Kendra LustyPeople willingly hand their money over to corporations all the time. They’re happy to do so when they get something of value in exchange: product, service, experiences, etc.
Right now, finances are tight for a lot of American consumers. In fact, the number one worry keeping them up at night is “paying for monthly bills.” With so much of their income going to non-discretionary needs, consumers simply don’t have much (or any) money left over to spend on wants, no matter the value.
At the same time, businesses are facing their own financial challenges: the rising cost of goods and wages, unprecedented competition and shrinking budgets to fund the very rewards that build loyalty and keep their audience coming back.
The result? More businesses are fighting to win less disposable income, leaving them scrambling for new and creative avenues to generate revenue and raise their CLTV (customer lifetime value).
The answer for many organizations is strategic partnerships that help drive revenue, commissions or advertising dollars; for ease we’ll address this as rev-share. This solution, when done right, can benefit both cash-strapped members and budget-aware organizations.
In this article, you’ll learn (click a topic to jump forward in the article):
- What is Rev-Share?
- How to Make Rev-Share a True Win-Win For Members and For Organizations
- Rev-Share Success Stories For Diverse Industries:
What is Rev-Share for Organizations?
By its high-level definition, revenue sharing is a way for two or more groups to work together and split the money earned.
Zooming in to look at membership organizations, the most common form of rev-share looks like this: the organization brokers a deal/offer for their members; then, when the members spends money to buy or redeem for the deal, the organization is given a percentage of the sale/profits.
Most of the time, the member doesn’t know the revenue sharing is happening—all they see is the reward they get. Therefore, if the deal is perceived as high-value, the member is happy.
A Smart Option to Maximize Rev-Share: High-Value Travel Rewards
To understand how to structure a revenue sharing partnership that benefits everyone, let's first look at the ways revenue sharing can go wrong. Revenue sharing only works when members participate. If no one purchases through your affiliate link or uses your custom coupon code, then don’t expect a check to be coming your way.
There are a myriad of reasons why your members might opt out or not engage. Maybe they have no interest because the deal is too low in value or the product doesn’t support the reason they’re a member in the first place. Perhaps they suspect the deal is an upsell money-grab or will be a bait-and-switch. The common thread running through all these reasons: lack of value and trust.
On the other side of the spectrum, rev-share done right does not sacrifice member engagement and loyalty for a quick buck.
Kelly Passey, president of Access Development helps businesses of all kinds strike that magical balance that can make the arrangement a true win-win for everyone involved. “A great partnership will generate revenue AND help you build that all-important emotional connection with your members,” said Passey. “Value and trust must be at the heart of every benefit you offer. If members don’t perceive value, and feel understood, they won’t engage – and without engagement, there is no revenue to share.
That’s where long-term engagement is born – from value and trust delivered, not just value extracted.”
Let’s use discount travel, a popular option, as an example.
Access Development offers a white-label travel platform that allows organizations to provide their members with exclusive deals on hotel stays, car rentals and tickets to theme parks, events, etc. When a member books travel through this platform, part of the purchase price is immediately given back. The member gets their promised reward in the form of cash back, points or other reward currency up to 50% off public rates. The organization earns a portion of the revenue from each booking in rev-share.
Members WIN because they reap significant value:
- Impactful Savings: Members receive up to 50% back on hotels, car rentals, and theme park tickets. This makes the final price significantly better than what they’ll find on other discount sites like Expedia and Priceline. It also means the reward on each purchase is substantial, especially compared to traditional loyalty programs where members earn pennies at a time.
- Enhanced Travel Opportunities: These substantial discounts make travel more accessible, allowing members to afford trips they might have otherwise skipped, stay an extra day or upgrade to a 5-star hotel for the price of a 3.5-star. Right now, travel is booming in popularity AND cost-conscious travelers are hungry for deals to bring their dreams into reality.
Concierge-Level Booking Experience: A great vacation starts with a seamless booking process. Access supports every member who uses its travel platform. Dedicated in-house agents confirm every hotel stay in advance so there are no surprises at check-in, and are available 24/7 in case of questions and concerns.- Membership is Cost-Neutral: If your membership helps members save as much as (or more) than the cost of dues, then renewal is a no-brainer. They don’t have to sacrifice their relationship with the businesses they love because the cost ends up being free or better.
Organizations WIN every time members participate, not just with the added revenue, but also with:
- Effortless Revenue Generation: By sharing in the revenue from member bookings, organizations create a new income stream without significant upfront investment of money or time. For the life of the program, implementation, marketing, and 24/7 customer service are managed by the vendor, ensuring your members are having an exceptional experience without putting extra burden on your staff.
- Enhanced Member Loyalty: Private-label booking sites put the organization’s branding front and center, ensuring that all the credit goes to you. High-value travel rewards add significant value to any membership, increasing member satisfaction and loyalty as a result.
- Customizable Reward Structures: Organizations can tailor the reward/savings split to align with their goals – whether that's maximizing member engagement or organizational revenue.
- Integration with Existing Programs: The platform can integrate with existing loyalty programs, allowing organizations to offer travel rewards alongside their current offerings. Organizations can offer rewards in the form of cash back, points, miles or any other existing currency that their members are accustomed to. This opens the possibility for members to not just earn, but also burn reward currency (ie. use accumulated points) to save even more on future travel bookings.
Does it have to be travel rewards? Of course not. In fact, any rev-share program that prioritizes and supports value, trust, and engagement can be successful. However, we’ve found that travel rewards have an extra special something.
“Vacations are deeply personal,” said Passey. “People spend months planning, saving, and hoping for a perfect experience. When your brand is the one that helps make that possible—by saving them money or elevating their trip—you earn it all: trust, gratitude, long-term loyalty AND the significant revenue as members return to transact again and again.”
