Partnerships
United Airlines, Chase and Visa Announce Extension of United MileagePlus Credit Card Program
United Airlines, Chase Card Services and Visa recently announced a multi-year extension of the United MileagePlus credit card program, extending the agreement into 2029. “United Airlines, Chase and Visa have a longstanding partnership that delivers top benefits to customers to help them get the most out of their travel, while returning robust value to our respective businesses," Luc Bondar, United’s vice president of Loyalty, said in the release. “This extension strengthens ties with our partners at Chase and Visa and is expected to drive growth across our industry-leading credit card portfolio, enhance our cardholders travel experience and provide more opportunities to easily earn and redeem miles to travel United's industry leading route network.”
Loyyal Signs Three Year Production Agreement with The Emirates Group
Loyyal recently announced it has signed a three-year commercial production vendor agreement with The Emirates Group. “Loyyal’s blockchain-enabled loyalty and rewards platform, now in production at Emirates Skywards, brings new transparency, efficiency and cost savings to, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai with more than 25 million members,” a Loyyal company news release states.
Customer Experience
Ford Customer Experience Investment Continues with Digital Kiosks at Dealerships
Ford began piloting digital kiosks in dealership service areas in seven Ford dealerships around the country, with the goal of improving the check-in experience. Ford says this is a part of an ongoing effort to make the entire vehicle ownership experience more personalized, convenient and transparent. “Our goal is to change the perception of the dealership experience,” Robert De Filippo, global director, Ford Retail Customer Experience, said in a company release. “We can start to do this by meeting rising expectations for fast and reliable service and letting each customer know they matter to us.”
Corporate Social Responsibility
Porsche opens Europe’s most powerful rapid-charging park in Leipzig
Porsche recently announced the opening of a new charging park called Porsche Turbo Charging in central Germany. The facility has six internal quick charging points and is operated entirely with electricity from renewable energy sources. “Twelve rapid charging points with 350 kW (direct current) and four charging points with 22 kW (alternating current) are now in operation at the customer centre, running seven days a week, around the clock and for customers of all vehicle brands,” a Porsche news release states.
Retail
Cargill launches plant-based patty and ground products
Cargill, a global food and agriculture company, recently announced its new plant-based patties and ground products will be available to retailers and restaurants in early April. “We’ve created some of the best tasting products available in the plant-based category today,” Elizabeth Gutschenritter, managing director of Cargill’s alternative protein team, said in a company release. “We’ve combined our deep knowledge of plant proteins with our expertise in R&D, product development and production to deliver products consumers will love.”