Why Loyalty Points for Direct Booking Sites Offer More Flexibility for Travelers: Comparing the48dots and Expedia's One Key Program
Loyalty points have become a staple feature of many travel booking websites, enticing customers with rewards and incentives. However, they can also limit travelers' options by tying them to specific companies or brands and makes it difficult to find the best accommodations at the best price.
With the recent announcement that VRBO will be integrated into Expedia's One Key points program, the limitations of traditional loyalty programs become more apparent. In contrast, the loyalty reward points offered by platforms like the48dots are agnostic to direct booking sites, providing greater flexibility and choice for travelers.
This blog post will discuss the benefits of the agnostic points offered by the48dots and how they compare to traditional programs like Expedia's One Key.
What is One Key?
One Key unifies the Expedia, Hotels.com, and VRBO rewards programs into a single point. One Key lets you earn and redeem rewards any way you travel: eligible flights, car rentals, hotels, vacation rentals. All transactions need to occur through the Expedia partner brands. That means, you can’t use your Milage Plus points to book VBRO listings for example.
What is an Agnostic Travel Point for Direct Booking Sites?
An agnostic travel point allows travelers to earn and redeem rewards across multiple travel platforms. On the48dots, we pool together many hosts’ direct booking websites and issue one point across all of them. You can also transfer points in and out of the48dot point.
The Limitations of Traditional Loyalty Programs:
Traditional loyalty programs often require travelers to stick to a single company or brand to earn and redeem rewards. This can limit their choices, making it difficult to find the best accommodations at the best price. While Expedia's One Key program offers rewards across its partner brands, it still restricts travelers from using points on other platforms or with independent hosts.
You cannot transfer other milage program points in and out of the program.
You cannot guarantee that the short term rental you are booking on VRBO is cheaper than the host’s direct booking site or via the property manager’s site.
You can only use the point on the Expedia brands websites.
The Benefits of Agnostic Loyalty Points Through the48dots:
Agnostic loyalty points, like those offered by the48dots, allow travelers to earn and redeem rewards across multiple host sites, providing them with more flexibility and choices. Here's how the48dots stands out:
Greater choice: Travelers can choose accommodations that best fit their needs and preferences, without being tied to a single company or brand. the48dots point works across all of our host’s direct booking sites.
Lower costs: All-in costs on the48dots platform are often lower than those on larger platforms because we take lower booking fees, allowing travelers to save money while enjoying the benefits of a loyalty program.
Seamless integration: The48dots makes it easy for travelers to earn and redeem points by offering a low-code widget that hosts can embed on their direct booking website.
Partnerships: The48dots has partnered with airlines like KLM/AirFrance and is in the works of collaborating with other major loyalty programs, enabling travelers to transfer points between programs.
Improved guest experience: By offering agnostic loyalty points, the48dots helps build a more personalized guest experience, fostering long-term relationships between hosts and guests.
Conclusion:
While traditional loyalty programs like Expedia's One Key have their advantages, agnostic loyalty points offered by platforms like the48dots provide travelers with more flexibility and choices. By empowering travelers to earn and redeem rewards across multiple host sites and at lower prices, the48dots sets itself apart as a more customer-centric solution in the competitive vacation rental market.
If you're a traveler seeking more flexibility and choices when booking vacation rentals, or a host looking to improve guest loyalty, consider exploring the benefits of agnostic loyalty points offered by the48dots today.