back icon Back Insights 03/29/2023

How to Improve Customer Loyalty Programs With Travel Rewards Benefits

It is undeniable that customer loyalty is essential for businesses to succeed. A remarkable 86% of loyal shoppers go out of their way to recommend a brand they trust. To make the most out of this insight, companies can boost engagement and retention by introducing travel reward benefits into their extensive loyalty programs — something customers will be thrilled with.

Travel rewards can provide numerous advantages for businesses that offer them. From increasing customer engagement and retention to improving customer lifetime value, travel rewards can help companies stand out from their competitors and attract new customers.

Definition and Importance of Travel Rewards

Travel rewards are loyalty programs providing customers with various benefits in exchange for their continued patronage. Travel rewards come in many forms, including:

  • Discounts on hotel stays
  • Reduced price on airline tickets
  • Low-cost car rental fares 
  • Cruises and other travel-related services at lower rates

Travel rewards can also be points based. Customers accumulate points for various purchases or activities, redeemable for free or discounted flights, hotel stays, and other goods or services.

While some travel loyalty programs are offered by individual businesses and travel brands, such as Marriott Bonvoy, others provide more comprehensive solutions through networks like American Express or Visa. 

What Are the Benefits of Travel Rewards for Customer Loyalty?

Travel rewards can be a great way to show customers you care. For one, they help businesses build loyalty and engagement by giving clients something meaningful. In addition, travel rewards also have the power to set your business apart from competitors.

By offering this incentive, companies can offer their current customers more value than just an everyday purchase — enticing them and prospective customers to choose one brand over another.

The benefits of introducing travel rewards into your loyalty program include the following.

Increased Customer Engagement and Retention

Travel rewards benefits are an effective way to incentivize customers to stick around and continue to use your services.

Better Customer Lifetime Value

By providing customers with rewards, you can increase the revenue they generate for your business over time.

Attracting New Customers

Offering travel rewards is a great way to stand out from competitors and attract new consumers who may not have considered using your services.

These are just some benefits that travel rewards can bring to your customer loyalty program. There are many other ways in which travel rewards benefits can add value and drive growth for your business.

How to Incorporate Travel Rewards Into Customer Loyalty Programs

Incorporating travel rewards into loyalty programs requires meticulous planning and can be challenging. To achieve the best results, it’s essential to thoroughly research your target audience and understand their preferences, analyze customer data to identify trends, and develop rewards tailored to those preferences.

What Are Some Best Practices for Optimizing Travel Rewards in a Loyalty Program?

When developing a travel rewards benefits program, there are several best practices to remember to ensure your program is successful.

Offer Multiple Redemption Options

Offering different types of travel rewards, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, and cruise packages, will give customers more flexibility and incentive to participate in the travel rewards benefits loyalty program.

Use Data to Personalize Rewards

Analyzing customer data allows you to tailor travel rewards to individual customers, making them more likely to use the loyalty program.

Make Rewards Easy to Redeem

Customers should be able to easily access their travel rewards benefits and quickly redeem them for goods and services.

Monitor and Evaluate the Program

Monitoring your travel rewards program regularly and adjusting when necessary is essential. Analyzing customer feedback can also help you optimize the program over time.

While travel rewards can be a great way to boost customer engagement and retention, they must be incorporated correctly into loyalty programs to reap the benefits. By following these best practices and using Arrivia’s white-label travel solutions, businesses can create effective travel rewards programs that offer customers added value and incentives.

Man seen at the airport waiting for a flight booked with a travel credit card.

Example of a Successful Travel Rewards Program

In one case study, arrivia partnered with four cruise line companies to create a print media marketing campaign to re-engage avid cruisers who had turned to other travel options during the pandemic.

Arrivia used personalized messaging based on members’ most recent online travel searches and bookings in a brilliant move. As a result, their members were four times more likely to book a cruise than those without the mailer.

These findings demonstrate the power of travel rewards benefits and how they can drive long-term business growth. Additionally, this case study reveals that tailoring rewards to individual customers is an essential best practice when optimizing travel loyalty programs. Companies can ensure that their customers are engaged and loyal by creating unique experiences and leveraging data to personalize rewards.

Transform Your Loyalty Rewards Program with Arrivia

At arrivia, we understand that customer loyalty is critical to a successful business. To help your organization stand out from the competition, our team of experts can design an exclusive rewards program tailored specifically for travel benefits.

Working with arrivia, you can take your loyalty program to the next level. Our suite of tools offers more than just an ordinary customer experience. We help make it enjoyable, memorable, and fulfilling, so customers remain loyal for longer-term growth benefits. Technology-driven support and our travel knowledge give you all the resources needed to develop and sustain a superior rewards system.

We’re the cutting-edge choice for travel rewards. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get the most out of your loyalty program!