AU2008201429B2 - Rewards Scheme - Google Patents

Description

- I AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Rewards Scheme Applicant: CorpRewards Pty Ltd The invention is described in the following statement.

-2 REWARDS SCHEME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for providing goods or services to a customer of a business. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a loyalty 5 rewards scheme. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for selling excess stock or excess service capacity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing accommodation or vacations to a customer of a business comprising: 10 a) approaching a plurality of suppliers of accommodation or vacations; b) securing a reduced rate with each supplier of the plurality of suppliers for the supply of accommodation or vacations; c) recording details of the suppliers and the rates at which the suppliers supply accommodation or vacations; 15 d) issuing redeemable credits to a customer of the business, the redeemable credits having a face value equivalent to a predetermined cash value; and e) enabling supply of accommodation or vacations from one or more of the plurality of suppliers to the customer, the supply of accommodation or vacations being paid for by the customer by using a combination of money and 20 the redeemable credits. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of suppliers of goods or services comprise suppliers of accommodation services or vacations services. In this embodiment, the accommodation services or vacation services may be secured at a rate that is lower than the cheapest advertised rate for each of the suppliers of the 25 accommodation services. For example, a supplier of accommodation services may have a normal or peak rate of, say, $1,000 per week for provision of the accommodation services. In low periods, the accommodation rate may drop to $800 per week. These rates are publicised or advertised by the accommodation provider. However, for the purposes of the method of the present invention, the reduced rate at which the accommodation services are provided may be as low as $300 per week. Ideally, this reduced rate is made available in respect of accommodation that would otherwise be unused. In this regard, the accommodation may be considered to be excess 5 accommodation. For example, in the low season, the typical occupancy rate of an accommodation supplier may be 30%, meaning that 70% of the rooms are normally empty (and therefore generating no income). Therefore, if this accommodation is made available at a rate of $300 per week, this represents an increase in revenue to the accommodation provider. Effectively, this represents incremental business for the 10 supplier of the goods or services. It will be understood that many accommodation providers are not typically willing to advertise such reduced rates for accommodation as it may have the effect of suppressing demand for their accommodation that is available at the regular rate (or, in other words, offering a normal discount would be seen to affect the price integrity of the 15 supplier's goods or services). In some embodiments, the present invention recognises this and overcomes this hurdle by requiring that supply of the accommodation to a customer of the business requires payment in real money of at least the reduced rate. In addition, securing the accommodation also requires that the customer of the business redeem some of the redeemable credits that they have obtained by virtue of their custom at the business. 20 The redeemable credits may bear a monetary face value that can be used to obtain accommodation from the accommodation providers. For example, if the redeemable credits are in the form of a voucher having a face value of $500, supply of accommodation in the low season may be promoted as requiring the use of a $500 redeemable accommodation voucher and $300 real money. Thus, the price of the 25 accommodation can be advertised as being $800 per week, which is equivalent to the normal low rate of the accommodation provider. However, the customer of the business is required to spend only $300 of real money to obtain this accommodation, provided that a $500 redeemable voucher for the accommodation is also utilised. Thus, the customer has the perception that the value of the accommodation to that customer is $800 per week. 30 The customer may suitably obtain the redeemable credits by purchasing goods or services from the business or other activities that constitute "good behaviour" for that -4 businesses customers. The redeemable credits may be obtained by spending in excess of a predetermined minimum amount with the business. The redeemable credits may increase if the customer spends an amount of money with the business that exceeds predetermined thresholds. For example, if a customer spends less than $200 with the 5 business, the customer may obtain no redeemable credits. If a customer spends between $200 and $400 with a business, the customer may obtain a redeemable credit having a face value of $200. If the customer spends between $400 and $600 with the business, the customer may obtain a redeemable credit having a face value of $400, and so forth. The method of the first aspect of the present invention suitably involves a third 10 entity that negotiates and secures the reduced rate with each supplier for the supply of accommodation or vacations. The third entity may also negotiate with the business to provide the redeemable credits for customers of the business. In this regard, the third entity will undertake the following actions: - Negotiate the reduced rate for the supply of accommodation or vacations 15 with the suppliers of the goods or services; - Complete contractual arrangements with the suppliers of the accommodation or vacations for supplying the accommodation or vacations at the reduced rate; - maintaining records of the suppliers of the accommodation or vacations, the 20 quantity of the accommodation or vacations available to be supplied from each supplier, and the rate or dollar value for provision of the accommodation or vacations; - negotiate with the business for an appropriate scheme for issuing the redeemable credits. This will involve determining the minimum spend that 25 customers of the business must make in order to qualify for obtaining redeemable credits and the manner of increasing the redeemable credits as spending of the customer with the business increases or other criteria that will reward good behaviour of the customer; -5 - provide a facility whereby customers of the business can book accommodation or vacations. For example, an online or computerised booking service may be provided for access by customers to book accommodation or vacations. This online or computerised booking service 5 will suitably display the accommodation or vacations that are available, or show availability of accommodation or vacations for selected dates with variety of date ranges, enable the customer to select an accommodation service provider or a vacation provider and enable customer to book accommodation or a vacation for the customers desired dates and obtain 10 payment from the customer by redemption of the redeemable credits and payment of appropriate monies. The method of the first aspect of the present invention may suitably include the steps of promoting or advertising the redeemable credits being obtainable by customers purchasing goods or services/spending money with the business, either through retail or 15 closed user group/database communication initiatives. In embodiments where a third entity is involved in the method of the first aspect of the present invention, the third entity may generate income from one or more of the following: a) by receiving a payment from the business equivalent to a percentage of the 20 redeemable value of the redeemable credits given by the business to its customers; or b) by the third entity including a mark-up in the amount of real money that a customer must use to obtain supply of the goods or services. As an example, where the third entity negotiates an accommodation rate of $300 per week 25 with an accommodation provider, the third entity may book that accommodation to a customer of the business by asking for payment of $350 in real money and $500 in redeemable credits or vouchers. The third party passes on $300 of the real money to the accommodation provider which is the rate at which the accommodation has been secured, whilst the third -60 entity retains the $50 of real money that has been paid above the secured accommodation rate; or c) by charging a fixed fee for currency packages; or d) by charging separate design or printing fees. 5 In embodiments where a third entity secures reduced rates for supplying goods or services from the suppliers of those goods or services, the third entity suitably enters into contracts with suppliers that do not normally discount their rates to the levels that are given in this method or system. In this manner, the method is more attractive to the customers of the business because they can secure the goods or services from the 10 suppliers of those goods or services at a rate that is much reduced compared to the normal rates. Suitably, the third entity also enters into pricing integrity agreements with the suppliers of the goods or services such that the supplier of the goods or services cannot provide discounted rates except in conjunction with the third entity. 15 The present invention also provides a loyalty rewards scheme in which a scheme provider secures a reduced rate for supplying goods or services from suppliers of goods or services; the scheme provider secures a business as a participant in the loyalty rewards scheme and the scheme is arranged such that a customer of the business obtains redeemable credits from the business when the customer purchases goods or services 20 from the business in excess of a predetermined minimum amount, wherein the customer obtains goods or services from one or more of the suppliers and pays for those goods or services by a combination of money and redeemable credits. Suitably, the goods or services supplied by the suppliers of goods or services represent excess goods or excess service capacity. 25 In some embodiments, the redeemable credits have a face value equivalent to a monetary value. For example, the redeemable credits may be issued in the form of a voucher having an ascribed monetary value that can be used as part of a payment for the supply of goods or services from the suppliers of the goods or services.

