Learnings from the Road

Hi!

I'm writing to you from Birmingham, a Crowne Plaza to be exact, and I may or may not be enjoying a complimentary G&T from the club lounge.

If I've learned anything from travelling for work it's this:

Always, ALWAYS sign up for a loyalty program!!!

A lot of people who know me are rolling their eye. Not another loyalty program! Please, no, stop the madness!!

I'm a bit of an addict. Oh, haven't you figured that out from this post? I signed up for Optimum at the ripe age of 13 (or was it 12?) and never, ever, have I looked back. It was Bluenotes Signature card, SPC, Mr. Sub collector cards, and I'm sure Garage/Sirens/Urban Planet had some sort of points system that I was obsessed with in my teenage years. Since then, my 20s have been filled with numerous cards, my wallet can't even carry them all!

But, seriously guys, hotel, airfare, train and general travel loyalty programs are a foolproof program to sign up for. Seriously!

Maybe you travel infrequently. Maybe you travel weekly (which, in this case, I'd be hard pressed to believe you hadn't already learned the lesson the hard way).  No matter how/when/how often you travel for work (or life!) just sign up.

A couple reasons:

1. It's *always* free

Work travel is expense-able. Those points you earn? Never!*  And if you're in the lucky crowd of people who solely travel for pleasure - then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

2. It's 'card-less'

Many modern day loyalty programs offer mobile apps so you don't have to carry the card. Don't you feel the worst when someone in a CSR position asks you if they have your loyalty card and you don't? Oh, that's just me?! Well......who doesn't like some free stuff every now and then? If you like free stuff, treat yo' self. Sign up, so you can proudly show your membership any and every time you face that ubiquitous question about rewards collecting.

3. It's fun

I know the aforementioned eye rollers are hating my third point.

4. It's harmless**

Personal details, and sharing them with random companies, is something you should think seriously about. Since I use Google on a daily (hourly?) basis, I am far less married to my privacy than others. And that's completely fine! If this is really not for me, please don't let my silly (second free G&T) induced excitement sway you. Your life is your life, and I am not here to make you think otherwise :)

*I actually have never met someone who had to use company cards or pay back the points they earned - please, let me know if this is you. I'm genuinely interested.

**Do you, boo.