Travel Tech CEO Series: Points International Aims to Upgrade Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs
Photo Credit: Since 2000 Rob MacLean has been CEO of Points.com, a leading technology player in the travel loyalty sector. Points
Skift Take
Points is trying to diversify beyond being the world's largest reseller of airlines and hotels points. But this loyalty tech company needs a little more mojo if it wants to produce truly game-changing products.
Editor's Note: This year we expanded our coverage of the technology companies that do the behind-the-scenes work of powering the technology systems of the world's major travel companies.
We’re chatting with a handful of industry leaders for our new Travel Tech CEO Listening Series to discover where they think the industry is heading.
In 1981, American Airlines created AAdvantage, the first mileage-based frequent-flyer program, a model that has been copied in a broad way by more than 160 airlines, hotel chains, rail companies, and other travel providers.
Today, loyalty programs, particularly the credit-card programs that generate awards through spending, are contributing to the profits of many travel companies.
A case in point: This spring, Qantas explained how its loyalty program is vital to its finances. More than a third of credit-card spending in Australia is on a Qantas co-branded card.
There may be more mileage in the loyalty concept yet. Thirty-six years on, C
