Latest news with #loyalty
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Former Combs Assistant Says Mogul Told Staff to ‘Move Like SEAL Team 6'
Brendan Paul, a former assistant to Sean Combs who was arrested last year amid federal raids, testified on Friday at the music mogul's trial that he obtained drugs and prepared hotel rooms for nights of sex and partying as part of his job. While Mr. Paul was a low-level employee — his duties included packing bags and coordinating meals — he also became one of the most prominent members of Mr. Combs's entourage in March 2024, when he was charged with cocaine possession after sweeping searches of Mr. Combs's properties. On the day of the raids, which involved searches of two of Mr. Combs's homes, Mr. Paul was at a Florida airport with the mogul, en route to a Combs family vacation in the Bahamas. Federal agents intercepted the group and found cocaine in a bag that Mr. Paul was carrying. Mr. Paul testified that he found the drugs — amounting to 0.7 grams — in Mr. Combs's room early that morning and had forgotten about it as he was packing for the trip. Mr. Paul, who had been working for Mr. Combs for about 18 months at the time, testified that he did not tell law enforcement that it was Mr. Combs's cocaine. 'Why not?' a prosecutor, Christy Slavik, asked Mr. Paul. 'Loyalty,' he replied. The case against Mr. Paul was dropped last year after he completed a drug intervention program. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Finextra
10 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Why closed-loop payments are ideal for boosting loyalty: By Nikunj Gundaniya
Loyalty fails when it's disconnected from how people pay. Traditional loyalty programs are often built as afterthoughts. A separate sign-up. A separate app. A separate step. But it doesn't have to be like that, right? Because it's a disconnected experience for your customers. And that often leads to hesitation and confusion. What if loyalty can be tied to the payment? Because it's the one action every customer repeats. Every transaction is a moment to reinforce brand trust or lose it. Closed-loop payments make that possible. They don't just process a sale. They embed loyalty directly into the act of paying. That means no extra cards and no extra friction for your customers. Just the value that is delivered at the moment it matters most. There are multiple reasons why a closed-loop payment solution is a powerful tool to drive loyalty. Let's explore them one by one. Seamless loyalty integration at the point of payment Loyalty doesn't feel like a chore when it's embedded in the payment experience itself. That also means your customers don't need to swipe any extra card, enter a number, or remember to open a separate app. The moment they pay, they earn rewards. Then they are ready to redeem discounts. That's how closed-loop transactions create value. This simplicity drives behavior. When loyalty is automatic, it becomes invisible. And that's the goal for businesses like yours. Customers return not because they're trying to 'work the program,' but because it just works, and that too effortlessly. Remove friction from the buying journey and payment experience, and you will surely see higher engagement and better retention. Closed-loop payments do exactly that. When your customers realize that every payment they make provides some value in return, then they are likely to choose your business repeatedly. Encourages habitual spending and repeat visits There's a simple psychological effect at play when customers preload funds into a closed-loop wallet or card: they feel committed. It's like they've already paid. Now, they are just waiting to 'use' that, which gives them a strong reason to return. This stored value loop is powerful, especially for businesses built on repeat purchases like Cafés, fuel stations. transportation, local grocers, etc. Once customers load value into your branded payment system, coming back becomes the default choice. And because rewards accumulate automatically, repeat visits become habitual, not forced. Rich first-party data to power loyalty strategies Unlike open-loop systems, where transaction data is filtered through external providers, closed-loop payments keep the data within the issuing party (i.e., your business). That means you can know who your top customers are. How often they buy. What they buy. When they stop coming. With such data at your disposal, you can build real relationships, not one-size-fits-all campaigns. Besides, you can reward frequency, re-engage the quiet spenders, or tailor offers for high-value customers. With closed-loop payment systems, loyalty isn't a guessing game. It's personalized, dynamic, and built on actual behavior. Greater control over customer experience When you control the payment experience, you control the loyalty journey. Closed-loop prepaid cards or e-wallets give you full ownership, from branding and UX to how rewards are calculated and delivered. Want to create tiered benefits? Offer cashback based on cart value? Trigger rewards based on purchase streaks? You can. Whether it's an in-app wallet or a physical card, every interaction stays within your ecosystem. No third-party branding. No outside rules. Just your business, your experience, your customer. That