The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
From the Editor
In this week’s Newswire, Simon launches multi-merchant mall rewards, Wayfair launches loyalty in Canada, and Marti (Turkey) launches shareholder rewards. That set of news illustrates the diversity we see in loyalty marketing on a regular basis. And there is much more to read in this week’s Newswire.
Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Webinar - March 10 - Fan engagement in professional sports is the topic in a discussion featuring NASCAR and Churchill Downs/Twin Spires, sponsored by Capillary.
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Short Takes
- [Canada] Roll Up The Rim returns as coffee chains rethink loyalty programs
- [Canada] Wayfair launches Wayfair Rewards in Canada
- [Dubai] Loylogic appoints Adam Whatling as Chief Commercial Officer
- [India] Five Questions with Collinson International’s Rohan Bhalla
- [Turkey] Marti launches Shareholder Loyalty Program
- [US] ButcherBox launches retail outlets in Target stores nationwide
- [US] Steak ‘n Shake Drives Employee Loyalty with Bitcoin Compensation Program
- [US] How B2B payment automation threatens banks
- [US] Storytime turns influencer marketing into a city-by-city marketplace for local businesses
- [US] Here’s what you may have missed on International Women’s Day
Discover the New Frontier of Fan Engagement with NASCAR & Twin Spires [Webinar]
Fan Engagement is a hot topic. And while many major league sports organizations are only just now catching up to the digital economy, NASCAR and Twin Spires have been leading the way and exhibiting success in their respective markets for years. Register here for this event on March 10, 1pm ET.
This webinar, sponsored by Capillary Technologies, features Donald Baal, owner of Fan Rewards at NASCAR, Darin Zoccali, Director of Loyalty & Retention at TwinSpires | Churchill Downs Incorporated, and Dena Escobedo, SVP Customer Success at Capillary, in a conversation that will open your eyes to the future of fan engagement.
Chipotle is leveraging AI to reengage lapsed customers
Chipotle Mexican Grill is expanding its use of artificial intelligence within its digital platform, with a focus on strengthening customer engagement. The company stated that AI-driven tools are being used to support personalized communication and targeted outreach to re-engage lapsed or less-frequent users.
The initiative operates within Chipotle’s existing digital ecosystem, including its loyalty program and mobile ordering channels. Data analytics and machine learning tools are being applied to tailor messaging based on customer activity and purchase behavior. Details here.
Global Hotel Alliance Marks Strategic Expansion into Japan with Signing of Tokyu Hotels
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has signed an agreement with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, a premier Japanese hospitality group operating the “TOKYU HOTELS” chain owned by Tokyu Corporation. This signals a major step in GHA’s strategic growth in Asia and particularly into Japan’s thriving travel and tourism market.
GHA brings together a diverse collection of 50 independent hospitality brands with GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty program leveraging a shared technology platform. This agreement paves the way for more than 40 hotels operated by THR in Japan to benefit from GHA DISCOVERY and its more than 34 million members globally.
SPG Launches Simon+ Loyalty Program for Shoppers to Get Rewards
Simon®, a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations, announced the launch of Simon+™, a new loyalty program that rewards members with cash back, points, and perks for shopping nationwide at Simon Malls ® and Premium Outlets® and online at ShopSimon.com™ or the ShopSimon app.
The program enables users to earn cash back, points, and exclusive rewards by uploading receipts, linking payment cards, and shopping online. The program replaces previous, separate initiatives and is designed to bridge in-store and digital shopping. Press release here.
Pilot Selects NCR Voyix to Modernize POS Across Its Industry-Leading Travel Center Network
NCR and Pilot announced an expanded partnership through which Pilot will deploy NCR Voyix point-of-sale for convenience fuel retail—including both retail and commercial fuel solutions—along with a suite of additional platform capabilities.
NCR Voyix’s underlying technology will help Pilot better serve its more than 1.2 million guests a day. The AI‑enabled transformation of this technology into a modern microservices architecture, along with Voyix’s global experience in mission‑critical retail operations, will help accelerate Pilot’s guest-obsessed approach to creating exceptional experiences at its travel centers nationwide.
Prizeout launches New Credit Card Rewards program to Boost Credit Unions
Prizeout has launched its Credit Card Rewards program, the final piece of its CashBack+ ecosystem. This expansion unites CashBack+ Offers, CashBack+ Actions, CashBack+ Pay, and now credit card transactions into one comprehensive rewards platform. Full press release here.
David Metz, founder and CEO of Prizeout, said: “We’ve now created a comprehensive rewards platform that not only delivers real value to members, but also empowers credit unions to compete head-to-head with the largest banks, fintechs, and credit card reward companies.”
T-Mobile launches new loyalty plans with lower prices and fewer perks
T-Mobile has quietly launched two new loyalty plans aimed at retaining its existing customers. The carrier has not officially advertised or announced the new plans yet. This suggests that the plans may only be available to select accounts.
The plans come with lower pricing, which might look appealing at first, but there are some notable compromises that you can read about here.
5 “Best” Customer Loyalty Software Platforms for 2026
This post notes that the US loyalty management market will reach $44.73 billion by 2029, another data point for those of you trying to assess the total addressable market for loyalty marketing products and services in the US.
The article goes on to examine five “expert-recommended” customer loyalty program software solutions. They compare core capabilities, pricing structures, and ideal use cases of a group, including Antavo, Monetate, Open Loyalty, Voucherify, and Yotpo. xxx
Subway® Expands Partnership with Grupo Vierci to Accelerate Growth & Modernization in Panama
Subway® has signed a new 10-year Master Franchise Development Agreement with Grupo Vierci to expand and modernize the brand across Panama, reinforcing its commitment to growth in one of Central America’s most important markets.
Under the new agreement, Subway plans to increase its existing footprint by more than 30% over the next decade. The agreement also includes an accelerated restaurant modernization plan, with a focus on remodeling and enhancing guest-facing technology, including kiosks, mobile ordering, and a loyalty program.
International Loyalty Awards Update
The excitement for the International Loyalty Awards is building, and you are invited to join the festivities in Atlanta on April 29-30, 2026. There has been an incredible range of submissions, showcasing loyalty programs and initiatives from across every continent.
2026 promises to be a landmark year for the loyalty community as Loyalty Connect Global expands to bring the world’s loyalty leaders together at major global hubs: Dubai and the United States.
New Loyalty Roles Available
Engage People has an opening for a Client Director, Client Success. Please visit this link to learn more and apply if interested.
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