Back Travel rewards are more expected than exciting these days — 95% of loyalty programs already offer them. For retail brands, that means defaulting to frequent flyer points simply won’t fly. What does actually take off? Custom travel experiences that reflect a shopper’s true preferences. Modern customers crave relevance, and they’re far more loyal to brands that deliver it instantly.
Custom travel experiences turn passive earn-and-burn loyalty programs into standout journeys, with rewards that feel personal, not programmed. In today’s blog, we’ll explore why personalization matters more than ever, what types of tailored rewards deliver the biggest impact, and how modern retailers can harness customer data to power meaningful travel experiences at scale.
Is Customization the Key to Modern Customer Loyalty?
Personalization isn’t just a perk anymore, it’s an ultimatum. Nearly 70% of consumers say they’ll walk away from a brand if their experience doesn’t feel personalized. That makes day-one relevance vital. In an industry shaped by changing consumer behavior, loyalty comes from brands that prove they know their customers — not just their names, but their needs and preferences, too.
Loyalty rewards programs are a powerful vehicle for this. When tailored correctly, they create meaningful experiences that boost customer retention and satisfaction. In fact, personalized loyalty programs deliver a 6.4× lift in member satisfaction, with reward members 5.2× more likely to stick around and 3.5× more likely to increase spending when experiences feel genuinely relevant.
The good news? Modern customers are increasingly open to this level of personalization — nearly one-third say they’re willing to share personal data in exchange for more tailored rewards. That acceptance opens the door for retailers to offer custom travel experiences that feel curated, not canned. In other words, personalized perks are where strategy meets opportunity.
The Power of Personalized Travel Rewards in Retail
There’s a reason travel perks are so prevalent in retail loyalty programs: over a third of loyalty members consider rewards an essential part of their travel budget, and 76% say they couldn’t take the same caliber of trips without them. That level of dependence makes travel rewards in retail a powerful lever, particularly when they’re personalized to match individual preferences.
This fact resonates even more with consumers who prioritize experiences over transactions. It’s especially true for younger generations, whose preferences — and spending power — are shaping the future of both travel and retail. Millennials and Gen Z, who now represent the majority of the U.S. population, aren’t just frequent travelers; they’re also among retail’s biggest spenders.
In 2024, Gen Z planned to increase their spending by 21% and Millennials by 15%, while Gen X and Baby Boomers projected much smaller increases of just 4.7% and 6%, respectively. And with more than half of Gen Z and Millennials taking three or more trips per year and actively seeking personalized recommendations, custom travel experiences are a direct path to both their loyalty and their wallets.
Next-Level Custom Travel Experiences to Maximize Loyalty
According to a 2024 traveler survey, consumers see loyalty rewards as a gateway to better travel, not just more of it. Among those enrolled in programs, the top perks include hotel deals (71%), flight upgrades (70%), and priority boarding (60%). But travel rewards don’t have to stop at the gate. Here are five out-of-the-box custom travel experiences that go beyond the basics.
Curated Itineraries Built Around Every Preference
An itinerary can surpass flights and hotels, it can also include activities and dining. A curated travel itinerary uses past behavior, preferences, and recent searches to create customized trips that take the guesswork out of planning — like a foodie’s weekend in Barcelona or a wellness escape built around spa visits and yoga. These custom travel experiences feel thoughtful, not templated.
Tailored Tours Tied to Must-See Landmarks
Not all travelers want cookie-cutter excursions. With landmark-based search and recommendation tools, retailers can offer tours built around specific sites, from vineyard strolls in Tuscany to skip-the-line passes at Machu Picchu. These custom travel experiences transform loyalty perks into immersive, hyper-relevant adventures that show customers their time (and tastes) matter.
Personalized Discounts That Fit Each Traveler
Why send a solo traveler a family cruise deal? With the right data, rewards can reflect a traveler’s life stage, trip style, and budget. So, a Gen Z solo backpacker might receive exclusive hostel deals, while a family of four sees kid-friendly resort perks. Leverage AI-powered dynamic pricing to promote the most compelling offers for each traveler, turning generic coupons into high-impact custom travel experiences that drive excitement and engagement, and maximizing reward value.
AR/VR Tools That Turn Browsing into Booking
Now more than ever, it helps to let customers see the value of your loyalty rewards — literally. Augmented and virtual reality experiences let travelers preview hotel rooms, peek inside tour buses, or “walk” the beach before they book. These immersive touches help build trust, ease decision-making, and make custom travel experiences feel more tangible from the start.
AI-Powered Itinerary Planners to Simplify Trips
Today’s travelers want personalization without the pressure. AI-based itinerary planners ask a few smart questions, analyze past behavior, and then auto-build a dream trip, complete with booking-ready suggestions. Whether it’s adventure-heavy or low-key luxury, these tools deliver custom travel experiences that feel effortless and perfectly on-brand for modern loyalty programs.
What Data Powers Truly Custom Travel Experiences?
If the right data can power priceless experiences, then what data do you actually need? To deliver truly custom travel experiences, retailers must tap into the platforms where customers are already engaging, searching, and spending. The more context you have, the more relevant and rewarding your travel perks become. For most retailers, valuable customer data can be mined from:
- CRM Systems: Help track and analyze customer interactions, loyalty history, and buying behaviors to shape smarter travel recommendations.
- Mobile Apps: Reveal intent through in-app searches, travel preferences, and even real-time location data to offer timely, relevant rewards.
- POS Systems: Connect in-store and online purchases to loyalty profiles, offering insight into spending habits that can inform personalized travel perks.
- IoT Devices: Collect actionable data from smart luggage, hotel stays, and flights to help fine-tune rewards based on real-world usage.
- Surveys and Feedback Tools: Direct input from customers post-trip or post-purchase reveals what experiences resonated (and what could be improved).
Bring Custom Travel Experiences to Life with arrivia
Custom travel experiences aren’t just a trendy loyalty add-on — they’re a strategic way to meet rising customer expectations. When travel perks reflect individual preferences, they transform routine transactions into long-term relationships. For retailers, that means stronger engagement, higher lifetime value, and more meaningful connections with the people behind each purchase. With white label travel technology from arrivia, it’s easier than ever to bring that vision to life. With arrivia’s white-label travel platform, retailers can offer personalized, flexible, and seamless travel experiences powered by real-time booking technology and data-driven recommendations. Explore how arrivia elevates custom travel experiences for retail brands.