kind of control builds stronger loyalty, because the experience is consistently yours. Lower costs & more value back to customers There's a financial logic to this as well. How? Because closed-loop payments cut out the middlemen. That means no interchange fees and no external transaction charges. It's only direct payments inside your business. That cost savings adds up when you consider that there are thousands of transactions involved every month. And you can reinvest this into better loyalty offers, without eating into your margins. Hence, instead of spending to operate a rewards program, you're using a more efficient payment system that funds the loyalty loop itself. It's sustainable, scalable, and smart. Use cases across industries Closed-loop payments fit any business where loyalty and repeat spend matter. Below are some examples where they work seamlessly: Retail : Drive frequency, push exclusive offers, and reward spend without outside platforms. Transportation & Mobility : Ideal for rides, rentals, and transit systems where speed and habit drive usage. QSR & Cafés : Preloaded wallets or cards keep lines moving and customers coming back. Education & Campus Services : Manage student spending, discounts, and access all in one system. Events & Hospitality : Deliver a fully branded guest experience, such as spending, rewards, and perks, all with a single branded card. Conclusion Loyalty shouldn't be something customers chase after. It should be smooth. It should be effortless. And that can happen when it's built right into the payment experience. Closed-loop payments do exactly that. By tying rewards directly to transactions, they make every visit more valuable and every spend more meaningful. The result? Better data, stronger relationships, and higher retention. Whether through e-wallet apps, prepaid cards, or both, closed-loop payment solutions give your business the tools to turn payment into seamless loyalty. If you are looking to boost customer loyalty and retention, then you should definitely consider closed-loop payments.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Millions of Nationwide customers to receive £100 free cash from TODAY – will you get it?
CUSTOMERS of a UK banking giant are set to receive a free £100 payment from today - and you could be eligible to claim the cash. Loyal customers who've saved or borrowed with the beloved building society are set to be given payouts through a rewards scheme just for them. 2 2 This Fairer Share scheme has been run by the building society in previous years. And this year the payments will go into effect on Wednesday, June 18 - meaning today is the day those eligible are set to get the free money. Nationwide confirmed the payments would be made through Friday, July 4. While around four million Nationwide customers will benefit from the scheme, not everyone is eligible. To qualify, customers will need to have opened a current account with Nationwide on or before March 31, 2025. They must also have at least £100 in savings, or have owed £100 or more on a mortgage by that same March deadline. Customers also need to have used their account between January 1 and March 31 this year. A total of about £410 million is estimated to be paid out. And if you missed out on this year's deadline, you may be eligable for the free cash next year as the building society has run the Fairer Share scheme three years in a row. However, there is no guarantee Nationwide will run the scheme again. Popular bank with over 400 spots confirms it is shutting 18 branches in August – it follows 148 closures by rivals In 2024, Nationwide paid out £385 million to 3.85 million people as part of the scheme. The bank also recently offered exclusive access to a top savings account rate for its customers. What other banking perks can you get? Existing customers with Nationwide can also get a free £200 bonus if they switch a non-Nationwide current account into a new or existing FlexDirect account. You'll also get 5% interest on current account balances up to £1,500 for a year. Meanwhile Santander is giving out £180 free cash to those who switch to its Edge account. Plus there's a linked savings account that pays 6% interest on up to £4,000 for the first year. Where to find the best savings rates Many savings accounts offer miserly rates meaning that money is generating little or no return. However, there are ways to get your cash working hard. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to make sure you money is getting the best interest rate. Easy access savings accounts offer flexibility for customers, meaning they can dip in and out of cash when needed. However, the caveat is that rates can change at any time. If you're keeping your money in an easy access account, you'll need to keep checking whether it's the best paying account for your circumstances and move if not. Check in at least once a month to see what is happening in the market. Check what is offered by your bank - sometimes the best rates are for customers only. But do search the wider market as often top savings accounts are offered by lesser known providers. Comparison sites are a good place to check for the top rates. Try or Moneysupermarket. You can search by different account type. You'll usually get a better interest rate if you can