Loyalty is a techy subject for all involved in travel whether it's the airline frequent flier tier or hotel tactics to secure more direct bookings. Barcelona-based Wanup is doing something different by not only putting independent hotels in the mix but offering a different type of reward to the hotel stay.
BTiQ spoke to Jorge Rodergas, CMO and operations director.
When were you launched?
October 2016
How many people are working for the company?
100
Sum up what your company/product does in one sentence.
Using the sharing economy Wanup has created a hotel loyalty club for independent hotels where frequent travellers have the opportunity to choose an independent hotel and still receive rewards.
Why is it unique?
Loyalty clubs have traditionally been aligned with chains or large groups while Wanup offers independent and diverse hotels. Our 610,000 members receive rewards and travel cash instantly on booking. Traditionally loyalty clubs offer rewards with a series of conditions attached which must be met before receiving them eg stay five consecutive nights to receive points.
What problem does it solve?
Many independent hotels struggle to offer a variety of destinations or do not have a large portfolio on offer to make a loyalty scheme meaningful and advantageous to the guest. Using a sharing economy Wanup has created a global association of more than 500 independent partner hotels for frequent travellers to choose from. The second problem it solves it for the travellers, many whom don't want to stay in chain hotels. By becoming a member they have a choice of independent hotels that reflect their destination and offer authentic experiences.
What markets is it available in?
Hotels in 15 markets including Portugal, Italy, UK and Spain. Wanup has made 96,000 bookings since its launch.
What are your growth plans?
We plan to grow our hotel network in new markets this year including Poland, Russia, Croatia, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Caribbean. Then in 2018 we will expand in Latin America prioritising Chile, Brazil, Peru and Mexico.
Wanup predicts to breakeven in late 2018 following the initial 20 million euro investment.