Latest news with #CustomTravelSolutions
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Travel Clubs Seek To Become The New Secret Weapon In Loyalty Marketing
Travel has long been a catalyst for emotional connection, whether it's family vacations, immersive cultural experiences, or business trips that spark creativity. As peak travel season kicks off, brands outside the travel industry are finding unexpected ways to tap into consumers' desire to explore. And few understand this trend better than Mike Putman, CEO and Founder of Custom Travel Solutions, a leading provider of white-label travel club platforms for non-travel brands. In a recent conversation, Putman explained why travel clubs – essentially subscription-based travel programs – are emerging as a powerful loyalty strategy for banks, newspapers, credit card companies, and more. The model is elegantly simple yet deeply psychological. He said, 'There are three things travelers look for with subscription programs: value, assurance, and access. People are used to subscriptions – Netflix, Amazon Subscribe & Save – but travel subscriptions are unique because people don't travel daily. They're looking for differentiated benefits when they do.' TORONTO, CANADA - 2024/07/30: Interior architecture in the lobby of The Omni King Edward Hotel. ... More (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images) Value Isn't Cheap – It's Fair Putman is quick to clarify that value doesn't mean cheap. It means a fair price for the quality you seek. 'If you're at a Four Seasons pool paying $800 a night, and the person next to you paid $300, you won't feel good about that,' he said. Travel clubs enable brands to give their members access to premium hotels at competitive rates, ensuring a positive perception of value without discounting brand equity. Assurance is the Hidden Loyalty Driver Beyond price, assurance matters. Putman contrasted his travel club model with large online travel agencies. He explained, 'Imagine being stranded at a hotel at midnight, trying to get a customer service agent. With our clubs, members get 24/7 concierge service, empowered to resolve issues on the spot.' This personal support creates a sense of security that deepens emotional loyalty. Assurance is often overlooked in loyalty mechanics, yet Putman argues it's the hidden driver that turns occasional users into lifelong brand advocates. Access: The Ultimate Affluent Perk Finally, there's access – exclusive opportunities beyond what's available to the general public. For affluent travelers, Putman's platforms provide everything from global airport lounge entry to concierge services that extend beyond travel. He said, 'If you need a table for your anniversary at a hard-to-book restaurant, or last-minute tickets to The Masters, the concierge can handle it.' The safety net goes further: emergency medical evacuation coverage is included in premium subscriptions. Putman shared an example: 'We've sent a private jet with a medical professional to repatriate a member from a small island in the Philippines back to the UK after a scooter accident.' Why Non-Travel Brands Are Joining In Non-travel brands are integrating these travel club offerings seamlessly. For instance, The Post and Courier, a regional newspaper, offers an Advantage Travel Club to subscribers. Financial institutions use travel clubs as a loyalty perk to drive card usage. The branding is fully white-labeled – the app, website, and customer support all operate under the client's brand, enhancing perceived authenticity and brand trust. Putman emphasized that programs are designed to be intuitive. 'The last thing a loyalty program needs is complex mechanics. We handle all backend operations, so brands simply plug in and go.' The Broader Context: Travel Clubs in 2025 Externally, travel clubs are a growing niche within the $8 trillion global travel industry. Companies like Inspirato (luxury vacation subscriptions), eDreams Prime (OTA subscription), and Tripadvisor Plus have tested various models, but Custom Travel Solutions differentiates itself by serving non-travel brands seeking loyalty extension without building their own travel infrastructure. Paying attention to the travel trends will matter. Offering value to the segment you are serving becomes critical as the market matures. The Takeaway As brands rethink loyalty in an era of subscription fatigue, travel clubs offer a pathway to delight consumers through experiences that are meaningful, memorable, and – critically – frictionless. The lesson from Putman is clear: value, assurance, and access are not perks. They're emotional triggers that unlock loyalty beyond points and discounts. And in a world where consumers value experiences over possessions, that might be the ultimate competitive advantage.
