New offerings in customer loyalty announced in travel industry

Customer loyalty programs are prevalent across the travel and hospitality industry, as evidenced in a new interactive website launched by Global Hotel Alliance.

Micros eCommerce North America is a subsidiary of Micros Systems and a leading interactive marketing company for the travel and hospitality industry. Micros eCommerce launched the Global Hotel Alliance’s new website, which enhances its customer reward program and loyalty offerings.

GHA is the world’s biggest alliance of independent hotels and utilizes Micros’s Opera Reservation System as well as its Opera Customer Information System for solutions. The GHA Discovery website will allow for services provided by Micros eCommerce to include marketing, design and hosting of the site.

“We selected MICROS eCommerce for its forward-thinking user experience, design acumen and deep knowledge of the Micros Opera Enterprise Solution,” said Christopher Hartley, president of Global Hotel Alliance. “The new design offers increased guest personalization that showcases GHA Discovery’s signature Local Experience component, and the improved categorization of programs allows our guests to sort by both applicable interest area and member program level.”

Micros eCommerce originally partnered with GHA in an attempt to transition its website from a business-to-business site with a new loyalty program that will be directed toward consumers in an attempt to foster brand loyalty and create a high level of customer retention.

“We are pleased to launch our partnership with Global Hotel Alliance and its large network of hotel and resorts across the world,” said Paul Peddrick, Micros eCommerce’s (North America) senior vice president of digital strategy. “We look forward to providing support to the GHA eCommerce team in the areas of special promotions and special interactive enhancements, as well as supporting the member brands with multiple e-commerce initiatives.”

Elsewhere in the loyalty program and rewards initiative industry, SoundBite Communications recently announced it will share its best practices for mobilizing loyalty and rewards programs in an upcoming webinar. Those who attend will learn how to better leverage their company’s mobile marketing solutions and how to further successful cardless loyalty programs.

“The most successful and profitable loyalty programs reach consumers with targeted, personalized and relevant offers,” said Mike Romano, senior vice president of SoundBite Communications’ mobile services business unit.