Success of Loyalty Program Fuels Renewal of Long-Term Agreements with Two Anchor Loyalty Reward Program Sponsors
TORONTO, Feb. 27 /CNW/ - The Loyalty Group, creator of the AIR MILES(R) Reward Program, today announced significant renewal agreements with two of the coalition retail loyalty program's anchor Sponsors -- BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard and Shell Canada Products.
As Canada's largest MasterCard issuer, the BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard multi-year agreement with the AIR MILES Reward Program is an important component of BMO Bank of Montreal's strategy to aggressively grow its position in the consumer and corporate credit card category.
Equally important, the renewed multi-year agreement with Shell enables the more than fifteen million AIR MILES Collectors to continue to "fill-up" on reward miles at more than 1800 Shell retail outlets across Canada.
"BMO Bank of Montreal and Shell, Sponsors since 1992 and 1993 respectively, consistently deliver high value for AIR MILES Collectors through ongoing offers and bonus opportunities," said Bryan Pearson, President, AIR MILES Reward Program. "These long-term renewals demonstrate the fundamental acceptance of the AIR MILES Reward Program in the Canadian retail marketplace."
The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to indulge in leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and other lifestyle rewards quickly, simply by doing their everyday shopping for products and services at more than 100 brand-name AIR MILES Sponsors across the country, representing more than 14,000 retail and service locations. AIR MILES reward miles can be redeemed for more than 500 rewards such as movie passes, family attractions, CDs and DVDs, electronic merchandise, sports and recreation, travel and more.
Backgrounder
The BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard Renewal Agreement -----------------------------------------------------
The BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard agreement provides for a continued and expanded commitment to an exclusive AIR MILES Reward Option for the BMO Bank of Montreal Mosaik MasterCard and the BMO Bank of Montreal AIR MILES MasterCard Business Card.
"BMO Bank of Montreal is the largest MasterCard issuer in Canada and provides innovative and flexible credit card solutions to our customers," said Mike Kitchen, vice president, Retail Cardholder Products and Marketing, BMO Bank of Montreal. "This agreement allows both BMO Bank of Montreal and the AIR MILES Reward Program to creatively explore opportunities in the consumer and corporate credit card category."
"Our partnership with the AIR MILES Reward Program delivers a strategic advantage to BMO and unmatched consumer appeal to millions of enthusiastic AIR MILES Collectors across Canada," Mr. Kitchen added.
"Since the inception of the AIR MILES Reward Program in 1992, The Loyalty Group and BMO Bank of Montreal have worked together to create and deliver financial products and services that enhance the value and appeal of the Program for the millions of Canadians who actively collect AIR MILES reward miles," said Bryan Pearson, President, AIR MILES Reward Program. "Coupled with a separate long-term contract renewed with BMO Bank of Montreal under its retail banking banner in 2002, the AIR MILES Reward Program is the only national coalition retail loyalty program to offer a full and complete range of banking and credit card products to its customers."
BMO Bank of Montreal offers AIR MILES reward miles for a wide range of banking products -- chequing and savings accounts, loans, mortgages and investments -- as well as through its BMO Mosaik MasterCard for its personal retail customers and BMO Bank of Montreal AIR MILES MasterCard Business Card for the bank's business customers.
With Mosaik MasterCard, cardholders can choose to earn AIR MILES reward miles at one of two reward levels -- 1 AIR MILES reward mile for every $20 spent on the card ($35 annual fee) or 1 AIR MILES reward mile for every $40 spent on the card (no annual fee). With the wide acceptance that MasterCard brings, cardholders can earn AIR MILES reward miles virtually anywhere. Cardholders also have ability to combine their AIR MILES reward option with a Low Rate interest rate plan ($15 annual fee) to further customize their card.
"Along with our more than 100 Sponsors representing 14,000 retail and service locations, Collectors have for the long-term, unparalleled opportunities to earn more and more AIR MILES reward miles from coast to coast," said Mr. Pearson.
The Shell Canada Products Renewal Agreement
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A Sponsor for more than 10 years, Shell offers AIR MILES reward miles on products and services at more than 1800 retail outlets, bulk agencies, and aviation and ThermoShell locations across Canada. At Shell's retail outlets, one AIR MILES reward mile is awarded for every minimum $20 purchase that includes fuel, plus an additional reward mile for every incremental $10 spent in the same transaction. Collectors can earn even more reward miles with the purchase of convenience food store products, car washes, cash and carry lubricants and other automotive supplies, as well as from Shell's frequent bonus offers. Shell customers also have been redeeming AIR MILES reward miles for Shell car wash certificates since 2001, a popular Reward redemption choice.
"In the very competitive oil and gas sector, strong customer loyalty is a tremendous strategic advantage, said Terry Blaney, Vice President of Marketing, Shell Canada. "We recognize that many of our customers are regular and loyal AIR MILES Collectors, who go out of their way to choose Shell products and collect reward miles for the rewards they want."
Terms of the renewal agreements were not disclosed.
About Shell Canada Limited
Shell Canada Limited is a major integrated petroleum company in Canada, producing natural gas, natural gas liquids, sulphur and bitumen. In addition, Shell Canada Products is a leading manufacturer, distributor and marketer of refined petroleum products.
About BMO Bank of Montreal
BMO Bank of Montreal is the Canadian retail arm of BMO Financial Group. Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO) is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. It includes BMO Bank of Montreal, Chicago-based Harris Bank, a major Midwest financial services provider, BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of Canada's largest full-service investment firms, and Harris Nesbitt, BMO's U.S. investment banking operation.
About The AIR MILES(R) Reward Program
Created by The Loyalty Group in 1992, The AIR MILES(R) Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, with more than 15.4 million Canadians -- representing more than 69 per cent of Canadian households -- actively collecting AIR MILES reward miles.
The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to indulge in leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and other lifestyle rewards quickly, simply by doing their everyday shopping for products and services at AIR MILES Sponsors. AIR MILES reward miles can be redeemed for more than 500 different rewards, such as movie passes, family attractions, CDs and DVDs, electronic merchandise, sports and recreation, travel and more.
Collectors can shop and collect AIR MILES reward miles at more than 100 brand-name Sponsors across the country, representing more than 14,000 retail and service locations nationally, including Bank of Montreal, Shell, SportChek (Sports Experts), American Express, The Shoe Company, A&P, Sobeys, Safeway and IGA, and YourShops.ca. The AIR MILES Reward Program's website is www.airmiles.ca.
/For further information: please contact: The Loyalty Group, Corporate Affairs, (416) 228-6614, or (416) 228-6500; Shell Canada, Media Relations, Lesley Taylor, (416) 227-7146, lesley.taylor(at)shell.ca; BMO Bank of Montreal, Ralph Marranca, (416) 867-3996, Ralph.marranca(at)bmo.com (Toronto), Ronald Monet, (514) 877-1101, ronald.monet(at)bmo.com (Montreal); Laurie Grant, (604) 665-7596, Laurie.grant(at)bmo.com (Vancouver)/
© CNW Group
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