Loyalty perks make dreams

01 Aug 2014 2124 | World Travel News

SINGAPORE, 1 August 2014: According to new research released Thursday by InterContinental Hotels Group, 62% of global travellers said that it felt like a dream come true when redeeming points from their loyalty programme all in one go.
As a result, 65% of them are increasingly turning to loyalty programmes to help fund their holidays, with one in three (37%) even organising an entire holiday with points alone.
The research by IHG Rewards Club surveyed more than 10,000 of members across 13 countries to reveal insights into both the emotional and practical benefits that members get from their loyalty programme.
It indicated that 69% of the respondents felt that points were a reward in exchange for their loyalty, while half (49%) even said that the personal welcome they received from IHG® hotels, was the top reason they choose to be part of IHG Rewards Club.
In addition to making holidays a reality for many, the study also found that rewards programmes are increasingly used to enhance travellers’ holidays.
Some of the top choices for point redemptions include holiday accommodation (70%), hotel upgrades (32%), and even booking an extra week on an existing holiday (24%).
IHG Rewards Club has nearly 79 million members worldwide. It manages 4,700 hotels worldwide and has nine hotel brands.
IHG senior vice president customer loyalty marketing, Susanna Freer-Epstein said: “Loyalty programmes play an important role in helping guests enjoy and get the most out of their holidays. That’s why IHG Rewards Club makes it easy for members to redeem points across a family of nine IHG hotel brands.”
As part of the global survey, IHG Rewards Club has launched a digital hub at www.ihg.com/rewardingexperiences. It showcases the experiences available to nearly 79 million members worldwide and includes reviews from members and global travellers.
Additionally, as of 1 July 2014, members earned more IHG Rewards Club points when they stayed at any of the 178 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts worldw.

Sourced: ttrweekly