NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – May 13, 2010 – Members of VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, the world’s first hotel loyalty program created for independent hotels and hotel groups, can now exchange the points they earn during hotel stays for MexicanaGO Points, redeemable for free flights anywhere the airline flies. Today’s announcement marks the second major airline to join the VOILÀ Hotel Rewards network and further increases the benefits offered by the popular loyalty program.
“Our members are looking for a wide range of redemption opportunities and by partnering with MexicanaGO we add another exciting reward option for our members,” said Gabi Kool, senior vice president and managing director of VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, “Our strategy has been to develop partnerships with strong local companies in the markets where we have a well-developed presence. With our existing loyalty program in Mexico via our partnership with Lucerna Hoteles we have built up a great network and member base. Now we are enhancing the value proposition for our members in this part of the world by partnering with MexicanaGO. We expect to announce several other hotels joining our network in Mexico soon and this makes this partnership with MexicanaGO even more important for us from a strategic point of view.”
The partnership between VOILÀ and MexicanaGO means members will receive 500 MexicanaGO Points for every 2,500 VOILÀ points they convert. The announcement of this partnership marks the start of a series of announcements by VOILÀ in 2010 regarding new partners and hotels joining the program and a spectacular re-launching of the VOILÀ brand standards.
Currently, Mexicana Airlines offers the most extensive international flight coverage from Mexico and is the leading transportation company between Mexico and the United States. With flights to more than 65 destinations throughout North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, the airline boasts one of the world’s highest on-time performance levels and has been recognized with multiple World Travel Awards.
Mexicana Airlines is also a member of the oneworld® global alliance that brings together eleven airlines. Through this partnership with MexicanaGO, VOILÀ members now have access to redeem flight in oneworld’s network of almost 700 destinations worldwide and nearly 550 airport departure lounges.
“When we were looking for hotel loyalty programs to partner with, we knew VOILÀ would provide us with a tremendous opportunity to reach a new audience of loyal travelers,” said Santiago Ontañon, Executive Vice President Loyalty Programs of Grupo Mexicana. “We know that VOILÀ has created a points based loyalty program that is finally bringing together many of the world’s most interesting independent hotels under one global loyalty umbrella and thereby unlocks a whole new set of travelers for us to reach. With this partnership, VOILÀ members can be assured whether they’re staying with VOILÀ or flying with Mexicana, they’ll continue to receive the premier service they’ve come to expect.”
ABOUT VOILÀ HOTEL REWARDS
VOILÀ is the world’s first points-based hotel loyalty program that unites a network of over 230 four- and five-star independent hotels and luxury brands. The program first launched in 2008 and has developed a reputation among travelers who like to stay in original, up-market independent properties for its compelling promotions, ease of use and simple, quick redemption process. VOILÀ’s co-branded, fully customized guest loyalty programs support travelers who frequent Husa Hotels, Coral Hotels & Resorts, Hoteles Lucerna, Continental Hotels Group, and Great Hotels Organisation. With the recent addition of Swiss-Belhotel International and Kayumanis Hotels, VOILÀ’s network continues to expand into some of the world’s most desirable travel markets. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.voilahotels.com or contact Peter Gorla, vice president of marketing at +1 (949) 260-9538 or via email at peter@vhr.com.
About MexicanaGO
MexicanaGO is the most innovative loyalty program in the Mexican travel industry. User-friendly and extremely flexible, just one year after its launch, 210,000 of its half-million or so active members have already redeemed their GO points for plane tickets. www.MexicanaGO.com.
About Mexicana
Mexicana Airlines, Mexico’s leading airline, has been earning the trust and loyalty of its passengers for almost 90 years, preserving the best of its essence, while positioning itself as a dynamic, efficient company. This successful marriage of tradition and innovation is one reason Mexicana Airlines was invited to join oneworld®, the world’s leading alliance of quality airlines, which enables its member airlines to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own, including a broader route network, more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points and access to some 550 airport lounges worldwide. oneworld also offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors. In 2009, Mexicana boarded over 11.1 million passengers and currently serves some 50 destinations in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Its 69-strong fleet of hi-tech aircraft makes 200 takeoffs and landings a day on average. The company boasts the best maintenance base in all of Latin America, staffed by highly skilled mechanics. In addition to being certified as a Socially Responsible Company, Mexicana has won several major industry awards over the decades, including the World Travel Award for “Leading Airline in Mexico and Central America”, which it has taken home on no less than 11 occasions. MexicanaClick was launched in 2005 to serve the domestic market and currently operates a total of 27 routes. MexicanaLink, the group’s regional carrier, made its debut in 2009 and already flies to 21 destinations. MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink will both be joining oneworld as affiliates. www.mexicana.com.