GLO Exclusives: Amadeus Interview Series on Traveler Experience & Nevio • Global Loyalty Predictions 2025: A Year in Review • Emirates • Turkish Airlines • All Nippon Airways • Saudia • British Airways • Cathay Pacific • American Airlines • Alaska Airlines • Marriott • Viking • Pizza Hut • PAYBACK • Ziina • Valu • Chase • Bilt • Verifone • Nuvei • SAP • Rakuten • IBM • Lufthansa Group • Travelport • Spark Media • Loyalty reports • Loyalty Careers & Jobs
GLOGLO Featured:
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GLO Interview: Role of AI in Traveler Experience —Amélie Humbert and Frédéric Wenglorz, Amadeus Airlines are entering a phase where AI is no longer an emerging capability but a structural necessity. As traveler expectations evolve towards relevance, continuity, and personalization, the industry is confronting a familiar reality: existing systems and processes were not designed to support intelligence-led journeys. The discussion around AI highlights a critical inflection point—airlines must move beyond automation and begin embedding intelligence across the traveler journey.
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GLO Interview: Traveler Experience with Amadeus Nevio, Amélie Humbert and Frédéric Wenglorz, Amadeus Airlines are at a turning point. While traveler expectations have evolved rapidly—towards personalization, convenience, and seamless journeys—the underlying systems that support airline operations have remained largely unchanged. This discussion around Nevio highlights a fundamental reality check for the industry: the way passenger journeys are mostly managed today was designed for an operationally driven airline model, not for a traveler-centric, ecosystem-based experience.
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As airlines accelerate their retailing and digital transformation, the traveler experience is no longer defined by a single flight or transaction. In a recent interview, Amélie Humbert, Head of Transversal Product Marketing—Airline Solutions at Amadeus, and Frédéric Wenglorz, Loyalty and Reward Pre-Sales EMEA Region at Amadeus, shared their perspective on how traveler expectations are evolving—and what this means for airline retailing, personalization, and loyalty programs.
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Global Loyalty Predictions 2025: A Year in Review (public version) GLO releases its annual Global Loyalty Predictions™ 2025: A Year in Review report, analysing forecasts from leading loyalty experts against the year’s biggest launches, strategic shifts, and defining events. Featuring year-end overviews by Mehdi Hemici (Accor), Kristi Gole (GHA), and Tony Piedade (GLO). The report offers an evidence-based, systematic analysis of 2025 and lays the foundation for understanding prevailing trends in global loyalty in 2026 and beyond. (Image: GLO)
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Global Loyalty Predictions 2025: A Year in Review Report (member version) GLO releases its annual Global Loyalty Predictions™ 2025: A Year in Review report, analysing forecasts from leading loyalty experts against the year’s biggest launches, strategic shifts, and defining events. Featuring year-end overviews by Mehdi Hemici (Accor), Kristi Gole (GHA), and Tony Piedade (GLO). The report offers an evidence-based, systematic analysis of 2025 and lays the foundation for understanding prevailing trends in global loyalty in 2026 and beyond. (Image:GLO)
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Airlines, Alliances & Airports:
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From Groceries to Getaways: Saudi Arabia’s AlFursan Partners with Panda AlFursan, Saudia’s loyalty program, has partnered with Panda Retail Company to expand everyday earning and redemption options. Panda Plus members can convert cashback into AlFursan Miles, while AlFursan members will soon be able to redeem Miles for Panda shopping vouchers, linking daily retail spend with travel rewards. (Image: Saudia)
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flyadeal Adds Free Cabin Baggage and Greater Flexibility to Its Low-Fare Experience flyadeal has enhanced its customer offering by introducing a free 7kg cabin baggage allowance on its basic “fly” fare, alongside clearer and more flexible fare bundle benefits. The updates apply across all domestic and international routes and include easier date changes and refunds, reflecting passenger feedback and supporting the airline’s goal of making low-cost travel more convenient and stress-free. (Image: flyadeal)
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Emirates Accelerates Premium Economy Rollout Across Its Global Network Emirates is expanding its Premium Economy offering across its global network, deploying retrofitted Boeing 777s and new A350 aircraft to more than 84 routes by July. New daily A350 services and added frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town will boost capacity ahead of peak summer travel, delivering enhanced comfort, connectivity and a consistent premium experience worldwide. (Image: Emirates)
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Amadeus and ICAO Join Forces to Advance Global Aviation Digitalization Amadeus and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have signed an MoU to support ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative. The partnership will help States adopt advanced digital technologies, strengthen capacity-building, and promote biometric interoperability and digital identity standards, accelerating safer, more efficient and sustainable global air transport, with initial outcomes expected in 2026. (Image: Amadeus)
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Turkish Airlines Unveils TRY 100bn Mega-Investment to Power Its Next Global Take-Off Turkish Airlines has launched a TRY 100 billion investment programme to expand cargo, maintenance, catering, digital and training infrastructure, primarily at Istanbul Airport. Aligned with its 2033 vision, the initiative will strengthen Türkiye’s role as a global aviation hub, create up to 36,000 jobs and support the airline’s ambition to operate one of the world’s largest fleets. (Image: Turkish Airlines)
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Lufthansa Group has selected Amadeus as a key technology partner, with nine of its airlines set to adopt Amadeus Nevio’s AI-native, modular solutions. The collaboration will support personalized retailing, a single Order view and industry-first Delivery Management, enabling smoother servicing, data-driven operations and more seamless end-to-end travel experiences. (Image: Amadeus).
