Programs
Marriott Drives Deeper into Luxury Short-Term Rentals as a Loyalty Play
Marriott’s guests can now redeem points for a stay at the brand’s luxury Homes & Villas rental properties. “Its attempt to use rentals as a perk to encourage people to become repeat Marriott hotel customers might have the surprise side effect of converting hotel customers into vacation rental customers.”
AMC Theatres Enters Streaming Business with Video on Demand Service
The brand “is becoming the first movie theater chain in America to enter the home entertainment business, launching a video-on-demand service that will be available to members of its AMC Stubs customer loyalty program.”
Partnerships
Alaska Airlines Doubles Down on El Al Partnership with Loyalty Promotion
The two airlines first formed a loyalty partnership in May, and now, Alaska Airlines is enhancing the partnership with a double-points promotion. The brand announced that “starting on flights departing on October 15th, Alaska Airlines loyalty members crediting miles to their Mileage Plans account will be able to earn double award miles when flying between San Francisco and Tel Aviv.”
Customer Experience
Comcast Turns Up AI and ML for Network Insights and to Improve Customer Experience
The company “is tapping into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to gain valuable insights across its networks, and to provide a better customer experience. It has also come up with an internal program to make sense of all of the buckets of data that its ML and AI systems are gathering.”
Marshalls Opens Its First Online Store
The discount retailer has announced its entry into e-commerce. The brand’s new site “will have an ‘ever-changing, fresh mix of merchandise’ that mimics its famous in-store treasure hunt experience. Returns can also be made online or at its stores.”