lock your money away for a fixed amount of time, but it's always a good idea to keep some money in an easy access account in case of emergencies. Don't overlook regular savings accounts often pay some of the best rates, but you'll need to commit to monthly payments. This can be a great way to get into a savings habit while earning top rates at the same time. First Direct is giving away £175 to people who switch to its 1st Account. You just need to open an account and set up at least two direct debits or standing orders within 45 days. You will also need to pay in £1,000 and make five debit card payments within the same timeframe. TSB is handing out £100 cash but £15 a month in cashback for six months to those who switch to its Spend and Save account. Plus, you can get either £120 credit towards a hotel booking via Expedia's Travel Credits website or 12 months of activity tickets with the National Activities Network.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Loyalty lessons learned: Retiring hotel exec looks back on 40 years
This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter. It was January 1986, and Irene Roberts was starting out as an evening supervisor in the reservation call center for Super 8 Motels. She was a few years out of college, with administrative experience under her belt, and the hospitality industry was calling. After about nine months, a position for the director of Super 8's then-VIP Club frequent traveler program opened. Roberts got the job and 'quickly fell in love with all things loyalty,' she told Hotel Dive. Now, Roberts has nearly four decades of hotel loyalty experience under her belt. She spent roughly 30 years of her career at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, running international operations and managing contact centers, and ultimately landed at My Place Hotels in 2017. As vice president of brand loyalty at My Place, Roberts helped to build the extended stay brand's Stay Rewarded loyalty program. Earlier this month, Roberts bid farewell to My Place, and the hospitality industry, retiring after an impressive career. Ahead of her departure, she sat down with Hotel Dive to discuss all things loyalty, including the lessons she's learned about loyalty strategies and guest preferences, advice for the younger generation of hospitality pros starting out today and the top trends she thinks will impact hotel loyalty this year and beyond. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. IRENE ROBERTS: Getting hotel managers engaged and getting their feedback is huge, and taking that feedback and incorporating it when you can is another very big thing. It's about making sure they're involved and they understand what the loyalty program brings to them. "Loyalty programs present a huge opportunity to gather information on your customers and know who your customers are. However, today people aren't as willing to share their personal information. If guests are part of a loyalty program, you can incentivize them to share more information because there is a return on their investment for sharing, and that's huge." Irene Roberts My Place Hotels VP of Brand Loyalty Additionally, the hotel industry has become more focused on making sure loyalty programs are easy for the guest. I think personalization has come a long way. It's about letting the guest know that you know them, without being creepy. Loyalty programs present a huge opportunity to gather information on your customers and know who your customers are. However, today people aren't as willing to share their personal information. If guests are part of a loyalty program, you can incentivize them to share more information because there is a return on their investment for sharing, and that's huge. Hotels that are doing that well have a great way to communicate with their guests and communicate specific offers. Promotions really do drive repeat business back to hotels. And hotels are seeing the value of a loyalty program more than in the past. They have changed a lot. Guests are always wanting more. And loyalty members, specifically, expect to be treated better than a regular guest and have exclusive privileges. That exclusivity aspect is what drives hotel loyalty membership. When I first started, nobody said, 'I'm gonna go to school and manage a hotel or operate a call center.' But, in the hospitality industry, there is significant opportunity for upward mobility. You can start in an administrative role and grow from there. It's all about finding a mentor, expressing your interest, digging in and asking questions. Loyalty just fascinated me from the start, and it became about talking to people, asking questions — probably being a pain in the butt and asking too many questions — but I was lucky enough to work with some great people when I first started out that believed in me and gave me the chance to fail or succeed. Sometimes you're not going to start at the top. You have to work your way up. There's so much growth opportunity in hospitality to do just that. And it's about having a servant's heart, right? You are in it to help everybody. The guest is your customer. The hotel manager is your customer. Our owners are our customers. We're just here to all be successful together. There's a lot of different things that artificial intelligence can do. I think it can only help us get better in some aspects, including learning about guest preferences and finding out exactly how they like to book. Incorporating experiences into rewards redemption options will remain a big opportunity. And hotels being able to harvest PII (personally identifiable information) from guests and show them that we are a safe holder of their information, that's going to be huge as well. Additionally, it's all about convenience. So whatever a hotel can do for travelers to save them time and make it easy, that is what's going to have the biggest impact. I don't even think saving money is a big thing anymore — it's all about saving time. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I got £60 of freebies in a DAY including MAC make up, cocktails, tacos & cakes – how you can do it too
WHO doesn't love a freebie? There is no better feeling than getting your hands on a coffee, meal or drink without spending a penny. That's why I spent a day hoovering up bargains along my local high street, from spring rolls, tacos, and even a cocktail - and managed to save £60.44. Shops often offer customers freebies to promote new products, reward them for their loyalty or to attract new shoppers. Getting a good deal is now more important than ever as households continue to battle with the rising cost of living. Food and drink prices have soared in the past few years, and it's becoming even more expensive to grab a treat or enjoy a meal out. Grabbing a takeaway coffee will now set you back £2.95, while a main course at a restaurant costs £15.74, according to the Office for National Statistics. I was eager to see how many freebies I could get my hands on, so I headed to the shops to put my bargain hunting to the test. 8.30am I woke up hungry for deals, so I popped into my local Greggs to grab my first freebie of the day - a black coffee. I had downloaded the Greggs app the night before and signed up for a new customer account. All I needed to enter was my email address, password, postcode and birthday. Claiming my free coffee was easy and I just needed to open the app and activate the reward. The app generated a barcode, which I showed to the person behind the counter. Within five minutes I was out of the door with a coffee in hand - result! Saving: £1.90 8.45am 6 Next, I headed to the nearby Danish bakery Ole and Steen to grab a free sweet treat to go with my coffee. The posh chain regularly rewards its members with vouchers for food including pastries and tarts. This week it's a free scoop of cinnamon ice cream. I had already downloaded the app and entered my email address, birthday and phone number to register for an account. This is where you get the vouchers for freebies. But tragedy struck when I got to the counter and tried to redeem my voucher. I clicked on the reward tab in the app, where it said I had seven days to claim my free scoop of gelato. But it turns out I hadn't read the small print properly and the deal was only available in certain stores. But just as I was about to walk away, I noticed that I had another voucher in my account - this time for a free pastry. My freebie tips as a deals expert JORDON Cox, a deals expert, shares his top tips to get freebies on the high street. "The app Olio is a great way to get free food and items in your area. "Users list free food they have too much of, they want to give away or is close to expiring. "Simply download it to your phone and create an account to get started. "Another great way to get free food in the supermarket is with cashback apps. "Shopmium, CheckoutSmart and GreenJinn often offer you free coupons to use in the supermarket. "You need to install the app and register for an account before you can access the deals. "It's also worth having a look at your mobile rewards apps. "If you are with Octopus Energy then you can register for Octoplus, which is a reward programme for customers with smart meters. "Once you have signed up you could get a free weekly drink from Caffe Nero or Greggs." I managed to redeem it and grabbed a free blueberry muffin to celebrate my birthday. The cake was moist and sweet, with lots of blueberries and an almond and sugar dusting. Not my most nutritious breakfast but my bank balance looks very healthy. Saving: £3.75 1pm At 1pm, the hunt began for a bargain lunch. I had heard about a deal at Chopstix Noodle Bar, so I headed over there to try my luck. The staff told me I could get five free spring rolls for downloading the Chopstix app, so I downloaded it from the app store. To create an account all I needed to do was enter my email address and choose a password. Within minutes the coupon for five free spring rolls appeared in the app and I walked to the counter to redeem my lunch. The man behind the counter handed me the bag of spring rolls, which were still warm from the oven. The spring rolls were crunchy on the outside and were filled with vegetables including cabbage, carrot, green beans and mushrooms. Saving: £2.50 1.10pm 6 I was still feeling peckish, so I walked 15 minutes down the road to Taco Bell. I had not eaten at the American fast food chain before, but its rewards offer was too good to miss. Customers who sign up for its app can get a Free Crunchy Taco, which comes with beef, lettuce and cheese. I downloaded