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No More Fry-Ups at 35,000ft: BA Ditches the Full English in Favour of Cold Comfort British Airways is scrapping hot breakfasts for Club Europe passengers on eight of its shortest short-haul routes, replacing the full English with a continental option of fruit, yoghurt and a pastry. The change, effective this week, follows a trial last autumn and applies to flights of about an hour from London. BA says the move improves service on tight schedules, not cuts costs. (Image: BA)
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Cathay kicks off its ‘80 Years Together’ anniversary celebrations Customers can look forward to a thoughtfully curated collection of merchandise inspired by the special liveries and iconic designs from different eras in Cathay’s storied history. The collection reimagines these elements across aviation, travel and everyday lifestyle essentials. As the brand embarks on this milestone year, Cathay will be announcing many more exciting happenings and initiatives throughout 2026.
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American Airlines maintains AAdvantage status and reward levels for third year in a row For 2026, the loyalty programme keeps things simple: status and reward levels remain unchanged, making it easier to earn and retain status. New Loyalty Point Reward choices add more personalised travel options, while expanded redemptions now include premium experiences and AAdvantage® gift cards from leading retailers and entertainment brands. Completing the upgrade, free high-speed Wi-Fi sponsored by AT&T starts rolling out this month.
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American Airlines launches FREE high-speed Wi-Fi, sponsored by AT&T Beginning this month, AAdvantage® members will enjoy free high-speed, satellite-based Wi-Fi¹ across more than 2 million American Airlines flights a year, sponsored by AT&T.
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The carrier is investing in a refreshed onboard experience with upgraded widebody Airbus A330 interiors while offering enhanced rewards and exclusive benefits to loyal Hawai‘i residents. (Image: Alaska Air)
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American Airlines will stop awarding AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after Dec. 17, 2025, making the fares purely price-based. The move aligns AA with Delta, while United still offers limited rewards. Travelers must now buy Main Cabin or higher to earn status, adding complexity and reducing value on the cheapest fares. (Image: AA)
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Travelport and ANA Expand NDC Content to 40 Global Markets Travelport and All Nippon Airways have launched ANA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content across 40 global markets. Following an agreement signed in November 2024, Travelport now delivers ANA’s NDC fares, products, and ancillaries through its Travelport Plus platform, expanding access to richer airline content for travel agencies worldwide.
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American Airlines is revamping operations at its largest hub, Dallas Fort Worth, with a new 13-bank schedule, added block time, and major infrastructure investments. The changes are designed to improve customer experience through more reliable departure times, smoother connections, less congestion, faster baggage handling, and quicker recovery from weather disruptions, reinforcing DFW’s role in American’s global network. (Image: AA)
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ANA Deploys “neoAI Chat” Generative AI Platform Across Operational Divisions All Nippon Airways has rolled out the generative AI platform “neoAI Chat” across its operational divisions, including airport, maintenance, cabin, and flight operations. Following a successful trial, the system now cuts manual search time by about 90% and speeds up report and training material creation by 75%. Running on ANA’s secure private cloud, it improves safety, efficiency, and knowledge sharing while supporting the airline’s digital transformation.
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British Airways Holidays: What is Defining Travel Trends for 2026? British Airways Holidays has unveiled its 2026 Travel Trends Report, highlighting a shift towards wellness-led, experience-driven travel. Key trends include clock-free “chronocations”, body-positive and self-acceptance holidays, immersive tech-powered theme parks, loyalty points spent on experiences, cognitive-health breaks and a renewed love for nostalgic, vintage travel, alongside rising interest in destinations such as Bermuda, Crete and St Kitts. (Image: BA)
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Hotels & Hospitality:
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Millennium Hotels & Taj Unite to Create a Global Loyalty Powerhouse Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) has announced a new worldwide loyalty partnership with Indian Hotels Company(IHCL), bringing together two established hospitality brands as MHR celebrates its 30th anniversary. The agreement links MHR’s MyMillennium loyalty programme with IHCL’s Taj InnerCircle of NeuPass, creating a shared ecosystem of benefits designed to give members greater choice, recognition and value when travelling internationally. Through the collaboration, loyalty members from both groups gain access to exclusive reciprocal offers across each other’s hotel portfolios.
