This is the second year in a row for IHG Rewards Club to win in this category and their ranking increased from 7.96 last year to 8.30 this year—quite an impressive improvement. IHG Rewards Club customer care is available 24/7.
Scott Fillian Manager, Loyalty Programs and Gretchen Sanford accepted the award for IHG.
Virgin Australia Velocity makes its debut in this category. Members point out that they find the customer service representatives helpful and friendly—and good customer service equals happy members.
Thomas Alberts once again takes the stage.
When it comes to providing excellent customer service, Marriott Rewards is tough to beat. This is Marriott Rewards’ eighth consecutive win in the Americas for Best Customer Service. All the perks in the world are worth less than a consistent and noticeable appreciation for the customer. Marriott Rewards continues to offer a responsive customer service experience.
Reese Thorne, Director of Operations – Marriott Guest Services accepted the award.
Avianca LifeMiles made its Freddie Awards win debut in this category last year and has repeated its win again for 2014. LifeMiles makes it easy for members to spend their miles. Members have the flexibility to adjust the combination of miles and money. When booking an award ticket online, members can decrease the mileage amount in increments of 1,000 miles and pay more in cash. LifeMiles also allows one-way award redemptions.
“Thank you so much!”
Last year’s seventh place program in this category makes a very impressive leap to first place this year. But Starwood is no stranger to this category having won several times in the past. Members who redeem their points for five nights will get their fifth night free at Category 3-7 hotels. An interesting side note is that IHG Rewards had the exact same ranking of 7.66 last year and this year and came in third place both years.
Marriott Rewards wins in this all-important category for a third year in a row. Marriott has plenty of properties, in locations where their members want to stay, and at different levels of service. With this vote, members are saying that they have been pleased with the ability to redeem their points for the awards they want. The first four programs below also finished in the same ranking last year.
Last year’s winner, Starwood Preferred Guest, slips to third place in this category while last year’s number two program, IHG Rewards Club, makes its way to the top. Members can combine points and cash for award nights, flights, car rentals or merchandise and as of July 1, 2013, award nights count toward elite status.The program won a Freddie Award in 2011 in this category.
AIR FRANCE – KLM Flying Blue repeat their win in the Best Redemption Ability category after their winning debut in this category last year. Award sales are a sure way to win the heart of many a frequent flyer and Flying Blue offers the program’s popular Promo Awards of up to 50 percent off. Hotel stays, car rentals, extra baggage allowance and electronics are just a few of the other types of awards available to members.
Attending the Freddie Awards this evening from Flying Blue is Herbert Verschuren, Vice President Customer Marketing and Sébastien Reliat-Brunetière, Head of Loyalty Marketing and Communications.
Last year’s second place program finds it way to the top. IHG Rewards Club’s Big Win wins in Middle East / Asia / Oceania just as it did in Europe / Asia. Members were happy with their individual offer to earn a minimum of 50,000 points, with many being offered the chance to earn a great many more points.
Once again IHG Rewards Club and Le Club Accorhotels switched places from last year in this category with IHG Rewards again coming out on top. The Big Win offered a minimum 50,000 points when completing tailor made offers based on members’ personal booking and travel patterns within IHG’s brand family of hotels.