The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
From the Editor
The first snowfall of the year in the Northeastern part of the US is official. It may still say “autumn” on the calendar, but Winter is here! Don’t let the freeze slow you down in staying up with the latest news in Customer Loyalty and Digital Marketing.
This week, we report on new loyalty program announcements from Air Serbia, Spirit Airlines, and Venmo. It’s also important to note that the International Loyalty Awards are heading to the US in 2026 and you have until December 12 to submit your organization for an award.
November 18 will be a big day this month:
- “The Role of Habit in Building Customer Loyalty - Are Habit Loops the marketer’s friend – or enemy?” - a new webinar featuring ebbo and Loyalty Science Lab, takes place on Tuesday, November 18, at Noon ET.
- A new Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional (CLMP™) educational workshop, hosted by our UAE Partners, QBF Consulting, takes place 18-20 November at the Rove Downtown Hotel.
If you have any questions or would like more details, please feel free to reach out.
We are here to help you succeed. Let us know how we can help.
Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Wise Marketer
Short Takes
- [Europe] British Airways partners with Starlink to provide free Wi-Fi in flight
- [Europe] Mastercard Strengthens its presence in Poland with new Professional Services Hubs
- [Global] Path to Purchase publishes 5th Annual In Store Experience Report
- [Global] Meta plans $600 billion US spend as AI data centers expand
- [Global] I Let Gemini Access My Gmail, and It's Downright Creepy
- [Global] AWS and OpenAI announce multi-year strategic partnership
- [US] Private Labels and Social Media Drive Gen Z Grocery Choices
- [US] Convenience Store News Honors New Class of Top Women in Convenience
- [US] Hilton Honors Plans Elite Status Changes, New Diamond Reserve Tier
Venmo Introduces 'Venmo Stash' to Reinvent Rewards
Venmo announced the launch of Venmo Stash, an “always on” rewards program designed to give customers more value that grows with every interaction. Unlike many traditional rewards programs, Venmo Stash is always on and flexible, evolving alongside customers as they engage across Venmo's expanding suite of products and services.
Stash customers choose from curated bundles of their favorite brands to earn up to 5% cash back on their Venmo Debit Card purchases from top retailers, on-demand services, and restaurants. The Venmo Debit Mastercard gives customers 1% cash back when they spend their balance. Rewards then grow to 2% cash back when customers turn on auto reloads and 5% cash back when they receive Direct Deposits on Venmo each month.
International Loyalty Awards 2026 Head to the USA for the First Time – Entries Are Open
The International Loyalty Awards (ILA) has announced that entries are now officially open for its 17th annual celebration. Entries are due by 12 December 2025. For the first time, the awards ceremony will take place in the United States, with Atlanta, Georgia, confirmed as the host city for 2026.
The ILA recognizes outstanding achievements across industries, from retail and travel to financial services and digital innovation. A new category has also been introduced for 2026 – Best Supplier / Vendor – highlighting the essential role of solution providers and technology innovators within the loyalty ecosystem. Full details of categories and entry requirements can be found in the official information pack, available to download here.
NOV 18 - Break the Habit or Make the Habit? Webinar connects Habit & Customer Loyalty
Ready to flip the script on loyalty? Research shows that habits shape buying behavior more than any points program or promotion. They can lock customers into your brand—or make it effortless for them to walk away. But marketers have questions:
- Are Habit Loops the marketer’s friend – or enemy?
- Are Your Customers Loyal—Or Just Stuck?
Want the answers? Then register for this new webinar “The Role of Habit in Building Customer Loyalty” on 18 Nov., Noon ET. Join the experts from Old Dominion University and ebbo for a research-backed discussion that challenges outdated thinking and surfaces the drivers of consumer behavior today.
Sunoco LP and SunocoCorp LLC Announce Completion of Acquisition of Parkland Corporation
Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) announced that Sunoco completed the acquisition of Parkland Corporation on October 31, 2025. Parkland shares are expected to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange as of the close of markets on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 and, until such time, will continue to be traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The deal was first announced in May.
As a result of the acquisition, Sunoco becomes America's largest independent fuel distributor. Sunoco also now owns Parkland's refinery in Burnaby, British Columbia, which produces approximately 55,000 barrels per day.
Burger King Loyalty program, Royal Perks, is refreshed
The Burger King loyalty program, Royal Perks, is getting a revamp, designed to simplify, clarify, and give members real value, real fast. With this refresh, Royal Perks is more accessible, more rewarding, and better designed to keep fans coming back. Burger King fans can expect to see:
- Simpler Tiers, Faster Rewards: Burger King is moving from 6 tiers to 4, so members can redeem rewards sooner. Now, you only need 200 crowns ($20) to cash out at the lowest tier, instead of 250 crowns ($25).
- Birthday Reward: Royal Perks members will still get 2x Crowns on their birthday, and now they’ll also receive the choice of a free menu item such as a Whopper Jr., 8-piece Chicken Fries, Chicken Sandwich, and more!
- Half-Birthday Offer: Members also will receive a free soft drink with a $1 purchase in honor of their half-birthday.
