans status,” she said. “The Bill opens us up to be outed.”
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY NEWS
AT&T and Concord Hospitality Enhance Safety for Hotel Employees
Highlight: AT&T is working with Concord Hospitality Enterprises to provide hotel associates with a wearable, connected solution to help keep employees safe and secure while they are on the job. AT&T Staff Alert was custom-built with Link Labs to help full-service hotels fulfill the AHLA 5-Star Promise to enhance hotel safety. Associates can use the device to summon help if they are injured or feel threatened in any way… “At Concord Hospitality, we believe our associates are our greatest strength and our No. 1 priority is keeping them – along with our guests – healthy, safe and protected at our properties," said Scot A. Cameron, Vice President, Capital Assets, Concord Hospitality. “AT&T has long been a trusted supplier to Concord and its properties, so it was a natural decision to work with them on this solution to enhance the safety and well-being of our associates and make it safe for the long-term.”
Did you miss last week's newswire? Stay informed: Loyalty Newswire – September 20th, 2021
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
