Travelport, a leading distribution services and e-commerce provider for the global travel industry, has joined forces with Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) to launch the UAE’s largest online travel rewards scheme, Najm Voyager Rewards.

EAN is the private label arm of the world’s largest online travel company, the Expedia group – and Majid Al Futtaim Finance – a leading provider of credit card and prepaid solutions in the region.

The program is designed to meet the distinct travel and lifestyle needs of the UAE’s affluent and well-travelled market segment, said a statement from Travelport.  

Launched in conjunction with MAF Finance’s new Najm reward card, this will deliver the most comprehensive programme of its kind in the UAE.  It allows Najm Voyager Credit Card members to spend their loyalty points on booking flights, hotels and car rentals at exceptionally competitive prices and provides access to outstanding holiday package deals.

The members will also enjoy ultimate choice and flexibility with real-time redemption of travel rewards anytime, from anywhere. To access the benefits, participants log into a dedicated easy to use portal to make their bookings and redeem their loyalty points instantly. The travel services will be extended to the entire suite of Najm Credit Cardholders who will benefit from competitive pricing, it added.

Created by MAF Finance and delivered by leading creative technology agency, The Cohen International Group (TCIG), Najm Voyager Rewards was inspired by the continued growth of online travel in the UAE and across the Middle East.

The intuitive website acts as a one stop portal to facilitate all member redemptions using latest technology and a simple redemption process.   

As part of the agreement, Travelport will provide Majid Al Futtaim Finance with its online expertise and technology. This includes Travelport Universal API – the leading edge solution enabling travel agencies to streamline the booking process by re-aggregating fragmented content from various sources.

This delivers access to more than 360 airlines, International car companies and High Speed Rail providers worldwide. EAN, in turn, will provide the tools and the technology to access more than 190,000 properties worldwide with rich content, reviews and ratings.

Alex Morriss, the head of Business Development for EAN, said: “The Najm Voyager Rewards Program aims to be a leader amongst reward programmes and Expedia Affiliate Network is thrilled to be a part of it.”

Rasool Hujair, the CEO of MAF Finance, said: "Najm is a trusted and well-established credit card brand, offering customers flexibility, choice and value-added rewards to suit one’s lifestyle."

“This, combined with MAF’s leadership in providing turnkey credit card solutions, the new Najm Voyager Credit Card, in partnership with recognised names Travelport and the EAN, offers a unique proposition that meets the needs of the frequent traveller,” he added.   

Rabih Saab, the president and managing director, MEA and South Asia, said Travelport has over 20 years’ experience supporting businesses such as MAF Finance. "This fast changing and dynamic industry is a vital part of our business," he added.

Hyder Cohen, the CEO/head of Creative, The Cohen International Group said the group has extensive knowledge in complex development and extensive industry knowledge.

"We were tasked with creating a unique and user friendly portal which focusses in on User Experience and ease of redemption accompanied by the latest web trends to ensure a seamless user journey,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service