Throughout this specification, the term "customer of a business" is to be given a broad meaning. In particular, the customer of a business includes typical customers who enter a business and purchase goods or services from that business. However, a customer of a business also includes a further business that stocks goods of the business for on-sale 5 of those goods to others. For example, the first business may be a provider of goods to a retail department. The customers of that business may comprise the retail businesses that stock those goods. The first business may provide the redeemable credits to the retail business if the retail business meets certain sales targets or agrees to other requirements put forward by the first business, for example, positioning of products of the first business 10 in high access areas or high visibility areas. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a system for booking accommodation or vacations, the system comprising an accommodation or vacation register contained in one or more computers for recording details of the accommodation or vacation suppliers, the details including a costing for booking accommodation or a 15 vacation, the costing comprising an amount payable in money and an amount payable in redeemable credits issued to a purchaser, a redeemable credits account contained in one or more computers, the redeemable credits account including details of a purchaser, details of redeemable credits issued to the purchaser and details of redeemable credits used by the purchaser, and booking means accessible by the purchaser, the booking 20 means displaying details of the accommodation or vacation suppliers including cost and availability, the booking means further comprising a booking request entry means whereby the purchaser enters a booking request for a selected accommodation or vacation and availability dates, and booking processing means for processing the booking request, the booking processing means reserving the requested accommodation or vacation, and 25 payment means, the payment means receiving payment of the required monies and redeemable credits from the purchaser. The system may further include redeemable credit input means for entering details of one or more redeemable credits into the redeemable credits account. The details of one or more redeemable credits may be entered into the redeemable credits account by the 30 purchaser. Alternatively, details of the one or more redeemable credits may be entered into the redeemable credits account by the issuer of the redeemable credits. Once details of the redeemable credits are entered into the redeemable credits account, the system suitably confirms that the redeemable credits are valid redeemable credits (for example, by comparing the identifier of the redeemable credit, such as a redeemable credit code number, with a list of a valid redeemable credits stored in an issued redeemable credits 5 database or computer storage means). Once confirmation that the redeemable credits are valid redeemable credits has been issued, the new redeemable credits are added to the redeemable credit balance for the purchaser in the redeemable credit account. The booking means may include booking detail entry means for entering details of the particular accommodation supplier or vacation supplier desired to be booked, and the 10 desired dates for booking the accommodation or vacation. The booking means, upon receiving that information, may then interrogate the accommodation or vacation register and exhibit or display details of availability for the selected accommodation supplier or vacation supplier. Suitably, the booking means also exhibits availability for other accommodation suppliers or vacation suppliers based in the same geographical area. 15 The booking means may exhibit availability by use of appropriate words or symbols to indicate availability. For example, for a particular accommodation supplier or vacation supplier, availability may be indicated by providing a display showing the dates requested for the booking and using appropriate colours, symbols or words to indicate availability on those days. 20 If it is desired to change the date or dates for which an accommodation or vacation enquiry is being made, the system may be provided with computer software that enables the dates to be changed by use of a simple click and drag functionality. For example, the desired dates entered for an accommodation or vacation enquiry may be highlighted by its use of a shaded bar. To change the dates or date range, the purchaser may place a cursor 25 of the computer being used to make accommodation or vacation enquiry over either end of the shaded bar and then click and drag that end of the shaded bar to change the length of the shaded bar. This is more convenient than systems presently in use that require the user to click onto different dates in order to change a date or date range. The payment means may include processing or functionality that interrogates the 30 redeemable credits account and deducts an amount of redeemable credits payable by the -9 purchaser to book the accommodation or vacation from the purchaser's redeemable credits account. The payment means may also include any payment system that allows for payment of monies online or over a computer network, such as a credit card payment system, a money transfer system or indeed any other online payment system. 5 In one embodiment, the accommodation or vacation register includes access means whereby the provider of the accommodation or vacation can enter the register and adjust or control their allotments of inventory. In another embodiment, the accommodation or vacation register includes access means whereby an administrator of the system can enter the register and adjust or control the allotment of inventory from the 10 provider of the accommodation. The access means may be provided by way of an access portal accessible from a computer network, such as the World Wide Web. In another embodiment, the access means may be provided by way of an access route through a computer system operated by the administrator of system. The accommodation or vacation register may be in the form of one or more 15 computer databases. Part of the accommodation or vacation register may be stored on a separate computer to other parts of the accommodation or vacation register, with all parts of the accommodation or vacation register being searchable upon receipt of an accommodation or vacation booking request. In this embodiment, the system may comprise a plurality of separate registers with the booking means searching each of the 20 separate registers upon entry of a booking request into the booking means. In some embodiments, the system may allow for payment in one of a plurality of currencies. The system may be accessible from multiple continents. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a system for managing a rewards loyalty scheme as described herein, the system comprising a computer storage means for 25 recording details of suppliers of goods or services under the loyalty rewards scheme, the computer storage means recording at least the rate at which the supplier supplies goods or services and the availability of goods or services from the supplier, and a register for recording redemption of the redeemable credits. The register for recording redemption of the redeemable credits may form part of 30 the computer storage means.

