Loyalinks 2024, the first loyalty solutions event in the Saudi Arabia, launched under the theme “Loyalty Solutions: The Profitable Engine for the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors.” The event gathered over 50 entities and specialists to explore how loyalty programs can enhance customer experience and boost returns in these industries.
Impact of Loyalty Programs
Hatem Kamli, CEO of Resal, highlighted the growing influence of loyalty programs on the tourism sector. The loyalty and rewards programs sector in Saudi Arabia reached 8 billion riyals in 2023. Shadi Al-Khatabi, General Manager of Alfursan Program Operations, emphasized Saudi Airlines’ commitment to digital transformation. The airline aims to digitize 80% of Alfursan services while achieving 10% annual growth.
Omar Trmesani, Deputy General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in Jeddah, revealed that registered members of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program generate double the returns. Khaled Kamel, General Manager of an airport application, stressed the importance of artificial intelligence in delivering personalized customer experiences by analyzing behavior.
Data-Driven Loyalty Programs
Rabie Farhat, CEO of “Related,” discussed the crucial role of data in loyalty programs and its influence on decision-making. He cited Singapore’s successful activation of loyalty programs, which increased tourist spending by 40%. Saad bin Aiban, CEO of Jabal Omar Company, spoke about aligning the company’s initiatives with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. He particularly emphasized religious tourism programs in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the the Pilgrim Experience Program.
Thamer Al-Farshooti, a member of the Tourism and Culture Council at the Jeddah Chamber, highlighted the support for the tourism sector. He noted that total tourism spending in Jeddah reached SAR 23.5 billion in 2023, with SAR 8.8 billion spent on entertainment. He added, “The Mecca region leads domestic tourism in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh capturing 14.5% of total domestic trips, followed by Jeddah at 11.6%, and Mecca at 8.9%.”
Challenges and Opportunities in Hospitality
Mohammed Ashour, CEO of Technology at Nazil Company, outlined key challenges and operational opportunities in the hospitality sector. The event concluded with the honoring of participants for their contributions.
Event Success and Future Outlook
After the honors, Hatem Al Kameli expressed satisfaction with the event’s success. He remarked, “Loyalinks 2024 was a unique experience reflecting our commitment to enhancing the loyalty industry in the tourism sector, which sees spending of about SAR 200 billion.”
He also highlighted the sector’s annual growth of over 5%, projecting it will reach SAR16 billion within the next five years.
Loyalinks is an annual event aimed at fostering the loyalty industry in Saudi Arabia. It offers a supportive environment for developing loyalty programs and facilitates knowledge exchange between companies and institutions.
