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The Loyalty Newswire
September 15, 2025

  • By: Wise Marketer Staff
  • Posted on September 15, 2025

The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer

From the Editor

Happy Monday!

 Enjoy this week’s Newswire, packed with news of new loyalty partnerships and program launches. We also share some must-read articles on the impact of AI Shopping on loyalty and the impact of the new EU Data Act.

We are just ten days away from our first Wiser Forum in Mexico City on September 25. Registration information is in today’s Newswire. And later this month, The Loyalty Academy brings you a 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

Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons form loyalty program partnership

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CTC) (TSX: CTC) (TSX: CTC.A) and Tim Hortons® announced a strategic loyalty partnership that brings together two of Canada's most iconic and beloved brands. Launching later in 2026, this collaboration will enable members to link their Triangle Rewards and Tims Rewards accounts to unlock new benefits.

Linked members will earn Canadian Tire Money (CTM) on eligible Tim Hortons purchases and enjoy exclusive offers through Triangle Rewards and Tims Rewards. Darryl Jenkins, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation, said, "Our strategic partnerships are all about building our Triangle ecosystem to reward Canadians for their everyday activities – from shopping for essentials to now picking up their morning coffee."

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Shopping

Wise Marketer recently hosted a debate about the impact of AI Shopping on customer loyalty. We hit a nerve on an important topic and now we see influential people weighing in on the same issue. In this must-read article, Alex Chriss, President and CEO, PayPal talks about recent AI innovations like Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent2Agent (A2A) that enable AI agents to communicate, coordinate and delegate tasks autonomously.

Chriss says that in this emerging world of agentic commerce, AI agents will now act on behalf of consumers or merchants without direct human involvement. He believes the shift to agentic commerce will drive the biggest transformations since the advent of e-commerce. It’s estimated that 25% of e-commerce spending will be driven by AI agents by 2030.

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.

Aqua Expeditions launches trade Loyalty Program

Aqua Expeditions has launched the Circolo Aqua Trade Loyalty Program, the first phase of a new global loyalty initiative designed to reward travel advisors and partner companies. The program will officially debut during PURE Marrakech 2025 and applies retroactively to all qualifying bookings with departure dates from January 1, 2025.

The program operates on a tier-based system using miles as currency. The first rewards will be issued in January 2026, based on 2025 calendar year production. A guest loyalty program component will be announced separately.

Yara (Uganda) rewards retailers through YaraConnect Loyalty Program

Through this new initiative, retailers who consistently promote and sell Yara Products receive rewards including motorbikes, mobile phones and Yara-branded merchandise.

John Meshack, Commercial Manager at Yara Uganda, said “YaraConnect is more than a loyalty program; it is our way of appreciating and motivating retailers who champion genuine Yara products. Through this platform, we are building stronger partnerships that directly benefit retailers and, ultimately, farmers across Uganda.”

New Airport Loyalty Program Launches at Bengaluru (BLR), India

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) has announced the launch of its innovative loyalty programme – Pulse Rewards. Designed to enhance the travel experience, Pulse Rewards enables passengers to earn and redeem points seamlessly across retail, F&B, duty free, lounges, and the BLR Pulse app.

To mark the launch, festive promotions have been introduced for Dasara and Diwali, giving passengers the opportunity to get up to 1000 bonus points in addition to the base 2%, when they shop or dine. The offers are valid from September 12 to October 26, 2025.

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!

IGA (Australia) Introduces IGA Cash Back as Simplified Loyalty Tactic

IGA Australia is launching a game-changing rewards program for customers that it says will "give real rewards, plain and simple" without shoppers having to jump through hoops to earn them. The independent supermarket chain is launching IGA Rewards Cash Back.

The retailer describes this as a "new and improved loyalty program designed to shake up the way you shop, with shoppers earning IGA Cash Back they can actually use – because locals deserve more than just points".

A legacy of care continues with World of Hyatt rewards for event planners in September

The Grand Hyatt brand, Asia’s standard bearer of premium hospitality for more than 35 years, is strategically investing in evolving its offerings across the region, responding to the expression of needs from meetings and events planners and attendees. “Meeting planners are increasingly seeking bespoke, high-impact event experiences with a desire for distinctive venues, wellbeing-focused offerings, and sustainable practices,” said Kate Atkinson, Vice President of Global Sales, Hyatt Sales Force, Asia Pacific.

The shift includes placing sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of the event experience, implementing innovative event features at new properties to inspire creativity, and elevating Hyatt’s signature focus on dining with fresh banquet and catering menus. Read about the full offer here.

EU Data Act comes into force

The EU Data Act has officially entered into force, marking a major step in giving users control over the vast amounts of data generated by connected devices such as smartwatches, cars, smart TVs, and industrial machinery. The legislation ensures that connected devices sold in the EU are designed with data sharing in mind.

The European Commission explains here how the EU Data Act gives users control over data from connected devices

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.

Capillary Expands European Presence, Names Jan-Pieter Lips as President Europe

Capillary Technologies announced the appointment of Jan-Pieter (JP) Lips as President of Europe. This strategic leadership addition positions Capillary at the forefront of shaping the future of loyalty in Europe, as brands increasingly seek to build lasting customer relationships.

Lips is a transformational leader who has shaped Europe’s loyalty landscape for more than three decades across retail, payments, and coalition loyalty. A pioneer in the industry, he began his career with the Air Miles coalition in the Netherlands before becoming a co-founder of the groundbreaking Nectar loyalty program in the UK, which enrolled half of Britain’s households within just one year. He later served as Managing Director of Nectar and President of Aimia EMEA, overseeing operations across Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Sainsbury’s ends talks to sell Argos to JD.com

Sainsbury’s has terminated discussions with Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com over a potential sale of Argos. The supermarket group confirmed that talks had collapsed after JD.com indicated it would only proceed on “a materially revised set of terms and commitments which are not in the best interests of Sainsbury’s shareholders, colleagues and broader stakeholders.”

Some analysts have questioned the effectiveness of integrating Argos into Sainsbury’s stores, noting that the shift to online shopping has changed the retail landscape. Sainsbury’s, however, remains focused on strengthening Argos’s position and delivering value for customers and shareholders.

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.

Please Subscribe to our “Wise and Weekly” Newsletter, published each Friday.

Stay. Loyal. Always.

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