The system may further include an issue register for recording issue of the redeemable credits. The issue register may record details of the customer (for example, name, address, telephone, email, other contact details) and the amount of redeemable credits issued to the customer. The issue register may also allow for accumulation of 5 redeemable credits. The system may further include a computer-enabled redemption request adapted to enable a customer to request a redemption, the computer-enabled redemption request including a field for entering details of one or more redeemable vouchers or credits to be redeemed by the redemption request. The redemption request may be used to pass 10 information regarding the requested redemption onto the scheme provider and to enable the scheme provider to record details of the redeemable credits used in the redemption request. The scheme provider can also check that the redeemable credits are owned by the customer making the redemption request. The system may include a facility to redeem credits by the customer entering web 15 sites to enquire about availability, make an online booking or make an enquiry online about an online booking. This facility may also include a facility where redemption of the credits is reconciled against a customer's account. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure I shows a flow sheet of part of an embodiment of the present invention; 20 Figure 2 shows a flow sheet of another part of an embodiment of the present embodiment; Figure 3 shows a further flow sheet of yet another part of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a sample redeemable voucher for use in embodiments of the 25 present invention; Figure 5 shows a pictorial diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a resort inventory management system suitable for use in the present invention;; Figure 7 shows a flow chart showing the steps involved and the options available when making the booking request in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 5 Figure 8 shows a flow chart outlining steps involved in confirming a booking in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; And Figure 9 shows a flow chart of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 It will be appreciated that the attached drawings and the following description relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should not be considered to be restricted solely to those embodiments. The embodiments shown in the drawings of the specification and the following description relate to embodiments of the invention in which a loyalty scheme provides 15 access to accommodation, such as holiday accommodation, for customers of a business. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention should not be considered to be limited to this particular embodiment. The particular embodiment involves a scheme provider, in the form of an independent entity, negotiating and securing reduced rates of accommodation with one or more accommodation providers. The scheme provider also 20 negotiates with one or more businesses to become business participants in the scheme. These businesses promote the loyalty scheme and provide redeemable credits, such as in the form of redeemable accommodation vouchers bearing a monetary face value, to customers or clients of those businesses. Customers or clients of the business may be eligible to receive the redeemable accommodation vouchers if they purchase goods or 25 services from the business. There may be a predetermined minimum spend applicable before a customer or client becomes eligible to receive redeemable accommodation vouchers. The amount of vouchers issued to customers or clients may also depend upon the amount of spend that each customer or client has with the business. In one embodiment, the amount of accommodation vouchers given to each client may increase as the spend of each client with the business increases. The increase in the amount of the accommodation vouchers given to each client may increase in accordance with increases in spending that exceed one or more threshold values. Figure 1 shows a flow chart of part of a loyalty scheme in accordance with an 5 embodiment of the present invention. In figure 1, a scheme provider 10 approaches a number of accommodation providers (at step 12). The scheme provider negotiates a reduced rate for supplying accommodation with each of the accommodation providers. This is shown at step 14. The reduced rate is formalised at step 16 in the form of contracts signed between the scheme provider and the accommodation providers. The 10 scheme provider then enters details of the rates and accommodation suppliers onto a computer database at step 18. The computer database may be in the form of a spreadsheet or a structured database. The flow sheet shown in figure 1 may include a number of options or variations. For example, at step 12, the scheme provider may approach the accommodation providers 15 by way of forwarding initial correspondence, such as a letter or an email, outlining details of the scheme and explaining the benefits of the scheme to the accommodation providers. As the accommodation providers are being approached to provide accommodation at reduced rates, and even more suitably at substantially reduced rates, it is believed to be important that the accommodation providers be fully appraised as to the benefits accruing 20 to them from participation in the scheme. The benefits for the accommodation providers arise by virtue of the fact that the reduced rates of accommodation are negotiated with the scheme provider in respect of rooms or accommodation that would typically be otherwise vacant. Thus, although the accommodation is provided by the accommodation provider at a rate that is substantially reduced compared to its normal rates and its other 25 distribution channel rates, the reduced rate accommodation represents income that would otherwise not be generated. Thus, letting out those rooms at even the reduced rate of accommodation negotiated with the scheme provider represents an increase in marginal yield for the accommodation provider. Many accommodation providers are reticent to promote such discounted rates of 30 accommodation as they fear (often rightly so) that advertising those reduced rates will see a reduction in demand for accommodation provided at normal rates. However, the rewards scheme of the present invention addresses this issue and allows the accommodation providers to maintain price integrity over their accommodation. This will be described in more detail hereunder. The accommodation providers also suitably enter into price integrity agreements 5 with the scheme provider. Such agreements will require that the accommodation providers only provide accommodation at the discounted rate negotiated with the scheme provider to the scheme provider. Thus, people seeking to book accommodation with the accommodation providers through normal channels will only be offered normal accommodation rates by the accommodation providers. Such price integrity agreements 10 have benefit for the accommodation providers and also maintain the benefits of the scheme to the scheme provider in that the reduced rate of accommodation is only available to customers who obtain benefits from participation in the scheme. The scheme provider may desirably require that the accommodation provider enters into an exclusive arrangement with the scheme provider so that the scheme provider does not supply their 15 inventory to other similar programs. The flow chart shown in figure 1 represents a typical starting point for the loyalty scheme in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the scheme provider seeks to build a resort base or accommodation provider base to make the scheme attractive to customers to the business participants in the scheme. To ensure that the resort base is 20 attractive, the scheme provider will examine a number of issues associated with the resorts, including the quality of the resorts, the quality of the rooms available at the resorts, the number of rooms available, the locations of the resorts, the room rates, the cheapest accommodation rates advertised for each of the resorts and the facilities available at the resorts. Such investigations may typically occur by interrogating the 25 website or home page for each resort or each accommodation provider or other holiday accommodation distribution sites. However, personal inspection or tours may also be used. The scheme provider may also access information from last minute booking agents (for example, wotif.com.au) to see if a resort takes last minute, discount bookings. 30 Ideally, resort participants in the loyalty scheme of embodiments of the present invention 1 .1 - 14I do not offer such last minute discount bookings. Even if they do, the cash top-up amount paid by the customer under the present invention should be less that the last minute rates. Once a resort has been identified as being a suitable resort partner in the loyalty scheme, the scheme provider makes contact with the resort. This typically occurs by way 5 of email or normal mail. An explanation as to the benefits of the scheme to the resort is also provided, such as in the form of a brochure. If an identified potential resort partner expresses interest in joining the loyalty scheme, the scheme provider then negotiates with the resort to become a resort partner. The negotiations may include the following: 10 - the rate at which the accommodation is provided; - the number of rooms provided; - the availability dates for the rooms; - the basis on which the rooms are made available to the service provider (for example, the rooms may be made available on allotment, free-sell or request 15 only basis) ; and - other contractual details. Once all of the details are negotiated, appropriate contracts between the scheme provider and the resorts are finalised and executed. Details of each resort who become resort participants in the scheme are then entered onto a computer system, such as a 20 spreadsheet or a database. In addition to being able to sell distressed inventory at a rate that does not appear to be a discount rate, the accommodation providers also stand to gain from participation in the scheme in the following ways: a) the accommodation providers have access to co branding with the third party 25 promotion provider (such as a retail outlet) in marketing material, b) the accommodation providers have access to extensive brand exposure through participants catalogues and marketing and advertising material at no cost.