NOV 18 – 20: QBF Hosting Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional™ Workshop in Dubai
A new CLMP™ Educational Workshop will be presented by the highly experienced instructor team from QBF Consulting on 18-20 November 2025. The event will take place at the ROVE Downtown Hotel in Dubai.
The event will feature a “Loyalty After Hours” get-together on 18 November at 5:30 local time. This event is open to all CLMP™s able to attend. Register here and accelerate your career success!
Spirit Airlines Selects Arrivia as New Free Spirit Cruises® Partner
Arrivia, the global leader in travel-based loyalty and rewards solutions, has announced a new partnership with Spirit Airlines, a leading U.S. value carrier, to power Free Spirit Cruises®, a cruise booking platform designed to deliver exclusive savings and rewards to Spirit's most loyal travelers.
"This collaboration brings together two brands that understand value-conscious travelers," said Mike Nelson, CEO of arrivia in the official press release. "We're excited to help Spirit Airlines elevate its loyalty experience by giving Free Spirit members new ways to explore the world—whether by air or sea—while earning the rewards that make travel even more accessible."
Kroger and Instacart Announce Expanded Relationship
The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), America's grocer, and Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, announced an expanded relationship to continue to innovate the customer digital shopping experience. Read the press release here.
Through improved efficiency, increased access to Express Delivery and new, agentic shopping experiences, the companies are finding new ways to provide customers the fresh food, exclusive Our Brands products, and pantry staples they want when and how they want to shop.
New Vestcom research reveals the power of in-store media
Vestcom, an Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) company, released an evidence-based In-Store Messaging Guide, combining new consumer research and real campaign insights. These findings challenge marketers’ historical tendencies to over invest in digital media, with shoppers reporting that in-store marketing is three times more likely than digital ads to influence them to try a new product.
The report highlights these key findings:
- 72% of shoppers report making unplanned purchases based on in-store messaging
- Shoppers indicate that in-store marketing is 3X more likely than digital ads to influence trying a new product
- Seasonal in-store campaigns have proven to deliver an average $3.00+ incremental return on ad spend (iROAS)
World Loyalty Giving Day (WLGD) is Coming on 2 December
The 2nd Annual World Loyalty Giving Day is coming on Dec 2 and it’s going to be bigger than ever. Taking place on Giving Tuesday, World Loyalty Giving Day is the capstone of the Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Giving Tuesday trilogy of events that mark the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
WLGD is a day where loyalty points can literally change lives. Visit this link to learn more about WLGD and how you can participate. Please support the cause by posting about it on LinkedIn using this link and sharing across your network using #PointsForGoodChallenge.
Webinar: Strategies to Build Loyalty & Maximize Revenue, with Hibbett & Baesman
Hibbett, Inc. is an American sporting goods retailer headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, operating over 1,169 retail stores, including 960 Hibbett Sports stores, 193 City Gear stores, and 16 Sports Additions athletic shoe stores across 36 states.
Customer loyalty isn’t built by chance. Join Hibbett's Kayla Brown, and Baesman's Kim Welther on Wednesday December 3, 1pm ET as they explore how brands can harness customer data to identify opportunities that strengthen brand loyalty. This session uncovers how to set clear KPIs, such as repeat purchase rates, customer lifetime value, and redemption engagement, then tie those metrics back to actionable customer touchpoints. Register Now.
New Report: The State of Social Media Marketing 2026 report from Emplifi
Emplifi, a leading social media marketing platform, released the “The State of Social Media Marketing in 2026” report with findings from a survey of more than 560 marketers from both B2B and B2C brands. The report covers key factors that will have a major impact on marketing strategies in the months ahead, including AI, influencer marketing, and user generated content (UGC). Download it here.
Emplifi’s report revealed 82% of respondents reported AI tools have improved productivity, but the gains are incremental for most, with only 35% claiming a significant increase in productivity. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) said that AI has delivered a moderate increase in productivity.
Air Serbia to launch new loyalty program in March 2026
Air Serbia plans to launch its new in-house loyalty program in March 2026 to replace Etihad Guest. The carrier has inked an agreement with the US-based Loyalty Juggernaut (LJI), a customer engagement and loyalty technology company that specializes in helping airlines design, build and run advanced loyalty ecosystems.
Among airlines that utilize Loyalty Juggernaut are Emirates, WestJet, and Viva (formerly known as VivaAerobus). As part of the partnership, Air Serbia will implement LJI’s GRAVTY software platform, which will serve as the foundation of its new loyalty program.
2025 Retail Intelligence Report on Grocery Retail is Available Now
Grocery retail is undergoing a major reset. In a landscape shaped by inflation, changing demographics, and evolving shopper behavior, grocers are adjusting to a bifurcated market. High-income households are embracing fresh formats and specialty stores, while value-oriented consumers are flocking to discounters and warehouse clubs.
This year’s Retail Intelligence Report reveals the data beneath the disruption — highlighting performance trends, loyalty insights, visit patterns, real estate strategies, and the technologies that are helping grocers adapt and thrive.
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.
- Epsilon - Platform Solutions Director (UK)
- Loyalty Methods – Project Manager and other positions available.
- VP Sales Executive - Loyalty platform operator with growing footprint in the US is actively looking to engage with the right perso. Inquire to Wise Marketer.
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