Travelocity Signs Loyalty Agreement
AUGUST 18, 2006. Points International is signing an agreement with Travelocity to develop "Book with Points," a new product that lets loyalty-program members use miles and points from their various reward programs to directly book travel services.
With this product, a major innovation in both the loyalty and travel industries, Points International taps directly into the estimated $15 billion North American/European reward travel industry.
"Travelocity has the online booking industry's most sophisticated and flexible technology, and their access to travel packages, hotel rooms, car rentals and airline seats is phenomenal," said Christopher Barnard, President of Points International. "Points International's partnerships and experience in the loyalty industry will combine exceptionally well with Travelocity's booking systems and we are thrilled to work with Travelocity to provide consumers with a new, innovative travel service/booking option."
"Book with Points" will allow loyalty program members access to Travelocity's online booking engine. They will use points or miles to book and purchase the travel reward, exactly as if they were purchasing their travel with cash rather than loyalty points and miles.
"The most significant challenge that our Loyalty program partners around the world face, as they grow their successful enterprises, is providing access to rewards for their best customers," said Rob MacLean, Points International's CEO. "While millions of flights, hotel nights and other rewards are provided every year, there continues to be demand for even more access and availability. Our agreement with Travelocity is uniquely positioned to help loyalty programs finally follow through on the 'any award, any time' travel promise, and to do so using our two companies' world-leading technologies."
"We look forward to working very closely with the Points.com team in launching 'Book with Points' to our mutual customers," said Richard Harris, senior vice president, strategy and distribution for Travelocity. "It's a product with great potential and we are excited about the opportunity." The Book with Points product will be available both on the Points.com consumer portal and as a stand-alone, branded product for individual loyalty program operators. The companies expect to have the product operational on the Points.com portal in the fourth quarter of 2006. The product, fully supported by Travelocity's customer service, will initially focus on hotels and broaden over time.
This new agreement continues and expands the relationship between Points International and Sabre HoldingsTM (owner of Travelocity) that began in 2002 with a strategic relationship with the Sabre Airlines Solutions division.
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