c) Incremental distribution as value of offers actually increases travel in general to those that may not have traveled. d) No longer competing for discretionary dollars as customers can do both. e) the accommodation providers also have the ability to sell excess capacity a long 5 way (for example, up to 12 months) in advance whereas traditional last minute sites only sell within 28 days. The participation of resort partners in the loyalty scheme described with reference to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4, represents only part of the overall scheme. It 10 is also necessary to have one or more business partners involved in the scheme. Figure 2 shows one possible flow chart for obtaining loyalty partners to the scheme. In figure 2, the scheme provider 20 approaches a business, at step 22. The business may, for example, be a retailer of goods. However, it will be understood that the business may be any business that provides goods or services to customers or clients for profit or revenue. 15 Once the approach has been made by the scheme provider to the business, the scheme provider and the business negotiate various details of the loyalty scheme with the business. Some of the details that may be negotiated at step 24 include payments made by the business to the scheme provider for participation in the loyalty scheme, the spending of customers required at which customers are rewarded with issuance of 20 redeemable vouchers, details of advertising and promotion of the scheme, details of the resort partners to the scheme, expiry date on the rewards vouchers, and the like. Once the scheme provider and the business have fully negotiated the terms of the business partner's participation in the scheme, appropriate contractual arrangements are finalised and executed. Promotion of the loyalty scheme (at 26) and the issuance of 25 redeemable vouchers to the business partner (at step 28) then follow. It will be appreciated that steps 26 and 28 may be conducted in any order or at the same time. Suitably, promotion of the loyalty scheme also includes promotion and advertisement of the accommodation providers. This also acts as a further incentive for accommodation providers to participate in the scheme.