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Unscripted by Hyatt Brand Debuts Globally with Wink Joining World of Hyatt Hyatt Hotels Corporation has expanded its footprint in Vietnam after six Wink properties joined the Unscripted by Hyatt brand, marking the brand’s global debut. The deal with Indochina Kajima more than doubles Hyatt’s presence in the country to 10 hotels, with over 2,000 rooms across major cities and emerging destinations, and a seventh Wink hotel set to open in Hanoi in late 2026. (Image: Hyatt)
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Marriott Bonvoy Scores Big With Exclusive Fan Experiences at FIFA World Cup 2026™ Marriott Bonvoy has been named Official Hotel Supporter in North America for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, delivering exclusive fan access across Canada, Mexico and the US. Through immersive hotel stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments and curated activations in all 16 host cities, the travel programme will help millions of fans experience the world’s biggest football tournament on and off the pitch. (Image: Marriott)
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ICC Teams Up with Marriott Bonvoy to Redefine Cricket Travel Experiences Worldwide The ICC has announced a global, multi-year partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, naming the award-winning travel platform as its Official Accommodation Partner through 2029. The collaboration will enhance fan experiences at ICC men’s events, beginning with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, by offering premium accommodation and exclusive travel packages across key cricket destinations worldwide. (Image: ICC)
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Marriott Bonvoy To Provide Unmatched Fan Access to FIFA World Cup 2026™ From Stadium to Stay, Marriott Bonvoy to Deliver Exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026™ Member and Guest Experiences as Official Hotel Supporter in North America of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
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Cruises:
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PGA TOUR, Viking announce new partnership Viking has been named the Official Cruise Line of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions in a new marketing partnership running through 2030. The collaboration will focus on global brand awareness across PGA TOUR platforms, aligning Viking’s destination-focused, culturally enriching travel experiences with the shared interests of golf fans and travellers worldwide. (Image: PGA)
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Retail, E-commerce, F&B, Healthcare:
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Asda Takes Aim at Loyalty Pricing With New ‘No-Card’ Value Strategy Asda has launched a new price strategy to undercut Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons’ loyalty deals, offering lower prices on over 2,300 everyday items without requiring a loyalty card. Part of its “That’s Asda Price” campaign, the move aims to simplify value for shoppers, ease post-Christmas budget pressure and reinforce Asda’s claim as the UK’s lowest-priced major supermarket. (Image: Asda)
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South Africa’s Retail Map Is Being Redrawn as Shoppers Chase Value South Africa’s grocery retail market is shifting as rising food inflation pushes consumers to shop smarter. New Roots research shows shoppers spreading spend across multiple stores, planning purchases carefully and chasing discounts via flyers, apps and online channels. Loyalty is weakening, grocery apps are surging, and local community dynamics — not national averages — are increasingly shaping which retailers win.
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Pizza Hut teams up with Tom Brady to kick off “PIZZA BEFORE THE HUT” campaign Tom Brady has said “hut” more than any other quarterback on the field – and now he’s continuing to say “hut” off the field as Pizza Hut launches a new program that will reward any city who can get their quarterback to say “pizza” immediately before “hut” during a nationally televised game.
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PAYBACK partners kick off a year packed with points PAYBACK is ringing in 2026 with its “Big New Year’s Points” promotion in collaboration with numerous partners, making January a highlight for savings and points. From now until February 1, 2026, more than 35 million customers can enjoy a whole month of attractive offers. Participating brands include Aral, dm-drogerie markt, EDEKA, Netto Marken-Discount, C&A, Fressnapf, GALERIA, Globus, and Amazon.
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The advanced platform is modular and data-powered, retrofitting everyday shopping carts into connected engagement hubs that blend online capabilities with in-store experiences. The next-generation deployment is designed to further enhance shopper engagement, increase basket size, strengthen loyalty, and deliver greater operational efficiencies across Migros’ store network.
