Expedia Group, Microsoft Bing team up on loyalty initiative
Expedia Group and Microsoft Corp. have unveiled details of a new strategic partnership, bringing together their respective loyalty programs to offer Bing users additional rewards on bookings powered by Expedia.
In addition to earning Microsoft Rewards, travellers booking eligible accommodation on Bing also earn rewards through Expedia Group’s brands, including its One Key travel rewards program in US and UK points of sale.
The announcement comes on the heels of Expedia Group being listed as a 2024 Inc. Power Partner, a prestigious list recognizing leading B2B companies that have a proven track record of helping businesses grow.
Expedia Group Private Label Solutions powers travel for more than 60,000 businesses through industry-leading technology solutions, including Rapid API and White Label Template. Together with its partners, Private Label Solutions covers the span of the traveller journey, offering hotels, vacation rentals, flights, car rentals and more.
This marks the first time Expedia Group has combined its industry-leading Rapid API technology and One Key travel rewards program. Through Rapid API, Microsoft Bing users benefit from Expedia Group’s seamless end-to-end booking experience with access to a robust supply of more than 750,000 hotels and vacation rentals around the world, competitive rates and customer service.
Alfonso Paredes, President of Private Label Solutions at Expedia Group, said: “We are excited to join forces with Microsoft to offer Bing users more ways to earn, redeem and travel the world. Our unique partnership underscores the importance of travel within loyalty programs and its ability to amplify value, variety and member retention. In today’s competitive landscape, differentiation in loyalty programs is crucial and earning rewards from both of our brands drives the value and flexibility consumers crave.”
The expansive rewards collaboration reflects the latest industry push towards more flexibility in earning and redemption options in loyalty programs. According to Arrivia’s 2024 Travel Outlook, 56% of brands want to introduce new rewards and/or earning and redemption options, up from 47% two years prior.
Reid Maker, Partner GM, Microsoft Rewards, said: “We continue to focus on providing Bing users with more value while they search. By integrating Bing Travel with the Microsoft Rewards program, we are creating a unique value proposition for travellers, rewarding them with a program that is easy, simple and beneficial.”
And Maker added: “Our partnership with Expedia Group is a compelling way to ensure our users have access to a wide variety of lodging experiences from a trusted travel platform while using Bing.”
The lodging shopping and booking experience is now live in 16 markets globally, including the US and Canada, with Expedia Group as the preferred provider in the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia.
Go to www.expediagroup.com for more.
