Chief Marketer Staff, Author at Chief Marketer

Harrah’s Loyalty Club Usage up by 12.9%

Harrah’s Entertainment saw its second-quarter profit grow 17%, and attributed it in part to increased gambling activity by members of its loyalty club. Gaming by Total Rewards members increased 12.9% from the year-ago quarter. The casino giant …

Agencies

Samsung Leveraging Sponsorship of B.B. King Tour

Samsung Electronics is leveraging its sponsorship of B.B. King’s 80th Birthday Tour with a sweepstakes that will be held in each market where the legendary bluesman performs. The Samsung DuoCam Sweepstakes will travel with the B.B. King Blues Festival …

Agencies

Eight-five Percent of Credit Cards to Carry Rewards by 2009: Research

Fully 85% of credit cards will carry rewards by 2009, up from 63% of cards today, according to Packaged Facts research. That’s up from 25% of cards in 2003 and only 10% in 1999. Packaged Facts estimates there will be 849 million rewards-based credit …

Agencies

Gift Cards Serve Retention More Than Acquisition: Survey

Marketers use gift cards slightly more for consumers than business-to-business customers, and more for customer retention than acquisition. And while gift-card use is on the rise, less than 10% of U.S. businesses use gift cards as customer incentives, …

Agencies

Budget Revives Consumers with Dunkin’ Donuts Offer

Budget Rent A Car is giving consumers who book new car rentals a little perk. The rental car company is giving away two pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee after consumers book two rentals with at least two paid rental days between Aug. 15 and Dec. 15. …

Agencies

NetZero Launches Daily Sweepstakes for Users

Internet service provider NetZero has launched a sweepstakes that gives its users a chance to win cash for trying out a new element of its high-speed service. The company will give away $3,000 a day during August and September in the Instant On! Instant …

Agencies

Southwest Airlines Lengthens Rapid Rewards Redemption Policy

Southwest Airlines has extended the time members of its frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, can earn credits toward free air travel, giving consumers an additional 12 months to rack up awards. The airline is now giving members 24 months to collect …

Draft Taps Linder

Draft, New York, has hired ad agency veteran Jeff Linder to the new post of VP-creative director. Linder had been a partner and creative director at J. Walter Thompson, New York, and earlier was executive VP-creative director at Della Femina Rothschild …

News Briefs

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORP.: Pittsburg, TX, has severed ties with ConAgra Corp. by repurchasing $482 million in Pilgrim’s Pride common stock held by ConAgra. Pilgrim’s Pride financed the repurchase by issuing $523 million in common stock to other investors. …

Agencies

Postscripts

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP: is offering members of its customer loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards, the chance to redeem their points for stays at any hotel, including competitor locations, via American Express-branded prepaid lodging cards. The …