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Transport, Fuel Retail & Mobility:
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The Store You Don’t See: How Digital Layers Are Quietly Redefining Convenience Modern convenience stores are being transformed by invisible digital layers that remove friction across payments, apps, automation and loyalty. As in-store sales overtake fuel profits, technology is enabling faster checkouts, app-led journeys, smarter loyalty and scalable operations—turning multi-mission stops into effortless experiences and redefining what “convenience” really means. (Image: Emarat)
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Payments, Finance, Property & Insurance:
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UAE’s Ziina Unveils Violet: One Membership, Everyday Rewards, Zero FX Fees Ziina has launched Ziina Violet, a new lifestyle membership offering everyday benefits from leading UAE brands alongside zero foreign exchange fees on global spending. Priced at AED 100 per month, Violet delivers over AED 850 in monthly value and marks Ziina’s move beyond payments into a unified lifestyle and financial companion for the UAE’s digitally native consumers. (Image: Ziina)
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Egypt’s Valu Wins Central Bank Approval, Paving the Way for Its Jordan Market Launch Valu has secured final approval from the Central Bank of Jordan to launch operations under a Specialized Finance license, with services set to begin in Q1 2026. The move marks a key milestone in Valu’s regional expansion, enabling it to offer flexible, responsible financing solutions in Jordan while strengthening financial inclusion and digital payments across the market.
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Chase to Take Over as Apple Card Issuer in Major Co-Brand Deal Chase will become the new issuer of the Apple Card, adding Apple to its co-brand credit card portfolio. The partnership highlights both companies’ focus on innovation and strengthens Chase’s position in digital consumer finance, while ensuring continuity for Apple Card users within Apple’s ecosystem. (Image: Chase)
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Bilt and Verifone Partner to Transform the Customer Experience The integration extends Bilt’s checkout and loyalty capabilities to Verifone’s footprint across dining, fitness, and other merchant categories. Delivered via the Verifone gateway, the solution offers a pre-certified, enterprise-grade integration path across a broad set of acquirers, reducing deployment risk and accelerating time to launch for merchants.
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Loyalty Technology, Solutions & Consulting:
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Nuvei and FreedomPay Announce Partnership to Unify Enterprise Payments, Globally The partnership is designed for enterprises operating across stores, venues, hotels, and digital channels, including businesses with cross-border and multi-region operations. Merchants can process payments consistently across locations, gain better visibility into transaction data, and maintain high standards of security without adding operational complexity.
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TripleLift Announces Partnership with Attain to Unify Context and Commerce By combining Attain’s live consumer-permissioned transaction data with TripleLift’s industry-leading contextual and creative intelligence, brands will have the ability to reach consumers in the right environment, with the right message, and with proof of performance.
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SAP Builds AI Into the Core of Retail Embedded AI streamlines planning, operations, fulfillment and commerce to help retailers scale with speed, resilience and loyalty
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Rakuten Rewards Elevates Carl Lurie Kalapesi to Chief Commercial Officer Lurie Kalapesi has been instrumental in several key initiatives that have significantly strengthened the company’s value proposition for brands looking to reach value-seeking consumers in an increasingly fragmented marketing ecosystem. These include the launch of Programmatic Loyalty — an AI-powered solution for driving personalized loyalty at scale, with Cash Back rates and exposure dynamically based on shopper behavior, sales trends, and ongoing campaign performance.
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EZ Texting Earns a 2026 Buyer’s Choice Award from TrustRadius for the Second Year in a Row “EZ Texting enables their customers to connect with their audiences in timely, meaningful ways,” said Allyson Havener, CMO, TrustRadius. “Winning the 2026 TrustRadius Buyer’s Choice Award shows how much customers value the platform’s simplicity, reliability, and ability to drive real engagement at scale. It’s a well-earned recognition for a solution that helps brands communicate with impact.”
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A new global study* from the IBM Institute for Business Value, in collaboration with the National Retail Federation, found that while nearly three-quarters of surveyed consumers (72%) still shop in stores, almost half (45%) turn to AI for help during their buying journeys.
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Reports, Research, Insights & Opinions:
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Rising adoption of AI, analytics, and omnichannel strategies, along with growing competition and the need for customer retention, is further accelerating demand for advanced customer journey mapping solutions worldwide.
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Jobs & Careers:
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Walmart is hiring: Director, Digital Media- CRM & Lifecycle (USA) Location: San Bruno, CA, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Sainsbury’s id hiring: E2E Customer Journey Lead (UK) Location: London, England, United Kingdom. Click inside to apply.
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Royal Caribbean Group is hiring: Manager, Loyalty Content (USA) Location: Miami, FL, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Snipes is hiring: Director, Loyalty and CRM (USA) Location: Bensalem, PA, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Grind is hiring: Head of Customer Experience (UK) Location: London Area, United Kingdom. Click inside to apply.
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Apex Systems is hiring: Sr. Product Manager, Loyalty (USA) Location: San Francisco, CA, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Fanatics is hiring: Loyalty Program Manager – Gift Cards (UK) Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom. Click inside to apply.
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JetBlue is hiring: Analyst Loyalty Partnerships Location: New York, NY, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Ascend Wellness Holdings is hiring: Senior Manager of Loyalty (USA) Location: Chicago, IL, USA. Click inside to apply.
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Deloitte is hiring: Loyalty Management Senior Manager (USA) Location: Houston, TX, USA. Click inside to apply.
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