Nejib Ben-Khedher’s Post

A “rewarding” start at Arabian Travel Market…

I had the privilege to escort His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah President & CEO of Dubai Chambers who honored us with his presence for the official opening of the Loyalty Connect Global conference and exhibition. Held for the first time in Dubai, the event attracted hundreds of attendees, including loyalty practitioners and technology partners from around the world. Thank you to the organisers Eileen McGuinness CLMP™ and Marian Kelly for choosing our city to host this 2-day pan-industry event and the International Loyalty Awards gala ceremony that concluded it.

It was a privilege to receive the 2024 Global Loyalty Leaders award at the International Loyalty Awards ceremony, alongside esteemed colleagues from various industries. This accolade further recognizes Emirates Skywards which also got awarded the 'Global Loyalty Programme of the Year' for the Middle East. It was an honor to be the only airline recognized across all award categories. My distinguished Skywards Leadership Team, Nancy Clark, Anita Ramchandani, James Curry and Andrew Sayers proudly received the award on behalf of the Skywards team. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the Loyalty Connect Global conference, which brought together loyalty practitioners from around the world and across sectors such as retail, finance, telecommunications, hospitality, and coalitions. Listening to peers from these industries was truly humbling, especially considering that the airline industry, which pioneered the loyalty concept in the early 1980s, has now been overtaken in many respects by these sectors. The forum facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and showcased the brilliant minds present. During the panel discussion on the future of loyalty, featuring my sister-in-arms Kashmira Motiwalla from MAF, Folker Heim from GHA, and Alejandro Gonzalez Saul from FEMSA, and moderated by the vibrant Jason Foo, we agreed on the importance of balancing transaction-based and emotional loyalty. The camaraderie over the two days fostered a sense of family within the loyalty industry.

Thank you, Aaya HAFIDI, MSc, and Insigniam, for providing a platform where I could first discuss the transformation of Skywards before sharing my perspectives on leadership in a dynamic world. The conclusion might surprise some, but I encourage you not to miss the rest :). Hope you find it worth listening.

As our financial year drew to a close, we celebrated another record year at Skywards by hosting an awards evening to honor the standout performers of the 2023-24 "season". The event was NBA-themed, celebrating our recent Emirates-NBA partnership. Awards varied from "Rookie of the Year" to "MVP of the Year," and from "Teammate of the Year" to "Cheerleader of the Year," recognizing colleagues who embody Skywards values and demonstrated our "Navy Seals" characteristics of resilience, resolve, resourcefulness, and respect in their achievements. The celebration brought the team together for a memorable day and evening in the stunning outdoor setting of the Mandarin Oriental in Jumeirah. The casual "blue-and-white" dress code, a shift from last year's glitzy 'The Great Gatsby' party, contributed to the relaxed ambiance. A special thank you to our hotel partners—Marriott Bonvoy, Accor ALL, IHG One Rewards, Jumeirah Hotels, and Marhaba Services—for their generous contributions to the raffle prizes, making the event exceptionally rewarding. Congratulations to all the nominees and Big Bravo to the awardees: Masood Sarang - Teammate of the year Leila Zainal - Defensive Player of the Year Zenilda Fernandes - Cheerleader of the Year Noora Al Tamimi - Fan Ambassador of the Year Neha Ghate - Breakout Player of the Year Sidney Rodrigues, CLMP™ - Clutch Player of the Year Tooshank Sharma - Rookie of the Year Zoe Batchelor - MVP of the Year Varsha Nariani, CLMP™ - MVP of the Year

The partnership between Skywards and UnionCoop has been met with tremendous enthusiasm and has quickly gained popularity on social media. This collaboration is a prime example of two Dubai-based organizations coming together to provide added value to their shared member base. Special thanks to Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki and the Union Coop communication team for their exceptional efforts in promoting our partnership with prominent displays in all 27 Union Coop branches. Through this cooperation, Skywards Everyday has truly lived up to its name.

We are thrilled to announce that UnionCoop has joined our Skywards Everyday platform. This partnership enhances the shopping experience for our members by rewarding them for their daily purchases at one of Dubai's most popular hypermarkets/malls. We extend our gratitude to Mohamed Al Hashemi for his pivotal role in advancing this collaboration. This partnership represents a significant step in strengthening Skywards Miles as a lifestyle loyalty currency in the UAE. Skywards Everyday now boasts over 250 partners and is available in more than 1,000 outlets. https://lnkd.in/gVB-hZHs