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IHG and Cartera Commerce Launch First Integrated Global Shopping Rewards Program
Worldwide Initiative Notably Expands Opportunities for Hotel Guests to Earn More Priority Club® Points with Every Retail Purchase
Lexington, MA, and Atlanta, GA - August 3, 2011 - IHG, InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, and Cartera Commerce, the leading provider of card-linked marketing solutions, announce the launch of the first integrated global shopping rewards program for hotel guests. Whether shopping online or in-store, more than 58 million IHG Priority Club® members will earn loyalty points for making everyday purchases with hundreds of retailers.
"The launch of Priority Club® Shopping is an important, strategic initiative for us. By elevating the value we deliver to our guests, we drive increased engagement and loyalty over the long term," said Mark Sheperd, director, Partnership Programs, IHG. "We chose Cartera for its leading technology and large network of online and in-store merchants. We want to make it easy for our members to earn points wherever they choose to shop."
By creating and powering a bridge between brand name merchants and Priority Club® members, Cartera makes earning points through everyday shopping easy. As the first client to launch on Cartera's new integrated platform, IHG takes advantage of significant advances in email marketing functionality and a robust online, national in-store and local merchant network. The platform also provides global search capabilities, a flexible card-linking engine and new program design.
"Our research shows that investing in loyalty program rewards is a key component to creating successful, lifetime relationships with customers. IHG's Priority Club Shopping site leverages Cartera's merchant network, the largest in the industry, to help its members discover money-saving deals from thousands of in-store, online and local merchants every day," said Tom Beecher, president and CEO of Cartera Commerce. "In the last six months, we've seen an explosion of interest from both merchants and clients in driving deeper savings for consumers through rewards shopping programs. Clearly, the value is tangible for all involved."
To start earning Priority Club points, visit www.PriorityClubShopping.com/shop.
About Cartera Commerce
Cartera Commerce is the leading provider of card-linked marketing solutions that increase revenue and customer loyalty for merchants, banks, issuers and loyalty programs. For merchants, Cartera powers the industry's largest card-linked advertising network that targets shopping offers to more than 150 million loyal consumers and tracks in-store and online sales. For banks, issuers and loyalty programs, Cartera provides the industry's most comprehensive card-linked offer platform that powers personalized in-store and online shopping programs that build consumer engagement, maximize card spend and create new revenue streams. Cartera's platform delivers card-linked offers via multiple digital marketing channels including Websites, online banking, email, mobile, social media and browser apps. Four of the five largest financial institutions, three of the four largest airlines and 60,000 merchant advertisers drive incremental revenue with Cartera's fully-managed, performance-based solutions. The company is headquartered in Lexington, MA and has significant operations in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit www.cartera.com.
About Priority Club Rewards
With 58 million members globally, IHG's Priority Club Rewards is the first, largest and fastest-growing guest loyalty program in the hotel industry. Named Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World six years running by Global Traveler magazine and Best Hotel Loyalty Program for four consecutive years by Business Traveler magazine, Priority Club Rewards offers more sought-after benefits and the greatest ease of use of any hotel loyalty program. In addition to flexible features like No Points Expiration, No Blackout Dates, Points & Cash and Flights AnywhereTM, Priority Club Rewards members have more options for point redemption than any other hotel loyalty program. Members can redeem points not only for hotel nights, but also for airline miles on more than 40 partner airlines, for auto rentals, for gift certificates and for hundreds of products available in the Rewards Catalog. And Priority Club Rewards is the only hotel loyalty program to offer members a Personal Shopper program that allows members to exchange points for items not found in the Rewards Catalog. Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests can enroll by logging onto priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHG's more than 4,400 hotels worldwide.
Notes to Editors:
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven well-known hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty program with 58 million members worldwide.
IHG is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms and IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, a portfolio of over 4,400 hotels and more than 652,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.
IHG has more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline and expects to recruit around 160,000 people worldwide over the next few years.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com. For our latest news visit www.ihg.com/media, Twitter www.twitter.com/ihgplc or YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ihgplc
Media Contact:
For press inquiries, please contact: cartera@matternow.com
Monica Smith
IHG
Monica.smith@ihg.com
770.604.5562
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