PNG Moni/Loyalty Schemes
LOYALTY HAS ITS REWARDS BY PAUL CHAI
Loyalty schemes have dramatically transformed in Papua New Guinea recently with customers being offered more schemes, as well as more choice within existing loyalty programs. Margaret Frank, the marketing manager at IHG Hotels and Resorts, says the change in the hotel industry schemes has been driven by more global hotel chains competing for local dollars. “Customers want to be rewarded for their loyalty and rewarding your loyal customer is now a requirement in the travel industry,” she says. “Our IHG One Rewards members are nine times more likely to book direct, return 15% sooner than non-members, stay 20% longer and are 15% more profitable than third-party online bookings.” IHG debuted its new loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, in April. According to IHG, it provides members with industryleading value and richer rewards than ever before, as well as a new tier and bonus points earning structure. Another group seeing a change in the loyalty landscape is the CPL Group, whose Real Rewards Plus was the pioneering loyalty program in the country when it started in 2003. “The engagement and interaction from our members have been great and we have seen a lot of traction in terms of member activity on a month-tomonth basis,” says Kevin Alo, the general manager for strategic marketing at CPL. The growth of the scheme encouraged CPL to introduce 60 PNG NOW JUNE–AUGUST 2022
points once you acquire enough points for the selected items; one kina earns you one point. Real Rewards cards have an expiry date on their points, which are lost if there has not been any activity within two years. oints 50 p ts DAY 58 poin O T 7 DS WAR TOTAL Y RE
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Loyalty schemes can provide rewards in many forms, from airline flights to hotel stays and free groceries.
a tiered program within its membership. “If you are a gold member, the perks can include select free grocery items, or even gift cards,” he says. Here’s a rundown on some of the loyalty schemes available to PNG customers.
CPL REAL REWARDS
Real Rewards is open to anyone over 18 so you can walk into any participating CPL Group store (City Pharmacy, Stop & Shop, Hardware Haus stores nationwide) and join. You can begin redeeming your
shop.cpl.com.pg/real-rewards
IHG ONE REWARDS
The InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) loyalty program has recently re-branded under the name IHG One Rewards. Points earned in the program can be used around the world with airlines, supermarket chains, credit card merchants and even for magazine subscriptions, ebooks and games. Loyalty members can use their points to stay at any one of the 6028+ IHG hotels worldwide, and they can even use their points to fuel their next flight with airline partnerships that service PNG, including Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Velocity.
ihg.com
GRAND PAPUA HOTEL (RADISSON REWARDS)
Earlier this year the Radisson entered the PNG market, signing up the Grand Papua Hotel, and that means guests are now eligible to join the Radisson Rewards scheme. The scheme is free to join, and topline features are up to 10% when booking directly, earning points towards a free stay, and getting complimentary room upgrades if available.
radissonhotels.com/en-us/rewards/ benefits
AIR NIUGINI DESTINATIONS
One of PNG’s largest and longest-