- 10 Promotion of the loyalty scheme by the business may involve placement of advertisements for the resort partners into advertising material prepared by or for the business partner. This has the beneficial affects of enticing potential customers of the business to spend money with the business and also provides a further avenue of 5 advertising for the resort partners. Figure 3 provides a flow chart showing one possible way of redeeming accommodation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In figure 3, a customer who has received redeemable vouchers by virtue of purchasing goods or services from a business participant in the loyalty scheme decides that he/she wishes to 10 book some accommodation. The customer contacts the scheme provider and lodges an accommodation request with the scheme provider (see step 32). The customer may contact the scheme provider with the accommodation request in a number of ways, including by telephone, by mail, by email, by the internet, by facsimile, or indeed in any other suitable manner. In one embodiment, the customer makes an accommodation 15 booking by filling in an electronic form on the internet, which form is then received by the scheme provider. The electronic form may be received by the scheme provider by way of an email automatically generated by a "submit" button on the electronic form, or by way of direct transfer of information from the form to the scheme provider when a "submit" button on the form is pressed. When the scheme provider receives the 20 accommodation request from the customer, the scheme provider checks room availability and room rate with the accommodation provider and then books the accommodation for the customer. The accommodation may be booked by the scheme provider by way of the internet, by way of email, by way of telephone call, by way of letter or by way of facsimile. 25 The scheme provider also advises the customer of the amount of money to be paid and the amount of rewards vouchers to be redeemed. The scheme provider then receives appropriate payment from the customer (at step 36), by way of recordal of redeemable vouchers being used and cash/credit card/cheque payment. Suitably, the scheme provider also pays the resort at the time of making the booking or before the guests check-in. 30 Typically, other distribution channels pay after the guests check-in. For example, wholesalers and travel agents pay up to 60 days after check-in. This is a further attractive feature of some embodiments of the present invention for the resort participants. In this regard, it will be appreciated that resorts typically receive full payment only upon check in by the guest whereas in these embodiments of the invention the resort receives payment upon booking. The scheme provider also records details of the redeemable 5 vouchers used in the booking. The scheme provider suitably provides a booking confirmation that is sent to the customer. This booking confirmation may be computer generated. The booking confirmation may be sent to the customer by email or via the internet. The scheme provider may also require the accommodation provider to provide a booking confirmation 10 prior to issuing the booking confirmation to the customer. In another embodiment, the scheme provider may provide an online booking site. This online booking site may enable the accommodation provider to input or enter inventory, such as vacancies, onto the online booking site. The customer will then be able to book the accommodation using their resort cheques or reward vouchers or reward 15 credits and to pay the money component online. The online system will then check that the reward cheques or reward vouchers or reward credits are valid. The payment then goes to the scheme provider whilst a booking confirmation goes to the accommodation provider. Confirmation of the booking is then sent back to the customer. The online booking site may comprise a booking site on the internet or on the world wide web. 20 In other embodiments, the customer may book directly with the accommodation provider, for example, by accessing an online site (such as available on the world wide web or internet) or by telephone, email or conventional mail. The customer will be required to provide details of the reward vouchers or credits being redeemed, which details are then passed onto the scheme provider for checking, confirmation and 25 reconciliation. Advantageously, in embodiments where the customer makes a booking via the internet or world wide web, the booking site asks the customers for details of the rewards vouchers or credits being redeemed and those details are automatically sent to the scheme provider for checking, confirmation back to the accommodation provider that the rewards vouchers/credits are valid and reconciliation of the redeemed vouchers/credits 30 (for example, to show that a voucher has been used or to reconcile a customer's reward account). Advantageously, in this embodiment, the details are sent from the booking site -180 to the scheme provide by the background computer programme without requiring operator input. In some embodiments of the present invention, there may be a maximum amount of redeemable vouchers that may be used in the booking of accommodation. This ensures 5 that a customer booking accommodation must use a minimum amount of real money to book the accommodation. Suitably, the minimum amount of real money required to book accommodation is at least equal to the rate at which the scheme provider obtains that accommodation from the accommodation provider. Figure 4 shows a sample of a rewards voucher that may be issued in accordance 10 with embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen from figure 4, the rewards voucher has a face value of $500 that can be applied towards the accommodation cost of a stay at any participating resort. As an alternative to calling the redeemable credit a rewards voucher, the redeemable credit may be in the form of a "rewards cheque" or a "resort cheque" made out to the favour of the scheme provider. 15 The scheme provider may derive income from operating the scheme in the following manner: (a) the scheme provider may be provided with payments or commission from the business partners, with the payment or commission being dependent upon the total amount of the face value of all rewards vouchers issued; 20 (b) the scheme provider may be paid commission by the resort participants for all accommodation bookings made through the scheme; (c) the scheme provider may receive the real money component of the accommodation payment from customers in an amount that is higher than the rate at which the accommodation has been booked from the resort 25 participants; or (d) the scheme provider may charge a fixed fee, or a design fee, or a printing fee, or two or more of those fees.

