Now Is The Ideal Time To Book A Travel Experience
Rising Trend: Loyalty programmes flourish amid demand for travel rewards & experiences
20/05/2024
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With the travel industry becoming
more competitive, airlines, hotels, and other
travel companies are upping the ante when it
comes to loyalty programmes to incentivize and
retain customers.
According to the
Truth
& BrandMapp Loyalty Whitepaper, 73% of
economically active South Africans utilise
loyalty programmes, with South Africans using an
average of 9 programmes across travel, retail,
beauty & cosmetics, food & beverage, sports,
luxury and other industries. This number is
increasing every year. In these tough economic
times, loyalty programmes offer discounts,
special promotions, and rewards that can make a
significant difference to a customer’s budget.
In a loyalty landscape saturated with
options, particularly within the travel
industry, it has become crucial to spotlight the
top loyalty programmes that not only enhance the
travel experience, but also cater to diverse
lifestyle needs.
Here are three
essential choices for South African consumers
wanting to transform their travel and
hospitality experiences, and where leading
travel brands are doing their all to foster
loyalty.
1) Marriott Bonvoy
Here,
members earn points for every stay at
participating Marriott properties, as well as
when paying with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
With several elite tiers, members can also
benefit from perks such as room upgrades, late
checkouts, and bonus points. Accumulated points
can be redeemed for free nights at participating
Marriott hotels and resorts, and through
partnerships with other travel stakeholders,
members can also claim rewards such as airline
miles, reduced rates on rental cars,
experiences, and merchandise.
Marriott's
1-Point Drops programme also takes this
membership to the next level by giving members
the opportunity to snag once-in-a-lifetime VIP
access to concerts, culinary experiences and
sporting events. Members who don’t purchase
tickets in time can also bid on auction packages
for these incredible experiences.
2) Sun MVG loyalty programme
Sun International’s rewards programme enables guests to feel their most valued, with four membership tiers where members earn points and progress by playing and staying at participating Sun International casinos, hotels, and resorts. Sun GHA is Sun International’s leisure loyalty programme, affiliated to the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) DISCOVERY programme. It allows members to benefit from rewards that extend to 35 independent hotel brands across more than 85 countries.
3) Radisson Rewards
The
Radisson Rewards programme unlocks a world of
exclusive benefits across a wide range of hotels
and destinations, with tier allocation based on
qualifying stays or nights within a calendar
year and the unlocking of additional benefits as
members progress to higher tiers. As with these
other top travel loyalty programmes, members can
benefit from complimentary room upgrades, early
check-ins and late check-outs, welcome
amenities, and the earning of bonus points, as
well as the flexibility to choose the reward
that best suits the needs and preferences of
members. Benefits are available from the first
day members sign up, with this programme
available for stays at over 600 Radisson Hotels
across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia
Pacific. Participating Radisson Rewards partners
also allow points to be redeemed at selected
premium shopping outlets, car rental agencies,
and tours and activities when travelling.
From exclusive rewards and
once-in-a-lifetime experiences to unparalleled
benefits and making your travel budget stretch
that much further, these loyalty programmes are
a must for South Africans who want to travel and
experience more.