Time Business News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Unlock the Future of Branded Travel with Our White Label Travel Platform
Revolutionize Travel Under Your Own Brand In today's competitive marketplace, offering personalized experiences isn't just a value-add—it's a necessity. With the White Label Travel Platform from Custom Travel Solutions, you can provide a world-class travel experience that reflects your brand's identity while leveraging one of the most powerful private label travel systems available. Whether you're in hospitality, lifestyle, loyalty programs, or financial services, this scalable solution empowers your business to offer flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more—completely branded and customized to your audience's expectations. Build Customer Loyalty with Seamless Booking Imagine giving your members, customers, or employees access to premium travel services without the hassle of building infrastructure from scratch. Our White Label Travel Platform offers a fully managed, plug-and-play experience where you retain brand visibility and control, while we provide the technical muscle and global inventory. Integrated with rich features like member-only pricing, loyalty integrations, and mobile responsiveness, the platform is designed to boost customer engagement, strengthen brand loyalty, and add new revenue streams to your business. Your users enjoy a smooth, intuitive interface while you benefit from advanced backend tools and real-time analytics. Expand Capabilities with Our Booking API and Travel Solutions Beyond the white label system, we offer robust Booking API services that allow you to seamlessly integrate accommodations, transportation, and travel packages into your existing apps or platforms. This is perfect for tech-forward businesses that want custom travel booking flows and tighter control over the customer journey. Combined with our broader Travel Solutions, including member benefit platforms and loyalty integrations, we provide everything you need to launch, scale, and optimize a complete travel program under your own brand umbrella. Conclusion: Private Label Travel Has Never Been This Easy Custom Travel Solutions' White Label Travel Platform empowers businesses to offer professional, secure, and scalable travel services without the typical headaches of development or maintenance. With access to a global inventory and flexible integration options, you can finally take control of your brand's travel offerings and turn them into a profit-generating asset. Whether you're enhancing a membership program or launching a standalone service, our platform adapts to your needs and grows with your business goals. Contact Us Ready to build your branded travel platform? Contact Us today to schedule your personalized demo and discover how our private label solutions can elevate your business. You can also reach us at Custom Travel Solutions, LLC, Travelers Rest, SC 29690, USA. We're excited to help you launch your journey into the world of tailored travel experiences. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Travel Daily News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Custom Travel Solutions appoints new strategic executives
Custom Travel Solutions appoints Michael Finn and Melinda Burch as VPs, driving global expansion, sales growth, and strategic innovation in member-based travel services. Custom Travel Solutions, leading private-label travel platform powering member-based organizations, announces the appointment of two powerhouse executives: Michael Finn as Vice President of Sales and Melinda Burch as Vice President of Global Business Development. This move signals CTS's push into its next chapter of hypergrowth, expanding its global footprint and strengthening its ability to serve clients with unmatched precision, insight, and innovation. With decades of experience leading multi-million and billion-dollar growth initiatives, Michael and Melinda bring a rare mix of enterprise-scale know-how and startup agility, the kind of leadership that doesn't just keep pace with a rapidly evolving market, but defines it. Melinda Burch, a seasoned transformation strategist, has led high-impact business units across CPG, tech, and distribution, driving $60M in incremental revenue through sales effectiveness strategies and spearheading enterprise SaaS implementations for global teams. Her data-driven mindset and operational mastery make her a critical force in scaling CTS's international partnerships and platforms. Michael Finn comes to CTS with more than 25 years of high-level leadership in hospitality, real estate, and marketing, having held executive roles at Marriott and Starwood. He brings deep expertise in sales strategy, resort development, and customer loyalty innovation. Known for driving hundreds of millions in annual revenue and authoring industry-renowned thought leadership, Michael is set to elevate CTS's sales engine to new heights. Mike Putman, CEO of Custom Travel Solutions, shared: 'This isn't just about filling leadership roles, it's about fueling transformation. Michael and Melinda bring the exact firepower we need to deliver next-level results for our clients. As we scale globally and deepen our product offerings, their leadership will help us unlock new revenue streams, faster market penetration, and stronger client success than ever before.' With these strategic additions to its leadership team, CTS is setting the tone for what's next: bold expansion, high-performing partnerships, and a relentless focus on helping member-based organizations monetize travel like never before.
Travel Daily News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
'One-stop-shop': sales hype or the future of B2B travel?