the app to my phone and entered my email address and password. After setting up my account I checked the rewards section of the app, where I found a coupon for the free taco. I was impressed by the size of the taco, which was definitely big enough to fill me up. The taco shell was crunchy, while the beef was packed with flavour, although I could have done with a bit more of it in the shell. Saving: £3.49 1.20pm My next stop was Waitrose, where I washed my taco down with a free coffee in my reusable cup. 6 I've been a member of the MyWaitrose loyalty programme for several years, and never miss the chance to grab a free coffee while I'm shopping in store. To join MyWaitrose you need to create an account online or using the app. You will be asked for your birthday, email address and phone number. To claim your free coffee you need to go to the coffee station in store. Next you will need to scan your MyWaitrose card or the digital version in the Waitrose app. You can then choose between coffees including a latte, cappuccino or Americano. I went for a cappuccino, which would normally cost around £4.10 from Caffe Nero. Saving: £4.10 1.30pm I had plans to go to the pub with some friends after work, so I decided to grab some new beauty products so I look my best. There is a Rituals shop near the office, so I decided to see what I can get my hands on. I asked the staff if they had any free samples and they were happy to hand over a miniature Invisible Sun Protective Face Cream. A full size of the sun cream would usually cost £18.90, so my sample is worth £3.78. They also gave me a tester of the Glow Radiance Anti-ageing Night Cream, which usually costs £41.90 for a full size tub. I work out my sample is worth around £4.19. I left the shop with a big smile on my face, having saved £7.97. Saving: £7.97 1.40pm I was feeling confident so I decided to call into the Mac Cosmetics shop next door. I looked at some of the products in the shop before walking to the till to ask if there were any testers available. The team were equally happy to hand over two samples of the Hyper Realism Serum, which is a best seller and costs £80 for a 50ml bottle. This means my 10ml samples are worth £12.80. Saving: £12.80 1.50pm As I headed back to the office, I realised I had run out of my favourite foundation. I walked to my local Boots and headed straight to the Estee Lauder beauty counter. I asked the assistant for help choosing my perfect shade. She matched the foundation colour to my skin with a special machine before giving me a ten day supply of the Estee Lauder Skin Tint foundation. It would normally cost £49 for a full size bottle. She also gave me another sample in a lighter shade to make sure I had the perfect match. I decided to use one tonight and save the other for holiday once I've caught the sun. Result! Saving: £4.90 1.55pm The Body Shop was handing out free samples of two of their most popular products, so I couldn't resist asking for a sample. I pocket a Camomile Sumptuous Makeup Cleansing Butter, which usually costs £13 for 90ml and a Hemp Hand Protector, which costs £16 for 100ml. Get freebies for your birthday SEVERAL shops, restaurants and cafes will give you freebies for your birthday. You could get a free medium size Dunkin Donuts birthday frappe in the run up to your birthday. Meanwhile, Costa Coffee will give you a free sweet treat, such as a muffin or cake, in the week before your birthday. Or grab a free bake, breakfast roll or regular coffee with any purchase from Greggs. To get them you will usually need to download their app and register for an account. You will be asked for your name, phone number, email address and date of birth. When your birthday is close you will be sent a voucher to redeem the free item. Some chains will send you the voucher at the beginning of the month your birthday is in. Others will send it to you on the day of your birthday. One of the assistants told me that they often give out free samples when the chain launches a new product. If you want to get your hands on the goodies then sign up for marketing emails or ask a sales assistant when new products will arrive in store. Saving: £2.24 3pm I had caught the bargain hunting bug, so when I got back to my desk, I decided to scour the internet for deals. After a quick search I found some free Spearmint Nicotine Pouches from the Nordic Spirit website. A pack would normally set me back £6.50 but I claimed a sample for free. I also managed to grab a free Felix As Good As It Looks Chicken in Jelly sachet for my boyfriend's cat. It would usually cost around £7.50 for 26 sachets but I ordered a free sample from the Purina website. Saving: £6.79 6pm After work I met my friends at the pub for a drink. The weather was nice so we all decided to order a cocktail. 6 I've been using the Dusk app for months to save money on cocktails. The app helps you to find free drinks and unlock rewards at different pubs and bars. To sign up you just need to give your email address, gender and date of birth. You can then search the app for pubs in your area and can filter the results to only show ones offering free drinks. The Pembroke in Earl's Court was giving away one free Hugo Spritz to every customer, so I claimed mine. Cheers! Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@
