Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), a Saudi-based GSM operator, has announced expansion of its loyalty and retention program Neqaty, by signing a new agreement with a Saudi-based travel and tourism agency Global Travel Club.

As per the deal, GTC will join Mobily’s Neqaty partners, and thus Mobily’s customers can exchange their points for GTC’s services in the Kingdom and more than 200 locations abroad, said a Mobily official.

"Mobily’s signing of the GTC deal is part of its plan to provide the best possible benefits for its Neqaty participants.

Neqaty is considered the best customer loyalty and retention program in the region, thanks to both the sheer ease and simplicity of the point exchange process through Mobily’s partners, and the variety of choices of partners they have," David Murphy, Mobily’s chief marketing officer.

According to the deal, Mobily’s subscribers who purchase memberships with GTC will be able to obtain travel visas at embassies for free.

"They can also shop at shopping centers in nine European capitals at discounts sometimes reaching 60 per cent. Members also get free memberships with international car rental firm Sixt, which will give them discounts of up to 35 per cent."

Mobily’s customers can use their points to buy platinum and golden memberships with GTC. Memberships mean that they can get the best hotel rates around the world, as well as hefty discounts at classy restaurants and shopping centers in the Kingom and Europe.

These memberships also give Mobily’s subscribers instant access to Alfursan VIP halls at King Khaled airport in Riyadh and King Abdul Aziz airport in Jeddah, and many other traveler benefits.

“We are very happy to have GTC as our partner, thanks to the quality of the services they provide,” said Murphy. “GTC will give our globetrotting customers many benefits and services, both in the Kingdom and abroad,” he noted.

Mobily’s subscribers can also exchange their points for free voice minutes and SMS messages to national and international recipients, as well as Internet connectivity.

They can also pay with their points at many sales outlets of Mobily’s partners, with the exchange process taking mere seconds, Murphy added.-TradeArabia News Service