As a further benefit to all participants in the scheme, the rewards vouchers do not form a liability on the balance of the scheme provider. This is because redemption of the rewards vouchers actually represents an income stream for the scheme provider. The scheme is attractive to customers of the business because they can 5 instantaneously obtain rewards vouchers by simply spending a qualifying amount. There is no need to accumulate loyalty points over a period of time, as is common with most loyalty programs. In another embodiment, the customer of the business may be required to provide various details to the business at the time the rewards vouchers are issued to the customer. 10 In this way, the business can readily collect customer information. This may allow for more targeted marketing activities by the business to those customers in the future. It also enables the business to collate a database of customer information. If booking of accommodation does not result in the entirety of a rewards voucher from being expended, it may be possible to issue a credit voucher to the customer for the 15 unused portion of the rewards voucher. In another embodiment, instead of collecting vouchers, a "rewards account" may be opened for each customer, with the rewards account having redeemable credits added thereto as spending of the customer with the business participant continues or increases. The rewards account may contain a balance in the form of a nominal money value of 20 redeemable credits. The rewards account may be kept on a computer system. The rewards account may be accessed via a computer network, such as the internet. Appropriate security protocols may be enacted on the rewards account to prevent unauthorized access. Use of the rewards currency value in the rewards account to make a booking results in that amount being deducted from the rewards account balance. 25 In another embodiment, a customer may be provided with a smart card, which smart card contains information relating to a rewards account. Although the various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to redeeming accommodation, it will be appreciated that other goods or services may be redeemed. Examples include day pass services, four wheel drive tours, reef tours, cruises, short hall international holidays, "distressed inventory" goods, and the like. Suitably, the redeemable credits have a nominal face value in monetary terms or dollar terms. In this fashion, the face value or monetary value of the redeemable credits 5 can be used to maintain price integrity of the goods or services offered to customers under the loyalty scheme. Thus, the redeemable credits may be considered to be a "rewards currency" or a "rewards cheque". The scheme provider may also operate computer programmes that manage the loyalty scheme. The computer programmes may be stored on recordable media, such as 10 CD, CD-ROM, DVD, one or more hard disk drives, and the like. Figure 5 shows a pictorial representation of a possible global structure of an embodiment of an online member and accommodation booking system in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiments shown in figure 5, a central inventory management system 100, in the form of a database located on a computer server and 15 associated software to manage the inventory in that database, is located on a computer server in Australia. The inventory management system 100 receives and records details of all providers of accommodation or vacations that participate in the scheme. The inventory management system includes details of the location of the provider, rates for provision of accommodation or vacation and availability. 20 The system also includes online member booking systems located in each country. For example, there is an Australian online member booking system 102, a New Zealand online booking system 104, a United States online member booking system 106, etc. Each online member booking system enables members to log into the system. The members are prompted to input membership details and then make a booking enquiry, 25 followed by completing a booking, if appropriate or desired. Each online member booking system is accessible via a computer network, such as the World Wide Web. When members in each country log onto the system, they will be directed to the relevant online member booking system. Although the embodiment shown in figure 5 has a central inventory management 30 system 100, it will be appreciated that a plurality of separate inventory management systems may be provided. In that case, the online member booking systems will interrogate each of the inventory management systems when a member makes a booking enquiry or a booking request. It is also envisaged that one or more call centres will be available for calling by 5 members who do not have ready access to computer systems or the internet. If a member contacts a call centre, the call centre staff subsequently make a booking enquiry and/or a booking request using the online member booking system. Figure 6 shows a flow chart outlining some of the functionality of an inventory management system that may be used in embodiments of the present invention. In figure 10 6, resort B decides to manage its allotment of inventory (accommodation and/or vacations) using the online inventory management module. In this case, resort B (120) logs into the inventory management system via resort inventory management interface 122. The interface 122 is accessed, for example, by the World Wide Web. Resort inventory management interface 122 provides an interface that allows resort B to enter 15 appropriate details into the inventory management system 130 and to update the details of that inventory in inventory management system 130. Details that may be updated include rates, availability, number of rooms available and dates of availability as well as the ability to confirm or deny booking requests. In figure 6, resort C (140) decides to use a different online inventory system. This 20 different system has an interfacing functionality with the inventory management system 130. Therefore, resort C provides inventory details to an external inventory system 142. The external inventory system 142 may comprise a computer database supplied by a third-party supplier. The external inventory system 142 has a custom external inventory interface 144 that allows system 142 to interface with the inventory management system 25 130 or with the online member booking system 160 (the flow chart shown in figure 6 has the custom external inventory interface working with the online member booking system). In particular, interface 144 comprises a custom external inventory interface. The custom external inventory interface is a custom-built interface that has been developed for each different inventory management system that the online member 30 booking system 160 has the ability or right to communicate with. Each external inventory system has its own requirements and thus requires its own custom-built interface to interact with the online member booking system 160. In figure 6, resort A (150) decides not to use the online inventory management module. Instead, resort A provide details of inventory to an inventory team 152 and the 5 inventory team subsequently logs into the inventory management system interface 154. Although interfaces 154 and 122 are shown as separate interfaces, in practice, they can be the same interface. Figure 6 also shows, in brief outline, how the online member booking system 160 interacts with the inventory management system 130 when a booking enquiry or a 10 booking request is made. In particular, the online member booking system 160 selects the inventory system to interrogate (at 162). Once that selection has been made, the inventory management system 130 is interrogated or the external inventory system 142 is interrogated via the custom external inventory interface. Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the information flow and structure of the online 15 member booking system. In figure 7, a member 200 logs on to the member online booking system, which is represented in figure 7 by the outline denoted by reference numeral 201. When the member enters the online member booking system 201, the member is taken to a promotional site or access portal 202. This site provides a login region or login page where the member can login (204). In order to login, the member is 20 required to enter details, such as a login name and a password. As also shown in figure 7, details of resorts (203) can be accessed from the promotional site 202. Once logged in, the member can access a member home page 206. On the member homepage, the member can access member details 208. At this stage, the 25 member can assign rewards (210), view a balance of the rewards available to the member and view the history of the use of the members rewards (212) and view a booking history for the member (214). The booking history 214 may also provide the member with details of any outstanding bookings 216 and enable the member to complete the booking or order (218) and attend to any outstanding payments (220).

