--- title: "3 Takeaways from Loyalty Summit: Evolution of Mileage Redemption" description: iSeatz CEO, Kenneth Purcell, spoke at Loyalty Summit Online to discuss the landscape of mileage rewards and how loyalty programs can better engage members. image: https://www.iseatz.com/hubfs/airport-3-iseatz%20copy.jpg --- [iSeatz](https://www.iseatz.com/) [Blog](https://www.iseatz.com/blog) Menu - [ Our Platform ](https://www.iseatz.com/our-platform) - [ Travel & Lifestyle Portfolio ](https://www.iseatz.com/portfolio) - [ Work With Us ](https://www.iseatz.com/work-with-us) - [ News & Insights ](https://www.iseatz.com/blog) - [ About ](https://www.iseatz.com/about-iseatz) - [ Careers ](https://www.iseatz.com/careers) - [ Contact ](https://www.iseatz.com/contact-us) ![](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/hot-air-balloons.jpg?width=866&height=1300&name=hot-air-balloons.jpg) Help Them Check Off Their Bucket List Our travel and lifestyle portfolio has everything from first-class flights to fitness classes, including over 400,000 tours and activities. [ View Our Portfolio ](https://www.iseatz.com/portfolio) Go back to menu toggle ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/2661980/hubfs/iSeatz-2020-theme/images/city-daylight-outdoors-2090649.jpg?width=640&name=city-daylight-outdoors-2090649.jpg) Post Tags - [loyalty](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/loyalty) - [travel](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/travel) - [ancillary](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/ancillary) - [customer loyalty](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/customer-loyalty) - [food delivery](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/food-delivery) - [rewards](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/rewards) - [personalization](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/tag/personalization) # 3 Takeaways from Loyalty Summit: Evolution of Mileage Redemption [![Picture of iSeatz](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iseatz-favicon-white.png?width=70&height=70&name=iseatz-favicon-white.png) ](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/author/iseatz) [iSeatz](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/author/iseatz) May 13, 2021 4 minute read iSeatz Founder and CEO, Kenneth Purcell, recently spoke at the [Loyalty Summit Online: The Future of FFPs](https://loyaltysummit.com/loyalty-summit-online-new-direction/) on the “Evolution of Mileage Redemption” panel. Joining Kenneth were moderator [Bill Hanifin](https://thewisemarketer.com/), and co-panelists [Thom Kozik](https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomkozik/) and [Daniel Kornitzer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kornitzer-6667662/).  It was a great discussion about the current landscape of airline mileage rewards programs and what those programs can do to better engage loyalty members and adapt to a changing market. Here are our Top 3 Takeaways from the panel: **1.  TRAVEL IS REBOUNDING FASTER THAN EXPECTED** Travel is recovering, with rewards travel being the fastest recovering segment. While most predictions slated the fall as the earliest we’d see pre-covid numbers, the reality is much more optimistic. With vaccine rollout, pent-up demand, and point/status expiration looming, travelers are eager to get back out there. Here are some of the travel booking numbers Kenneth shared comparing April 2021 to April 2019: ![Graphic of luggage and money with numbers overlayed](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/April%2021-19%20Booking%20Stats.png?width=500&name=April%2021-19%20Booking%20Stats.png) Total bookings are up 1.23% in April, compared to April 2019 *(and more than 1,171% over April 2020)*. Average booking value is also up over 4%. ![Airplane](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Airplane%20grey.png?width=100&name=Airplane%20grey.png)Air bookings are still down 17%, but saw the 5th straight month of growth. Average booking value is nearly 18% down from April 2019, but is up almost 10% since January. ![Car grey](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Car%20grey.png?width=100&name=Car%20grey.png)Car rentals are up 68% over 2019, with March and April seeing the highest number of bookings than any other time in the last 3 years. Average booking value is also soaring - up over 109%. ![Hotel grey](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hotel%20grey.png?width=100&name=Hotel%20grey.png)Hotel bookings are up almost 17% in April over 2019, holding steady from the month prior. Average booking value is also up from 2019 over 31%.   **2.  PERSONALIZATION & RELEVANCY** As any marketer will tell you, personalization is the key to increasing conversions, and frankly, consumers have come to expect it. Many rewards programs gather member preferences at the initial sign-up, but as Kenneth pointed out on the panel, those preferences may be outdated for how the member is traveling now. A former frequent business traveler will have different needs now that his travel is primarily leisure trips with his family. How will you ensure that traveler stays loyal to your program? An offer for lounge access or seat upgrade may be less relevant to that traveler than a point earn or redemption opportunity for tours and activities to do with his family. **3.  BETTER EVERYDAY EARN** A theme that was touched upon throughout the conversation was the need to engage travelers when they’re not traveling. Many airlines rely on a co-branded credit card to serve that purpose, but the panelists all agreed that isn’t enough. Food delivery is a great example of a loyalty integration that engages travelers at home and on the road, is relevant to their lives and the current environment, and is a surging market. While food delivery orders have leveled off a bit from their peak in April 2020, they are still tracking 30-40% above 2019 orders and most experts predict that food and grocery delivery will continue to maintain an increased level popularity in the future. As you can see from the numbers above, the future of travel is bright. It’s a unique opportunity for airlines and other travel loyalty providers to maximize member engagement and get a larger share of wallet from travelers who are ready and willing to spend.  ... Want to get more insights and updates from iSeatz? Sign up for our newsletter to get them delivered to your inbox. [![SUBSCRIBE NOW](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4857126/de7a6932-16f5-40cb-93d5-9c4896069fae.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4857126/de7a6932-16f5-40cb-93d5-9c4896069fae) You can also learn more about iSeatz by reaching out to [marketing@iseatz.com](mailto:marketing@iseatz.com). ## Related Posts - ![](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Solutions/Hotel/pexels-jess-vide-4321154.jpg?width=420&name=pexels-jess-vide-4321154.jpg) ### [ The 2021 State of Loyalty Hotel Ancillary Report ](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/2021-state-of-loyalty-hotel-ancillary-report) iSeatz is pleased to announce the release of our 2nd Annual State of Loyalty: Hotel Ancillary Report. The State of Loyalty Report ... - ![](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Campaigns/State%20of%20Loyalty%202023%20Hospitality/man-hotel-room-laptop-iseatz%20copy.jpeg?width=420&height=280&name=man-hotel-room-laptop-iseatz%20copy.jpeg) ### [ [Skift] Navigating Today’s Evolving Hotel Loyalty Landscape ](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/skift-new-report-navigating-todays-evolving-hotel-loyalty-landscape) This story was originally published by Skift. Read on their site here. - ![](https://www.iseatz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Campaigns/State%20of%20Loyalty%202022%20Hospitality/Stock%20Images/family-pool-day-resort-iseatz%20reduced.jpeg?width=420&height=280&name=family-pool-day-resort-iseatz%20reduced.jpeg) ### [ COMING SOON: The 2022 State of Loyalty Hospitality Report ](https://www.iseatz.com/blog/coming-soon-the-2022-state-of-loyalty-hospitality-ancillary-report) Our 3rd annual State of Loyalty: Hospitality Ancillary Report is coming soon! 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