Originally published in Successful Meetings
magazine, February 2007.Loyalty programs range from worthless gimmicks to valuable relationship-building tools. Here are a few sites to learn more about programs and how to get the most from them
Loyalty Matters www.maritzloyalty.comAlthough this is really a site for those who may enlist the services of Maritz Loyalty Marketing, a division of Maritz Inc., the site has a lot of information about loyalty programs that visitors can use to ascertain how well they are doing in the drive to create loyal clients. Also, independent planners can get an inside perspective on one of the biggest challenges facing many of their potential clients. Maritz Loyalty publishes a monthly newsletter called LoyaltyMatters; back issues are available for download from the site. The publication includes articles that discuss "The Acquisition-Retention Divide," trends in loyalty marketing, and reviews of industry conferences.
Become an Expertwww.expertflyer.comOfficially launched in January 2005, ExpertFlyer.com allows visitors to play the part of a travel agent by showing what an agent sees in real time—the number of available fares in each class (not just first, business, or economy, but C, T, or N). The site does not serve as a booking engine; travelers should contact the airline directly to purchase, but it gives travelers an idea of how best to use their accumulated frequent flyer miles. Users pay a monthly or annual fee—$4.99 per month for 250 queries, seat maps, availability, and other features; $9.99 per month for all features, including flight alerts when a flight you are looking for becomes available; or $99 annually for all features. A more consumer-oriented site, which will likely be free, should launch by summer 2007.
Get Readyhttp://jetready.comJetready.com is the digital home of Dr. Joel L. Widzer, an organizational psychologist, speaker, and author of The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel. The site includes information about the best ways to use frequent flyer miles and other perks of travel. There is also information from a segment that the television show Inside Edition aired in November of 2003 that uses Widzer's tips to successfully receive a rental car upgrade, a hotel room upgrade, an airline upgrade, and a better restaurant table. Widzer explains how best to receive such benefits, without being underhanded and resorting to trickery or lying.
Missed the last Websites of the Month? Click here to read about sites that educate on the true meaning of hospitality.
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