If the member wishes to make a new booking, the member enters the "new booking" tab and is taken to an availability search 222. In the availability search 222, the member enters details of a desired accommodation or vacation, such as a location and the dates on which the member wishes to book the accommodation or vacation. The booking 5 system then accesses the inventory management system or the custom external interface and provides results of the availability search (224). The member may view details of the resorts (226) for example, by clicking on a link displayed on the screen. When the member finds satisfactory or desirable accommodation or vacations, the member selects the accommodation (228) and purchases any resort extras (230), such as day trips, spa 10 treatments and the like. The online member booking system then displays redemption and rate details including the amount of redeemable credits that can be used (232) and requests payment. Payment details are entered (234) and purchase confirmation (236) is provided to the member. The purchase confirmation may be saved as an electronic file or it may be printed. 15 The member home 206 also allows the member to review some extra facilities, vacations or accommodation at the particular location of interest to the member. Therefore, from the member home page 206, the member can access a locations extra page 238, which provides details of extra activities or purchases available at the location (such as golf course bookings, daytrip bookings provided by independent suppliers, etc). 20 When a member wishes to book the extras, the online member booking system provides redemption or rate details including the amount if redeemable credits that can be used (240). The online member booking system then passes on to the payment details 234 and purchase confirmation 236 pages. As also shown in figure 7, the member may also call a call centre 242. The call 25 centre staff may then access the member home region 206 and proceed with the booking enquiry or a booking request. The call centre to and 42 is provided to cater for members who may not have ready access to a computer system. Figure 8 shows one possible flow chart outlining how confirmation of booking may be sent back to the member. In figure 8, the member 200 accesses the online 30 member booking system 201 and completes a booking request. The online member booking system 201 sends a booking notification to the resort 260. The resort manager 262 may then receive a booking notification and log into the resort's interface 264. Alternatively, if the resort 260 has an automatic computerised or online booking system, that computerised or online booking system may directly log in to the resort interface 264. The resort interface 264 either views the outstanding booking screen 266 or 5 accesses the outstanding booking register 266. The booking may then be accepted at 268 and notification sent to the member 200. Alternatively, notification may be sent to the call centre 205 in cases where the member is making a booking enquiry or booking request via the call centre. If the booking is not accepted, either a "not accepted" notification is sent to the 10 member 200 or the "not accepted" notification is sent to the call centre who then contacts the member and provides further information and options. Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of the online member and accommodation booking system. In figure 9, a plurality of online member booking systems 300, 302, 304, 306, 308 are provided, with separate systems being provided for separate countries. 15 Each system is able to operate in the local currency of the particular country but may also include the option of converting from one currency to another currency. The online member booking system 300 can access a member module 3 10, a rates module 312 a booking module 314 and a redemption module 316. The member module may include information as to the member details, the number or total of rewards accumulated by the 20 member and update that total rewards balance or account when the member uses some of those rewards to make accommodation or vacation bookings. A member interface 311 can interface with the member module 310. The member interface 311 allows external promotions, such as point-of-sale systems 320, external companies 322 and external reward systems such as trader rewards 324 to be entered into the member module. As 25 shown in figure 9, the external rewards systems such as trader rewards 324 may also be directly entered into the member module 3 10. In this way, as the member accumulates rewards (for example, by spending money in a participating company), those rewards that are gained can be automatically entered into the rewards account for that member. Each of the online member booking systems 300, 302, 304, 306, 308 can access 30 and select the various inventory management systems (310) when a booking enquiry or booking request is made. For example, the online member booking systems may access the inventory management system 330 provided by the system provider. Alternatively, external inventory systems 332, 234, 336, 338 maybe accessed by the online member booking systems when a booking enquiry or booking request is made. The resort 5 interface 340 maintains the inventory in the inventory management system 330. The resort interface 340 also can receive details of the availability of accommodation or resorts from the external inventory systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, an online member and booking system is set up in each country that contains the promotion model outlined in this 10 specification. Each online member booking system contains its own member module, rate module and booking module. The information stored in each online member booking system relates to the members, rates (currency) and bookings for that location. This infrastructure helps with ensuring that the system setup, content, rates and reporting are more easily managed and relevant to the location of the online member booking system. 15 This infrastructure also ensures speed and reliability. The online member booking system has the ability to interface with any external inventory system that has communications/interfacing capacities, with custom-built interfaces allowing for such access. The rate module controls which inventory system resort uses. It is possible to have multiple inventory systems assigned to one resort/rate. 20 The inventory management system is suitably set up as a separate system to the online management booking system. The inventory management system contains inventory for all of the resorts that use the promotion model outlined in the specification around the world. Resorts may have the ability to manage their own inventory through the inventory management system. Alternatively, the provider company (which provides 25 the promotions scheme and the overall system) can manage the inventory management system. Each online member booking system accesses the inventory management system individually. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to 30 be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims (12)