Visions of Success: How Different Organizations are Building Loyalty (and Generating Revenue) with Travel Perks
A true one-size-fits-all loyalty strategy will likely never exist—because no two audiences are exactly alike. Whether it’s a trade association supporting professionals in a niche field or a national brand with millions of consumers, each organization plays a unique role in the lives of its members or customers. Some aim for daily engagement, others focus on high-impact moments.
The smartest revenue-sharing programs are built to flex around the relationship an organization already has with its audience. A white-label travel booking portal is especially powerful because it can be tailored to fit those nuances—playing up benefits that align with member values, enhancing engagement touchpoints, and generating revenue in a way that feels organic and rewarding. The universal appeal of travel makes it a natural fit across industries, but the way it’s delivered? That’s where the magic of customization comes in.
“I’ve had conversations with leaders in every kind of market/vertical and they’re all asking the same thing: How do we enhance customer loyalty and serve our audience in a way that feels authentic and lasting?” said Passey. “What I’ve found is that travel unlocks opportunities across the board. It resonates emotionally, it delivers tangible value, and it’s adaptable. We’ve helped organizations shape travel programs that reflect their brand, deepen member loyalty, and open up entirely new streams of revenue – all without changing who they are.”
Here are a few examples:
1. Retailers and Subscription Memberships
Whether it's warehouse clubs, curated box subscriptions, or streaming platforms, these businesses are laser-focused on keeping members subscribed. Travel rewards make it easy. When members can offset or completely cover the cost of their subscription with travel savings or cash back, it becomes a no-brainer to stay in. They’re not just paying for access; they’re unlocking value.
2. Travel Providers
Airlines, rental car companies, travel clubs, and other travel-related businesses are expanding their role in the traveler’s journey. By offering hotel savings, exclusive theme park tickets, or local restaurant and shopping deals, they’re no longer just a way to get from point A to B. Instead, they become trusted partners in the full experience. Travel providers are using white-label platforms to offer more, earn more, and keep their brand in front of travelers beyond the flight.
3. The Gaming Industry
In-game currency is a highly valuable commodity to audiences who were raised in that world, be it gems for their favorite app or gold for their massively multiplayer online game. This audience is used to working hard for pennies worth of currency. Now, game publishers can reward real-world behavior—like attending gaming conventions or traveling for tournaments—with in-game perks. It’s an innovative way to blend the real world with the digital one while building loyalty through fun, high-impact rewards and drive ARPDAU (average revenue per daily active user.)
4. Influencers
Travel deals are a natural fit for influencers – they can post inspirational photos and reveal favorite hotspots, and then help their audiences recreate the experience (and save at the same time.) However, affiliate marketing (a common type of travel brand deal) is not a perfect answer. Affiliate links are notorious for expiring quickly, missing repeat purchases and enforcing strict quotas. Now, many influencers are finding much more long-term success with co-branded travel booking sites: a middle ground between affiliate marketing and fully-branded white label travel. These platforms track each referral and booking, so creators get paid for every trip they inspire, without needing to manage a full-fledged travel brand.
5. Benefits Brokers and Employers
Benefits brokers and employers curate top-tier perks for employees. In the world of employee benefits, travel benefits are quickly becoming a must-have. Why? Because they’re not just “nice-to-have” extras, they’re proven to reduce stress, support work-life balance, and enhance workplace culture. Brokers offering white-label travel rewards give their clients an edge in hiring and retention, while creating a fresh revenue stream for themselves.
6. Rewards and Loyalty Programs
Banks, credit card companies, and lenders are always fighting to stay top-of-wallet. Traditional rewards programs often deliver pennies on the dollar in value exchange, but travel rewards offer a much faster path to redemption (and a more exciting one.) When users can book a weekend getaway or earn big just for booking a hotel, they’re more likely to engage. Travel is also an extremely popular reason for members to spend accumulated points and miles, giving members the chance to double dip – earning and burning their rewards on the same platform.
7. Financial Services & Investment Firms
Serving an affluent customer base means offering a premium experience. White-label travel programs can be customized to showcase only 4- and 5-star hotels, luxury resorts, and upscale activities. It’s not just about discount; it’s about exclusivity and elegance. Investment firms can use these programs to build deeper relationships with high-value clients by giving them rewards that match their expectations.
The Takeaway: Loyalty, Revenue, and Real Value All in One
Making money is a natural and necessary part of doing business. As staying profitable grows more complex, more organizations are turning to advertising partners with revenue sharing capabilities as a way to unlock new, sustainable income streams. Just remember: it shouldn’t come at the expense of member delight. When done right, a rev-share program generates income as well as enhancing your brand, strengthening relationships, and making your overall offering more valuable.
The key is finding a partner and a platform that elevates what you're already doing. Travel rewards have broad appeal and deep emotional resonance, making them one of the few benefits that can generate significant revenue and feel like a genuine gift to your members.
As Kelly Passey explains: “Rev-share isn’t about squeezing more out of your members. It’s about giving more to them, in a way that naturally comes back to benefit your organization. It’s proof that loyalty and revenue can grow together when you lead with value and deliver on trust.”
If you're ready to explore a revenue-sharing model that strengthens your value proposition and builds deeper member connections, Access Development Travel Portal is here to help. The deeper the deals, the more revenue you can generate per transaction. The more compelling the deals, the more times your members will return to transact again.
Let's talk about how travel rewards can work for your organization.
Topics: Customer Engagement, Customer Incentives, Mobile Coupons, Discount Programs, Member Benefits, Access Development, earning incremental revenue, customer loyalty, member loyalty, white label travel platforms, non-dues revenue
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