The 'one-stop-shop' model is gaining traction in B2B travel, offering centralized, customizable, and branded solutions that enhance loyalty and streamline operations. Seasoned travel industry executives are perhaps understandably wary of any easy answers or quick fixes, as experience will have shown them not to be true. Could the current debate around 'one-stop-shops' however be the exception? We work in an industry defined by fragmentation, where loyalty programs and membership organizations often juggle multiple vendors, disjointed systems, and inconsistent user experiences. This means thatthe idea of a 'one-stop shop' isn't just appealing, it's rapidly becoming a necessity. Unlike a lot of sales-hyped concepts we see thrown around until the next big thing comes along, this isn't a new concept and has been around for years: Amazon revolutionized retail by centralizing everything in one place, Apple created an ecosystem where hardware, software, and services coexist seamlessly, and Shopify made e-commerce accessible to brands of all sizes. Mike Putman, CEO of Custom Travel Solutions (CTS), believes the concept of the 'one-stop-shop' is far from hype and quickly becoming the gold standard for how B2B travel services are delivered. He puts it succinctly: 'We built Custom Travel Solutions to eliminate the pain points of fragmented travel experiences. Our clients were juggling multiple vendors just to deliver basic benefits. Now, they can offer everything in one cohesive, branded environment.' This unified approach has reshaped industries, but its arrival in B2B travel, particularly in the loyalty segment, feels long overdue. By centralizing travel services ranging from flights and hotels to more niche benefits like airport lounges, medical evacuation, and even yacht charters, CTS has become the Swiss Army knife of travel: modular, powerful, and highly adaptable. The strength of this model lies in its modularity. Rather than imposing a fixed structure, platforms like these allow loyalty programs to pick and choose benefits – be it just hotels and car rentals, or a full suite including private jets, eSIMs, and yacht charters. This adaptability enables brands to craft tailored experiences that align closely with their audience's expectations. Another key element is personalization. Modern platforms increasingly offer features such as multi-tiered configurations, private-label branding, and even one-on-one travel concierge services – moving beyond utility into brand-enhancing experiences. When executed well, the travel service becomes a seamless extension of the client's brand, rather than a third-party add-on. The platform's private-labeling capability further amplifies brand control. Clients can fully brand the user experience, keeping look and feel consistent with their identity. According to Putman, 'For members, the experience should feel like a seamless part of the brand they already trust – not a disconnected third-party service. Maintaining that consistency is key to reinforcing loyalty and brand value.' Beyond a polished user experience, some emerging solutions in the travel loyalty space now offer an impressively wide range of services. These include access to millions of hotel rates with exclusive member discounts, thousands of cruise itineraries, global car rentals, and ancillary services like discounted rail travel, airport transfers, and 24/7 virtual medical support. When combined with extras such as concierge assistance, travel insurance, expedited visa services, and even private home rentals, the overall value proposition becomes increasingly compelling for both brands and their members. But this shift isn't just about expanding the range of services – it's about creating cohesion. When all elements of a travel offering work together within a unified system, it simplifies both the backend operations and the user experience. In a sector where fragmented journeys can erode loyalty, that kind of seamless integration is becoming increasingly valuable. Most loyalty and membership programs still rely on a patchwork of third-party providers, which can result in a disjointed and inconsistent user experience. As the demand grows for unified travel solutions, platforms that centralize services – from accommodation and transport to ancillary benefits – are emerging to streamline both backend operations and the traveler journey. There's also a strong commercial case. With services like the Best Price Promise, clients can confidently compete on price, knowing they'll match or beat public rates, or refund 110% of the difference. Meanwhile, features like Tastecard and daily shopper discounts expand the value beyond travel, offering lifestyle benefits that drive daily engagement. This kind of all-in-one infrastructure echoes what Salesforce did for CRM and what Shopify did for e-commerce: enabling brands to deliver world-class services without building the technology stack themselves. As the travel industry continues to evolve post-pandemic, the demand for scalable, streamlined, and personalized travel solutions will only intensify. Companies that can offer robust value in a frictionless format won't just win the trust of their clients, they'll redefine the industry standard. And as Putman aptly puts it: 'The direction is clear: today's members expect travel benefits to be seamless, personalized, and easy to access. In a crowded and fast-evolving market, platforms that deliver on those expectations with clarity and consistency are likely to stand out.'
