Alliance Data Signs New Multi-Year Agreement with Westgate Resorts
Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, today announced its Retail Services business has signed a new multi-year agreement to provide comprehensive co-brand credit card services for Orlando, Fla.-based Westgate Resorts, the largest privately held developer in the vacation ownership industry, and a subsidiary of Central Florida Investments, Inc. (CFI). The company was founded in 1982 and comprises a collection of resorts across 27 experiential-themed properties offering more than 10,000 guest rooms in some of the most popular vacation destinations across the United States, including Orlando, Fla.; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Williamsburg, Va.; and Park City, Utah, among others. Each resort features luxurious villa accommodations, a multitude of onsite amenities, and an extensive family-oriented activities program for guests.
Alliance Data will provide Westgate Resorts co-brand cardholders with full account service, including online account activation and management, flexible financing options and marketing communications designed to support repeat purchases and engender customer loyalty. The co-brand offering will be targeted to customers that meet Alliance Data’s traditional credit quality standards.
“The secret to our success at Westgate Resorts is the tremendous value we provide our timeshare owners, and we look forward to expanding this value through our new co-branded credit program developed by Alliance Data,” said Mark Waltrip, Chief Operating Officer of Westgate Resorts. “We also look forward to using Alliance Data’s robust credit marketing tools and sophisticated analytics capabilities to better understand our guests’ wants and needs, so we can constantly improve our existing loyalty programs and deliver new benefits for being a Westgate owner.”
Alliance Data will offer marketing solutions and flexible financing options for the Westgate Resorts co-brand credit card program, with the goal of extending brand affinity among cardholders in this high-growth industry. Alliance Data will develop a points-based loyalty program for Westgate Resorts cardholders, which will offer points for all card purchases and additional incentives for using
the card at Westgate Resorts vacation properties. Points will be redeemable for rewards such as accommodation upgrades, discounts on resort amenities, and other special offers.
“We are thrilled to extend our credit marketing and analytics expertise to the travel industry vertical, and especially excited to begin our journey with Westgate Resorts, a dynamic company with an impeccable customer service reputation,” said Melisa Miller, president of Retail Services for Alliance
Data. “Westgate Resorts is a category leader in a fast-growing industry, and Alliance Data is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with this forward-thinking company to help drive sales, increase Westgate Resorts brand affinity, and ultimately drive longer-term loyalty and repeat
patronage by its valued guests.”