The Loyalty Newswire September 08, 2025

The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer

From the Editor

Happy Monday!

The news this week is diverse, with differing findings about the impact of AI on top of the stack.

We share Stanford Research’s findings on how AI is replacing young workers and how Google’s “Nano Banana” might be the most powerful AI image editor yet. Andreessen Horowitz released its fifth edition of the Top 100 [Gen AI] Consumer Apps, and MIT says 95% of AI pilots fail, but you need to read why. And the darker side of AI is highlighted in this study, showing how it may be fueling mental illnesses.

Allegiant Airlines, Amex, and Dunkin have big announcements, and the Cannabis industry is “highly” interested in customer loyalty. Enjoy all this mind-expanding news.

Two strong events from Wise Marketer Group are coming your way in September.

Wiser Forums™ in Mexico City, Sept. 25
Loyalty Academy’s Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional™ Workshop in Austin, Texas, September 30 – October 1

Both events are designed for marketing leadership, the Wiser Forum™ providing research and insights on the thriving Mexican market, and the CLMP™ workshop delivering the latest in trends, best practices and case studies in this certification program.

We have great sponsorship support from Comarch and Bond Brand Loyalty, with more announcements in the works. Join us at one or both of these groundbreaking events.

We are here to help you succeed. Let us know how we can help.

Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Wise Marketer

Short Takes

Accor Evolves Paid Subscription Loyalty Program with Launch of Unified Global Brand: ALL Accor+

Accor, a global leader in hospitality, announced a significant evolution in its subscription program with the introduction of ALL Accor+, a refreshed and cohesive global platform unifying each of Accor’s established subscription offerings under one umbrella.

Mehdi Hemici, Chief Loyalty & Ecommerce Officer, Accor, commented: “The launch of ALL Accor+ is a strategic leap forward in how we deliver value to our guests and hotel owners … by unifying our subscription offerings under one global brand, we are creating a more attractive product that strengthens the entire ALL Accor ecosystem.”

American Airlines’ former CEO & chair Doug Parker shares leadership lessons

Doug Parker has served as CEO of America West, US Airways, and American Airlines. He currently serves on the board of Qantas. During his time with American, Parker faced existential threats to the survival of the airline industry, once following the 9/11 attacks in New York and next during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this podcast from McKinsey “Inside the Strategy Room”, Parker speaks with McKinsey Senior Partner Celia Huber about how these experiences helped him become a better leader.

Wise Marketer Group is hosting the first Wiser Forums™ Event in Mexico City, Sept. 25

This one-day forum is a unique opportunity for business leaders and decision-makers who seek a better understanding of how consumers think about their loyalty to brands in the Mexican market. Register Here.

What it is: A one-day forum presenting findings from a 2025 Mexico Loyalty Landscape research study, one of the first completed in this important market in over a decade.
Who it’s For: Leaders in the Mexican Loyalty market. Managers, directors, and executive leaders in the loyalty industry, as well as those in data-driven marketing and technology disciplines.
When and Where: September 25, 2025, at the Andaz Condesa.
What You’ll Learn: Insights from research studies tapping into the voice of the Mexican consumer, looking at consumer perceptions of the Mexican loyalty landscape, including Wise Marketer Group’s own 2025 Wiser Research consumer study.
Thank You: We are proud to have Comarch as the principal event sponsor.

Amex [AUS] becomes latest loyalty provider to devalue rewards points

Amex has become the latest loyalty points provider to make huge changes to its membership. The significant devaluation means that you’ll soon need up to 50 per cent more Membership Rewards points to achieve the same number of frequent flyer points.

“This effectively weakens Australia’s leading flexible Rewards program and ends the ability to move credit card reward points into global partners at rates comparable to Qantas and Velocity,” founder of The Champagne Mile and Pointify, Adele Eliseo, said.

Allegiant Air Said to be Planning Major Overhaul of Allways Rewards

Allegiant Air is said to be in the process of planning a major overhaul of Allways Rewards to deepen customer engagement with the airline’s loyalty program. Currently, program members earn one point per dollar spent, redeemable at $0.01 each when booking flights. No elite status tiers exist today.

The airline is said to be struggling with balancing the dual objectives of having a simple loyalty program and one that actively engages customers. The airline aims to create a scheme that reflects industry trends, becomes a more important piece of the airline’s revenue generation, and meets the needs of the Gen Z and adjacent younger traveling public.

Tech-driven Loyalty Programs are Key to Cannabis Retail

Borrowing from the playbook of industries like airlines and hospitality, an increasing number of cannabis retailers are upping their loyalty program game as a means of engaging customers to keep them returning to their stores. Loyalty programs are no longer just optional perks – they are essential tools for businesses to thrive in the crowded and rapidly evolving cannabis market, industry players say.

“If you want to compete in any cannabis market, you’re going to have to have a loyalty program – it’s table stakes to at least offer one,” said Rocco Del Priore, co-founder of California-based point-of-sale software provider Sweed. Read more here.

The Loyalty Academy is heading to Austin, Texas, September 30 – October 1.

Loyalty Academy™ and the Wise Marketer Group are returning to the USA in the Fall of 2025 to host the next Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional™ Workshop.

