Carlson Marketing to End Gold Points Rewards Network Program
Carlson Marketing Worldwide is phasing out its Gold Points Reward Network program, which includes 8 million members who earn rewards at more than 500 partner companies.
Points will no longer be issued as of April 1, but members can continue redeeming their accrued points, which will not expire.
Carlson Marketing Worldwide, however, has developed a loyalty program for one of the top partners in the program, Carlson Hotels, and plans to develop one for another key partner T.G.I. Fridays.
“Our goal is to serve our main clients better,” Carlson Marketing Worldwide spokesman Barry Wegener said.
In October, Carlson Hotels broke away from the Gold Points Reward program and launched the new global loyalty program called Gold Points Plus. Under the revamped offering, members can earn more rewards in a faster time period for hotel stays.
The new T.G.I. Fridays loyalty program is slated to roll out early this year. Details were unavailable, however a Web site offers a sign up option at http://www.Fridays.com.
Carlson Marketing initiated the change after reviewing Carlson Hotels’ and T.G.I. Friday’s needs, in part, for better return on investment, Wegener said,
“We were looking for better ways to do things for our clients,” he said. “To do that, we are creating new programs for them.”
Carlson Marketing contacted members via e-mail notifying them of the change. It also publicized the changes on its Web site. Members can opt to participate in the new Carlson Hotel or T.G.I Friday’s programs.
Gold Points Reward Network, an online loyalty program operated by Gold Points Corp. run by Carlson Marketing Worldwide, launched in 1996. Under the program, members earn points by shopping at certain retailers and redeem them online for clothing, electronics, and other products at online sites including T.G.I. Friday’s, Ann Taylor.com, Cabelas.com, Gap.com and HarryandDavid.com and FTD.com.
In other news, Carlson, the parent of Carlson Marketing Worldwide, has named Hubert Joly as president and CEO, effective March 1.
Joly currently works as president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a travel management company, which is 55% owned by Carlson. He succeeds Marilyn Carlson Nelson, who has been president for 10 years. She will continue as Carlson’s chairman of the board.
A search is underway by Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s board for a new CEO.
Joly was appointed president and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in July 2004. Prior to that, he was CEO of Vivendi Universal Games, the video games division of Vivendi Universal.
He will become Carlson’s first non-family member to take over as CEO and the fourth CEO in the company’s 70-year history.