1. A system for booking accommodation or vacations, the system comprising an accommodation or vacation register contained in one or more computers for recording details of the accommodation or vacation suppliers, the details including a costing for 5 booking accommodation or a vacation, the costing comprising an amount payable in money and an amount payable in redeemable credits issued to a purchaser, a redeemable credits account contained in one or more computers, the redeemable credits account including details of a purchaser, details of redeemable credits issued to the purchaser and details of redeemable credits used by the purchaser, and booking means accessible by the 10 purchaser, the booking means displaying details of the accommodation or vacation suppliers including cost and availability, the booking means further comprising a booking request entry means whereby the purchaser enters a booking request for a selected accommodation or vacation, and booking processing means for processing the booking request, the booking processing means reserving the requested accommodation or 15 vacation, and payment means, the payment means receiving payment of the required monies and redeemable credits from the purchaser.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system further includes redeemable credit input means for entering details of one or more redeemable credits into the redeemable credits account. 20

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the details of one or more redeemable credits are entered into the redeemable credits account by the purchaser or by the issuer of the redeemable credits.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the system confirms that the redeemable credits are valid redeemable credits and once confirmation that the 25 redeemable credits are valid redeemable credits has been issued, the new redeemable credits are added to the redeemable credit balance for the purchaser in the redeemable credit account.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the booking means includes booking detail entry means for entering details of the particular accommodation supplier or vacation supplier desired to be booked, and the desired dates for booking the accommodation or vacation.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the booking means, upon receiving the details, interrogates the accommodation or vacation register and exhibits or 5 displays details of availability for the selected accommodation supplier or vacation supplier.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the booking means also exhibits availability for other accommodation suppliers or vacation suppliers based in the same geographical area. 10

8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the booking means exhibits availability by use of appropriate words or symbols to indicate availability.

9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the system includes computer software that enables dates entered in a booking enquiry to be 15 changed by use of click and drag functionality.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the dates entered for an accommodation or vacation enquiry are highlighted by its use of a shaded bar and to change the dates or date range, the purchaser places a cursor of a computer being used to make accommodation or vacation enquiry over either end of the shaded bar and then 20 clicks and drags that end of the shaded bar to change the length of the shaded bar and hence change the date range for the enquiry.

11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the payment means includes processing or functionality that interrogates the redeemable credits account and deducts an amount of redeemable credits payable by the purchaser to 25 book the accommodation or vacation from the purchaser's redeemable credits account.

12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the payment means includes a payment system that allows for payment of monies online or over a computer network, such as a credit card payment system, a money transfer system or indeed any other online payment system.