The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
This edition covers: Aeroplan, Alaska Air, Angry Chickz, Chexy, CLMP™, EY, Instant Payments, Ipsos, Mastercard, Missouri State, Mistplay, Panera, Paradise Pointe Golf, Penn State, Regal, Rewardopedia, Rival Technologies, Sam’s Club, Sinclair Oil, Swipe Fees, Travel Loyalty Market, Walmart, X
FROM THE EDITOR
It’s back to school time, and universities in the US are kicking off more than the 2026 football season — at least two are adding rewards programs for students. Panera adds a points system to its loyalty program, Regal adds a paid tier, Chexy and Aeroplan link up to reward consumers making mortgage payments, and Sinclair Oil sees strong results from gamification.
That’s just some of this week’s news. We also continue to include coverage of advances to payment systems, including instant payment schemes, digital wallets, and increased merchant service fees.
If you’ve been thinking about the CLMP™ credential, seats are going fast for October’s Mexico City workshop with Leal Hub. Additional workshops in Brazil, Colombia, Dubai, and the US will be announced soon.
Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor — The Wise Marketer
SHORT TAKES
- [Europe] Why Instant Bank Transfers Became the Standard for Swedish Consumers
- [Global] X Launches ‘Original Content Rewards Program’ After Ending Monetization Scheme
- [India] Akasa Air Launches Loyalty Program
- [LAC] Elevating Peru’s Real-Time Payments to a World-Class Ecosystem
- [US] Penn State Athletics Announces Launch of Penn State Rewards
- [US] Missouri State Launches Student Rewards Program Through Mobile App
- [US] Ipsos Research Finds Winning QSR Mobile Experiences Combine Digital Convenience with Operational Excellence
- [US] Paradise Pointe Golf Complex App Launches Digital Loyalty Rewards
- [US] Only 11% of Gen Z Say Brands Understand Them, Putting Loyalty at Risk: New Rival Technologies Study
- [US] A Consumer’s Guide to ‘Mindful Spending’
CLMP™ TRAINING SPOTLIGHT — MEXICO CITY
Certified Loyalty Marketing Training™ Workshop Coming to Mexico City
Leal Hub, the leading customer loyalty and strategy consultancy in Mexico, is hosting a CLMP™ workshop with the Loyalty Academy in Mexico City on October 21–22. This is the credential that distinguishes professionals who design and lead customer strategies in B2C and B2B markets — an important professional development opportunity for loyalty practitioners across the region.
FEATURED STORIES
Panera Unveils All-New Points-Based MyPanera Rewards Program
Panera Bread unveiled a redesigned MyPanera® rewards program, moving to a points-based system that makes earning and redeeming free items faster and easier. The update is part of Panera’s broader RISE transformation strategy and is designed to elevate the loyalty experience for more than 70 million MyPanera members, giving them more ways to earn, choose, and enjoy their favorite menu items.
Chexy Expands Aeroplan Partnership to Launch Canada’s First Mortgage Rewards Program
Chexy has expanded its partnership with Aeroplan to launch Canada’s first mortgage rewards program, letting homeowners earn one Aeroplan point for every dollar spent on mortgage payments made through Chexy. Available with virtually any Canadian mortgage lender, the offering lets homeowners earn travel rewards on their single largest monthly payment without switching providers, refinancing, or changing how they bank.
Sinclair Oil Reimagines Loyalty to Drive Increased Visit Frequency and More Fuel Purchases with Mistplay’s LoyaltyPlay
Mistplay announced strong results from its partnership with Sinclair Oil, which built game-linked rewards into its DINOPAY® loyalty program through Mistplay’s LoyaltyPlay solution. The initiative drove 42% more site visits and a 9.7% increase in fuel purchases, pointing to a clear opportunity for fuel and convenience retailers to boost visit frequency and engagement through gamified loyalty mechanics.
Angry Chickz Turns Up Heat with New Loyalty Program, App
Angry Chickz has launched a mobile app and loyalty program, giving fans of the Nashville hot chicken chain a single place to order, earn rewards, and access exclusive offers. The Angry Chickz App and Rewards program are available now, and through the end of August, new members who download the app and sign up for Rewards will receive a free slider.
Regal Launches Rewards+ Loyalty Program
Theater operator Regal has launched Regal Rewards+, a paid membership tier offering a flexible, social-friendly option for moviegoers. For $10.99 a month, members get one monthly 2D movie ticket that never expires, the option to buy up to four additional discounted tickets each month, 20% off concessions, waived online convenience fees, and birthday rewards.
Tap to Pay Is Coming to Walmart and Sam’s Club
Walmart has begun rolling out near-field communication (NFC) tap-to-pay functionality across U.S. stores and Sam’s Club locations, supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The rollout is expected to be complete at all locations by the end of 2026, with fuel station support following in mid-2027 — bringing contactless convenience to one of retail’s largest footprints.
Credit Card Networks Cash In on $3 Billion Swipe Fee Hike — Merchant Payments Coalition
Credit card networks are once again raising the cost of card acceptance, according to the Merchant Payments Coalition. Twice a year — typically in April and October — networks introduce new or updated fee structures; this round’s coordinated hikes come in the form of new “network fees” that apply to e-commerce and data-driven transactions, adding cost across nearly every retail vertical.
Learn About EY Customer Intelligence
EY Customer Intelligence turns customer data into actionable insights, helping retail teams bridge the gap between analysis and action. The solution supports demand prediction and improves precision across marketing, merchandising, inventory, pricing, and store operations — driving more consistent results across the full customer experience strategy for retailers looking to sharpen their data-driven decision-making.
Rewardopedia Launches Independent Credit Card and Travel Rewards Comparison Platform
Rewardopedia has launched an independent credit card and travel rewards comparison platform, publishing side-by-side card comparisons drawn directly from issuer terms. The site includes a public data-freshness dashboard and five calculators that report points, miles, and dollars rather than subjective valuations, plus live matchups across six hotel loyalty programs, including Hyatt versus Hilton, powered by a fully automated pipeline independent of issuers and affiliate networks.
Travel Loyalty Programs Market Set to Reach USD 88.7 Billion by 2034
The global travel loyalty programs market, valued at approximately $26.9 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at an 11.4% compound annual rate through 2034, reaching roughly $88.7 billion by decade’s end. Growth is being driven by rising travel activity, increasing consumer demand for personalized experiences, rapid digitalization, and the growing priority travel brands are placing on customer retention strategies.
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