What It Is: In-person, two-day Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional™ (CLMP™) Workshop.
Who It’s For: Managers, directors, and executive leaders in the loyalty industry, as well as those in data-driven marketing and technology disciplines.
When and Where: September 30 to October 1, 2025, at the W Hotel Austin.
What You’ll Learn: The workshop offers fully updated core and elective modules from the Loyalty Academy’s curriculum through presentations, interactive exercises, and a case study.
Certification: Participants who pass a final exam will be granted CLMP™ Certification.
Thank You: We are proud to have BOND as the principal event sponsor.

Learn more and Register here. Do it Today! Yee Haw! See you in Texas!

SNIPP Renews Key Agreement with Pet Supply Provider

Snipp Interactive Inc. (“Snipp”), a global provider of digital marketing promotions, rebates, and loyalty solutions, announced it has secured a $1.4 million contract extension over two years to continue powering a leading pet care brand’s loyalty program with AI powered receipt validation and fraud prevention technology.

“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with one of the most respected brands in the pet care industry,” said Atul Sabharwal, CEO of Snipp Interactive. “Receipt processing has become a game-changer for loyalty programs because it offers a universal, frictionless way to capture real, verified purchase data across all retailers, without the complexity of POS integrations or retailer-specific partnerships. Shoppers reveal just as much through their timing as they do through their purchases.

New Study from Adobe for Business Uncovers Hidden Truth about E-Commerce

A new study from Adobe for Business surveyed 1,000 shoppers and uncovered the hidden truth about e-commerce: timing is just as crucial as targeting. The research identifies four “shopping personas” — early birds, afternoon amblers, wind-down shoppers, and night owls.

Most consumers are “wind-down shoppers (53%), browsing between 6-10 pm. They chase deals, while early birds and night owls shop with purpose.
53% of shoppers browse in the early evening, while spending peaks on Sundays.
Night owls (9% of consumers) spend the most—over $3,600 annually—and shop the longest.
Gen Z is 25% more likely than older generations to make impulse purchases, especially on Fridays and payday.

With e-commerce sales projected to reach nearly a quarter of global retail by 2026, these findings highlight why marketers can’t afford to overlook behavioral timing and persona-driven strategies.

Air Lease Corporation Enters into Merger Agreement with Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield

If you want to know who owns the aircraft you are earning your frequent flyer miles on, it’s probably Air Lease, a leading global aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. Founded by Steven Udvar-Hazy in 2010, Air Lease and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide.

Last week Air Lease announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a new holding company based in Dublin, Ireland, whose shares are held by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, and investment vehicles affiliated with Apollo managed funds and Brookfield. Under the terms of the merger agreement, at the closing of the transaction, Air Lease stockholders will receive $65.00 in cash for each share of Class A common stock of Air Lease, representing a total valuation of approximately $7.4 billion, or approximately $28.2 billion including debt obligations to be assumed or refinanced net of cash.

Jollibee Launches Next-Level Mobile App to Bring More Joy to Fans’ Fingertips

Jollibee (OTC:JBFCY) has launched an enhanced mobile app for North American customers, offering a streamlined ordering experience with features like customization, re-ordering, order tracking, and integrated payment options including Apple Pay and Google Pay. The app fully integrates with the Jollibee Rewards loyalty program, allowing members to track points and redeem rewards.

To promote the launch, new Jollibee Rewards members can receive $5 off orders of $10 or more during September 2025. The company, a two-time winner of USA TODAY’s ‘Best Fast Food Fried Chicken’ award, is pursuing ambitious growth plans with the goal of becoming a $1 billion business by 2028.

Co-Brand & Travel Rewards 2025 is in NYC 28-29 October 2025

Loyalty revenues have grown significantly important to airlines, hotels and travel companies and the biggest part of that comes from co-brands. Travel continues to grow – with some domestic weaknesses in some markets – but there are other headwinds emerging. Whether it’s the tax man, regulators or increasing competition from non-card payments there is plenty to learn and prepare for.

The Co-Brand and Travel Rewards event, presented by AI Connect, is a one stop shop, whether you are a loyalty program, an issuer or one of the many other players in a complex ecosystem, to connect with top presenters and industry peers. Register here.

Executive Read: How to Build Effective and Impactful Teams for a New Era

In the new world of work, teams operate with more autonomy, speed, and complexity than ever before. Research by McKinsey execs Aaron De Smet, Gemma D’Auria, Maitham Albaharna, and coauthors challenges common myths about teamwork and introduces data-driven models to help teams thrive.

Their analysis highlights three archetypes—cycling, relay, and rowing—each requiring a distinct approach to drive performance. By understanding these patterns and the conditions that fuel collaboration, leaders can build teams that are resilient, innovative, and ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing workplace. Check out these insights to learn what makes teams effective in today’s environment and how to position yours for lasting success.

Jobs in Loyalty

There are many talented people looking for full-time and contract positions in loyalty marketing. Fortunately, there are opportunities available from both brands and providers. We list a sampling of what we are aware of here.

Please click through the links if provided or contact us here to learn more and apply for these positions.

Epsilon – Platform Solutions Director (UK)
Loyalty Juggernaut – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Loyalty Strategist, Regional Sales Lead. Follow the link https://lji.bamboohr.com/careers/123 OR send in your CV to opportunity@lji.io.
Loyalty Methods – Project Manager and other positions available.

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