The Loyalty Newswire from The Clever Marketer
From the Editor
Glad Monday!
Highlights on this week’s Newswire cowl the altering loyalty panorama in Australia, an article framing Goal’s Goal Circle Loyalty Program as a masterclass in micro-targeting, and a birthday celebration for one of many key gamers within the North American loyalty expertise – and we’ll guess that you could be not be aware of the identify.
We additionally share information from the underbelly of buyer loyalty, authorized choices, tax agreements, and sophistication motion lawsuits. Two information objects affect Hyatt and Tim Hortons.
As all the time, we’re right here that will help you succeed. Tell us how we will help.

Invoice Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Clever Marketer
Brief Takes
Goal’s Goal Circle Loyalty Program is a Masterclass in Micro-Focusing on
The retail sector in 2025 is present process a seismic shift, bifurcated between agile, technology-driven gamers and people stagnating beneath legacy programs.
This text outlines how, amid this polarization, Goal Company (TGT) has positioned itself as a pacesetter by mastering the segmentation of client habits, leveraging omnichannel integration, and deploying synthetic intelligence (AI) to dominate area of interest markets whereas retaining mass enchantment.
Cartera Celebrates 20 Years of Loyalty Innovation and Management
Many individuals gained’t be aware of the identify Cartera. The corporate is the loyalty commerce platform trusted by most of the world’s main airways, banks, and retailers and is proudly celebrating its twentieth anniversary this 12 months.
Based in Lexington, Mass., in 2005, Cartera started as Mall Networks, constructing customized procuring portals for affinity teams like college districts, charities, and sports activities groups. By 2010, the corporate rebranded as Cartera Commerce, surpassed $100 million in gross sales by means of its software program, and launched its signature “Store & Earn” applications, connecting tens of millions of members with unique presents from model and retail giants together with Finest Purchase, Macy’s, Dwelling Depot, Nike, and extra.
A strategic merger with Vesdia Company in 2011 considerably expanded Cartera’s airline partnerships and card-linked choices, and in 2017, its acquisition by Rakuten Rewards amplified Cartera’s capabilities throughout e-commerce, fintech, and personalization applied sciences, setting the stage for even higher scale.
“Most individuals do not understand simply how a lot of their loyalty expertise is powered by Cartera,” mentioned Marc Mazzone, CEO of Cartera.
Australian Loyalty Advertising Panorama is Present process Change
A few of Australia’s largest manufacturers are set to shake-up their loyalty applications within the new monetary 12 months, with some manufacturers dropping perks, and different merging their loyalty applications into bigger ones. And one loyalty program might be gone perpetually.
Qantas is partnering with division retailer David Jones, Virgin introduced modifications to its tier construction, and Simply Store Rewards is merging with Myer after the retailer Simply Denims was acquired by the retail large. Different information is in play for Supercheap Auto Membership and Goal Store+. Learn all of it right here.
Oman Air Turns into the 15th Member of Oneworld Alliance
Because the flag provider of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Air turns into the 15th member of Oneworld Alliance, strengthening the alliance’s presence throughout the Center East and unlocking new alternatives for world journey. Efficient 1 July, oneworld clients can entry an prolonged community of locations throughout Oman Air’s rising world schedule, together with the launch of a brand new continuous Muscat–Amsterdam service.
Oman Air, with its hub at Muscat Worldwide Airport, serves 42 locations throughout 22 nations and territories globally, together with key oneworld hubs all over the world. Full press launch right here.
Carnival Company Declares Non-public Providing of Debt Totaling €1.0 Billion
Carnival Company & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) has introduced the launch of a non-public providing of €1.0 billion senior unsecured notes due 2031. The providing is meant to refinance current debt, particularly to completely repay Carnival Company’s first-priority senior secured time period mortgage facility maturing in 2027 and partially repay the ability maturing in 2028.
Carnival Company & plc is the biggest world cruise firm, and among the many largest leisure journey firms, with a portfolio of world-class cruise traces – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
Millennium Accommodations & Resorts and Maritim Accommodations Unveil Strategic International Loyalty Partnership
Millennium Accommodations & Resorts (MHR) and Germany’s Maritim Accommodations have introduced a strategic cross-brand loyalty partnership, linking their MyMillennium and MyMaritim programmes to supply enhanced privileges at collaborating properties globally.
Loyalty programme members will now profit from reciprocal privileges as MyMillennium members will obtain loyalty reductions on Finest Accessible Charges at collaborating Maritim Accommodations and MyMaritim members will take pleasure in loyalty reductions on Versatile Charges at Millennium Accommodations & Resorts worldwide.
Edvisor Launches Loyalty Program to Construct Company-College Ties
Edvisor presents instruments and platforms to assist worldwide schooling. Trusted by a rising community of greater than 1,500 schooling firms worldwide, the corporate has launched a loyalty program, Edvisor Rewards, to let schooling companies earn factors for processing funds and promoting insurance coverage on the platform, which may then be redeemed for school-funded scholarships.
This system ties into Edvisor’s new built-in funds system, which goals to streamline world transactions and provide scholar insurance coverage by means of the platform, making processes simpler whereas serving to companies improve their earnings.
Hyatt Seeks Reversal of $300 Million Loyalty Rewards Program Earnings Determination
Hyatt Resort Corp. should pay taxes on practically $300 million in income earmarked to fund its buyer rewards program, the IRS advised a federal appeals courtroom. Hyatt Accommodations requires that each Hyatt-branded resort—whether or not owned straight by the corporate or by third-party franchisees—contribute to the enterprise’s Gold Passport Fund, which it makes use of for investments and to compensate inns at any time when a rewards member redeemed factors.
The fund reported $296.5 million in revenue from contributions and curiosity from 2009 by means of 2011, which the IRS mentioned warranted $71 million in taxes from Hyatt carried again throughout previous tax years. Hyatt challenged the IRS’s adjustment, and the case is ongoing in Federal Appeals courtroom. Learn the enchantment doc from Hyatt right here.
Choose authorizes Tim Hortons Roll As much as Win class motion for Quebec clients
A choose has approved a category motion lawsuit over emails Tim Hortons despatched out in error to members in its common Roll As much as Win promotion — however just for Quebec residents. The regulation agency says these purchasers ought to be awarded the boat and trailer they have been advised they gained, plus damages. It says the prize’s worth is about $64,000.
Montreal-based agency LPC Avocats claims some half-million clients throughout Canada acquired an electronic mail in April 2024 saying that they had gained a ship by means of the promotion, solely to be advised later this wasn’t the case. Superior Courtroom Justice Donald Bisson dominated final week that the category motion can transfer ahead however restricted it to Quebec residents as a result of the case hinges on that province’s client safety legal guidelines.
ICYMI: New CMO Council Report: The Pathway to GenAI Aggressive Benefit
Is Your Knowledge Ready to Unlock GenAI’s Enterprise Worth? This new report from the CMO Council will show you how to reply that query. GenAI is on the verge of accelerating practical effectiveness and aggressive differentiation. Almost 4 in 5 enterprise leaders imagine GenAI will ship a aggressive benefit over the subsequent 18 months, however not everybody will be capable to reap the advantages as 3 in 5 leaders aren’t assured of their data-AI readiness to realize GenAI worth.
This report examines how GenAI may form, affect and affect the best way information is used for aggressive benefit if correctly ready and primed. Findings are primarily based on a worldwide survey of greater than 170 enterprise and practical leaders throughout industries and geographies and in-depth interviews with GenAI consultants. Obtain your copy of the report back to see how your GenAI information readiness stacks up amongst your friends.
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