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Aeroplan celebrates 25th anniversary with contests and unique experiences to redeem points on
Charmaine Pang
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| Nathalie Belanger, Director, Non-Air Rewards; Claudia Colantonio, Manager, Non-Air Reward Programs; Francine Sternthal, Manager, Non-Air Rewards | | Aeroplan highlighted some of their latest member offerings yesterday afternoon at the Aeroplan Loft in downtown Toronto, which was set up to highlight the product offerings Aeroplan members can purchase with their points.
The rewards program is celebrating its 25th year in 2009 with many special events and offers, such as purchasing an extra 250,000 Air Canada seats for members to redeem their points on.
TRAVELHotNews.com spoke to Nathalie Belanger, Director, Non-Air Rewards, about her division. She noted that member redemption patterns are in line with their expectations for the year – with more members redeeming points in this economic climate.
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| Nathalie Belanger, Director, Non-Air Rewards | | Instead of simply buying generic gift cards, members are now able to find the products they are seeking – not just air tickets. With over 150 brands from the financial, retail and travel sectors, your clients will A newly redesigned website also presents Aeroplan products in a more accessible and user-friendly manner.
Some of the unique experiences available this year for Aeroplan members to redeem include Samba Days, a prepaid ‘experience in a box’ gift package you can send (for about 13,000 points). Within the box is a themed range of activities which the recipient of the gift can choose – whether it’s skydiving, glassblowing classes, a Segway tour, a spa experience, yoga with friends, bellydancing, learning to DJ, driving a Ferrari, and more.
West Coast Aeroplan members can even take a gourmet chocolate-making class at Vancouver’s Schokolade Café, which will cost only 5,000 points. Foodies can also ‘adopt’ an olive tree in Italy and receive the fruits of its labour – about 2 litres of olive oil – in the spring.
Other popular rewards options for members include show tickets (all with excellent seats), especially to Cirque du Soleil productions. All the resident Las Vegas shows are available to members, as is La Nouba (at Disney in Florida) and the new OVO show coming out this year. Most Mirvish shows are available, as are Dancap shows (like Jersey Boys and The Sound of Music).
Keeping things green, members can also choose to purchase carbon offsets for their travel, and also shop for eco-friendly houseware, fashion and travel accessories. They may also choose to donate their miles to charities.
For the 25th anniversary, Aeroplan members can enter a 25th anniversary contest at the website, aeroplan.com/25th, to have five chances to win 1 million Aeroplan Miles. Starting June 8 and running for the next 25 days, members can visit the website and have a chance to win daily featured prizes, such as Executive Class Air Canada tickets on each continent, a home entertainment system, iPods, golf games and clubs, a wine tour of the Niagara region and more.
Go to aeroplan.com for more information.
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