loyalty program

How Small Hospitality Brands Are Keeping Guests Coming Back

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Small hospitality brands focus on offline connections to drive growth, with 62% aiming to enhance community engagement. Effective branding extends beyond the meal, using promotional products and loyalty programs to foster relationships. Though online presence is vital for discovery, in-person interactions build loyalty, as consumers prefer face-to-face connections. This human element cultivates trust and advocacy, showing that successful strategies stem from creating meaningful experiences. Ultimately, small brands thrive by serving not just food, but community and identity.

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/how-small-hospitality-brands-are-keeping-guests-coming-back/

The New Recipe for QSR Success

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QSR brands face rising costs, competition, and customer expectations. To succeed, they must create emotional connections and enhance loyalty beyond discounts. Six principles guide this: 1) Loyalty is an experience, not just a program; 2) Cultivate craveability through cultural relevance; 3) Maintain familiarity while innovating; 4) Ensure cohesive brand experiences across channels; 5) Focus on customer experience with innovation; 6) Foster personal connections beyond transactions. Embracing these can help QSRs thrive amid challenges.

https://www.lippincott.com/ideas/looking-vertically/The-new-recipe-for-QSR-success/

How Some Restaurants Are Rethinking Loyalty by Ditching the App |

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Restaurants are shifting from app-based loyalty programs to simpler models integrated into digital wallets or point-of-sale systems. Portillo’s Perks, for example, utilizes digital wallets for rewards, while Birdcall's loyalty tracks rewards via phone numbers within its POS. This app-free approach enhances user experience, reduces friction, and offers better customer data collection, mirroring trends in consumer preferences for convenience without clutter. Major brands are joining this movement, indicating a significant industry shift away from traditional app reliance.

https://restauranttechnologynews.com/2025/08/how-some-restaurants-are-rethinking-loyalty-by-ditching-the-app/

A Tale of Three Fuel Retailers

Three fuel retailers highlighted the importance of operational reliability and automation in loyalty programs. The author’s favorite, Cumberland Farms, faltered after app updates disrupted service, leading to frustration. RaceTrac's loyalty program failed due to pump issues, while Marathon impressed with seamless enrollment and rewards during a purchase. Key takeaway: convenience and reliability are crucial for customer retention in loyalty programs, outweighing feature richness.

https://thewisemarketer.com/a-tale-of-three-fuel-retailers/

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