Back It’s no secret that loyalty expectations have shifted over the past few years. Incentive fatigue is the new norm, with loyalty program membership at record highs but participation at historic lows.
Consumers are switching between programs within the same industry more frequently than ever before, with overall engagement down 10% and loyalty scores declining by 20% since 2022.
This isn’t a loyalty problem; it’s a value problem. Today’s consumers aren’t less committed than past generations; they’re simply more selective about where they invest their spend. Generic perks and static point structures no longer earn attention, let alone commitment. And while travel rewards still resonate, it’s only when they feel relevant, flexible, and worth coming back to.
That’s why the loyalty strategy for 2026 isn’t about predicting what’s next. It’s about fixing what’s underperforming by transforming travel rewards from a passive perk into an active driver of engagement. Explore a strategic framework to evaluate your current member benefits and evolve your loyalty program using the high-value solutions today’s consumers expect.
1. Shift from Transactional Perks to Experience-Led Value
Today’s travelers prioritize experiences over logistics when planning a trip. In the 12 weeks before departure, they search for experiences three times more often than hotels and eight times more than flights. This behavior signals a clear shift: people aren’t just planning how to get somewhere, they’re envisioning what they’ll do once they arrive.
Arrivia’s generational traveler survey reinforces this experience-first mindset. When asked about ideal destination activities, travelers consistently ranked emotionally resonant, memory-making moments like exploring beaches, landmarks, and cultural sites over transactional activities such as shopping or dining. For loyalty programs, the implication is clear. Value is increasingly defined by what members get to experience, not what they get to redeem.
What Does Experience-Led Loyalty Look Like?
- Are rewards memorable or merely monetary? Experience-led programs focus on curated, flexible rewards that create lasting memories rather than one-time savings.
- Do benefits reflect how members actually want to travel? Programs perform best when rewards align with real traveler preferences, not generic assumptions.
- Can members personalize the experience? Giving members choice over how and when they use rewards increases emotional engagement and repeat participation.
Where Travel Rewards Deliver Outsized Impact
Exclusive inventory and curated experiences elevate perceived value without requiring deep discounts that negatively impact margins. Experiences also build emotional loyalty that extends well beyond a single transaction. At scale, platforms like arrivia enable brands to deliver experience-led engagement consistently, while preserving flexibility and operational efficiency.
2. Build Flexibility Into Booking, Payment, and Redemption
While overall engagement may be down, loyalty programs continue to play a central role in how consumers travel. After all, 77% of U.S. travelers are already enrolled in a loyalty program, and eight in 10 say those programs influence their destination decisions. However, influence alone isn’t enough. As travel costs rise, flexibility has become a baseline expectation, not a bonus.
Cost remains the top barrier for 57% of would-be travelers, which is why programs that reduce friction see stronger participation. Flexible models — such as combining points with cash — increase booking confidence and expand who can participate. The demand is evident in broader travel behavior, too.
The takeaway for loyalty leaders is clear: participation rises when programs make travel feel more accessible.
Questions Loyalty Leaders Should Be Asking
- How rigid is your redemption model? Strict rules often limit participation among high-intent members.
- Can members combine points, cash, or alternative payment options? Blended payments reduce barriers and increase usage.
- Does flexibility expand access or quietly exclude members? The best programs widen participation without adding complexity.
Flexibility As a Growth Lever, Not Just a Feature
Flexible payment options do more than reduce friction; they drive real usage. As per arrivia data, 26% of consumers who travel seven or more times per year use loyalty points to fund their trips. When members can combine rewards with other payment methods, travel becomes easier to book, more accessible, and more likely to move from intent to action.
Customizable redemption paths also allow programs to support more traveler types without eroding value. Platforms like arrivia enable this flexibility by letting members use rewards currencies alongside cash or other payment options, all within a seamless booking experience. Saving Credits, an exclusive loyalty currency offered by arrivia partners, give members additional “getaway cash” they can apply directly toward travel.
3. Personalize Relevance Without Rebuilding Your Loyalty Stack
Most consumers cite a lack of relevance as a key reason brands struggle to engage them. One-size-fits-all rewards no longer hold attention, and personalization is now expected. The impact is measurable, too: members who receive personalized loyalty experiences are 5.2× more likely to stay longer with a brand and 3.5× more likely to increase their spend.
Why is personalization so effective? Because travelers don’t all want the same thing. Arrivia generational traveler data show clear differences in how people prefer to explore.
For instance, families with children tend to favor vacation rentals and resorts, while high-income households and frequent travelers are more likely to seek premium-tier perks. Loyalty programs that rely on the same rewards for every member miss these distinctions.
What Does Personalization Mean in 2026?
- Is personalization driven by behavior or demographics? Modern loyalty adapts based on how members travel, book, and redeem over time.
- Do experiences adjust across devices and moments? Personalization should feel consistent whether a member is browsing, booking, or planning a trip.
- Does customization feel helpful rather than intrusive? The strongest programs surface value naturally, without overwhelming members with offers.
Low-Lift Tactics to Scale Personalization
Personalization doesn’t require rebuilding your loyalty stack. Configurable platforms allow brands to tailor travel offers, benefits, and inventory without migrating existing systems or currencies. Arrivia supports this approach as a behind-the-scenes enabler, helping programs scale personalization while preserving operational simplicity and brand control.
4. Move From Rewards Catalogs to Owned Travel Platforms
Static rewards catalogs are increasingly misaligned with how members plan and book travel today. Disconnected experiences and outdated inventory make it harder for loyalty programs to compete for attention, especially when travelers are accustomed to seamless, interactive platforms. As a result, many programs struggle to stay relevant at the moment of booking.
Frequent travelers show a strong appetite for more dynamic engagement during travel planning. In fact, 56% say additional opportunities to earn points would influence their booking decisions. Together, these signals point to a clear opportunity for programs to evolve beyond static catalogs.
What To Evaluate in Your Current Program
- Is travel treated as a reward or as a destination experience? Catalog-style redemptions often feel transactional rather than immersive.
- Does your program keep members in-brand through discovery and booking? Redirects can disrupt continuity and weaken engagement.
Are you owning the member relationship or outsourcing it? Booking elsewhere often means losing visibility into member behavior.
How Modern Travel Platforms Close the Gap
Unlike static rewards catalogs, modern travel platforms allow members to browse, plan, and book in one continuous experience. Owned, white-label travel platforms shift loyalty from a one-time perk into an ongoing utility. Branded environments reduce friction, support exploration, and create more consistent engagement across the travel journey.
As a white-label travel loyalty provider, arrivia helps brands make this shift without starting from scratch. Programs can maintain their brand identity, existing loyalty currency, and internal workflows while elevating earning, redemption, and booking experiences. The result is an end-to-end travel platform that feels native to your program and far more compelling to members.
Evolving Loyalty is About Execution, Not Experimentation
Travel loyalty programs don’t need new buzzwords, they need better delivery. As expectations rise, 2026 becomes the year brands operationalize what members already expect from loyalty: value that is easy to access, tailored to how they travel, and delivered consistently across the journey. That requires programs that evolve toward flexible, experience-led redemption.
For brands looking to level up loyalty in 2026, arrivia helps make that shift without starting over. By preserving brand identity, existing loyalty currency, and core workflows, arrivia enables travel loyalty providers to evolve program execution and deliver travel rewards that meet modern expectations with confidence.
Explore arrivia loyalty travel solutions to learn more.
