The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
This edition covers: Aeroméxico, Amazon Prime, Asda, CAVA, Charley’s Cheesesteaks, Chase, Circle K, CLMP™, Fleetguard, HeyMax, IHG, Leal Hub, Lula Commerce, McDonald’s, QBF Consulting, Revolut, Travala
FROM THE EDITOR
Big questions about what loyalty really is this week:
There’s CLMP™ momentum around the world: a new workshop lands in Dubai (Oct 27–29) alongside the existing Mexico City session with Leal Hub.
- Amazon’s Jamil Ghani reignites the debate, calling Prime a paid membership, not a loyalty program.
- Analysts tie McDonald’s tiered loyalty program and retail media pilot to future cash-flow stability.
- Chase and IHG launch the $350 Premier Select card with automatic hotel status.
- HeyMax flips the model with one million miles upfront, earned back over time.
- Revolut opens RevPoints transfers to four hotel programs.
- Aeroméxico investigates a possible leak of 15 million passenger records.
Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor — The Wise Marketer
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. The CLMP™ credential distinguishes professionals who design and lead customer strategies across B2C and B2B markets — an important professional development opportunity for loyalty practitioners across the region. Additional workshops in Brazil, Colombia, Dubai, and the US will be announced soon.
NORTH AMERICA
Amazon Prime’s Vice President Says Loyalty Isn’t a Reward
OK, loyalty marketers, sharpen your pens, tune up your keyboards. The debate about whether Amazon Prime is a loyalty program is ON again. At Shoptalk Fall’s Retail Stage, Jamil Ghani, who leads Prime worldwide for Amazon, issued a direct challenge. Ghani described Prime as a paid membership that earns trust through usage, rather than a loyalty program that rewards it after the fact. That distinction, he argued, changes everything about how a company should treat a customer. Read this.
Analysts Connecting McDonald’s Loyalty Program and Retail Media Network to Cash Flow Forecasting
McDonald’s has seen its share price fall 23.6% year to date, so the market is already repricing expectations. That puts fresh focus on how much of the current valuation is supported by the cash the business can generate over time. Guess what? Analysts are looking at a new tiered loyalty program and a media network pilot from the QSR that may support customer engagement and high-margin revenue streams. Loyalty seen as a predictor of future cash flow stability…how about that?
Chase and IHG Launch New $350 IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card
Chase and IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card, a new $350-annual-fee card that sits above the existing IHG card lineup and comes with a suite of travel credits and automatic hotel status. For a limited time through Nov. 18, new Premier Select cardholders can earn 200,000 bonus IHG points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, the company said.
CAVA’s Loyalty Base Outpaces Store Growth: Can It Lift Traffic?
CAVA Group, Inc. is expanding its loyalty platform as it seeks to deepen customer engagement alongside rapid restaurant growth. During the second quarter of 2026, the company said its loyalty member base was growing faster than new restaurant openings, pointing to continued expansion of its first-party audience. CAVA also launched Flavor Passport, an in-app experience designed to encourage menu discovery and reward engagement.
Charley’s Cheesesteaks Announces Expanded Rewards and New Brand Campaign
Charley’s Cheesesteaks & Wings announced expanded Bite Club Rewards perks and a new brand campaign, “It’s the Hot That Counts,” all centered on what has defined Charley’s from the start: cheesesteaks grilled to order and served hot. The move comes as convenience plays a bigger role in how Americans decide what to eat.
Circle K Adds More Ways to Earn with Inner Circle Rewards Program
Circle K’s Inner Circle rewards program now turns everyday stops, from qualifying fuel-ups to coffee runs and snack pickups, into “Visits,” unlocking savings of up to $1 off per gallon. Existing accounts and phone numbers carry over automatically with no re-enrollment required.
Lula Commerce Announces Loyalty Integrations for First-Party Ordering
Lula Commerce, a provider of digital commerce solutions specializing in the convenience retail industry, announced that new omnichannel loyalty capabilities are built directly into its Lula Direct first-party ordering platform. The update introduces native integrations with industry-leading loyalty and point-of-sale systems, including Paytronix, Velocity, Patron Points, PDI, and PAR.
Revolut and Ramp — Two Firms Seeking to Change Modern Cash Management
Revolut Business and Ramp are two prominent companies pursuing different versions of the same ambition: to become the financial infrastructure through which modern companies spend, move and manage money. Revolut, founded in London, has built its business around international payments and multi-currency banking. Ramp, based in New York, has focused more heavily on controlling corporate spending, automating financial processes and using artificial intelligence to identify waste.
Fleetguard® Celebrates Truck Drivers with “A Nod of Thanks”
Fleetguard®, a brand of Atmus Filtration Technologies, is celebrating National Truckers Appreciation Day. Fleetguard is dedicated to protecting the engines and equipment that provide drivers with reliable performance on the road. On Sunday, Oct. 4, Fleetguard will surprise drivers at the Love’s Travel Stop in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., with custom bobbleheads and the opportunity to participate in Fleetguard’s Roadside Rewards program as “A Nod of Thanks.”
First Time in 21 Years: Convenience Outranks Health in Americans’ Shopping Carts
According to the International Food Information Council’s 2026 Food & Health Survey, 61% of Americans cite convenience as a factor influencing their food and beverage purchases, up from 52% in 2025. For the first time in the survey’s 21-year history, convenience surpassed healthfulness.
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