Pros and Cons of the Aggregator Distribution Model

Gift Cards | Tuesday, July 18 | 10:15 - 11:15 AM

During the past several years, the incentive, loyalty and employee recognition rewards channels have seen a growing use of aggregators by companies to source gift cards. The session is designed to create a healthy and positive discussion among the stakeholders in the process.

Peter Friend, Founder & CEO of Global Hotel Card (Moderator)

In 2005, Peter launched the first gift card to the incentive, loyalty, and employee engagement industry powered by an online travel agency for hotels. This was a highly innovative product at the time and the product was quickly offered in 2,000 retail outlets and B2B to over 75 incentive and loyalty agencies worldwide. The company has managed over $80 million in hotel bookings worldwide and currently distributes in 25 currencies and 12 languages. In 2020, the company launched a similar product for tours, activities, and experiences, with Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Global Experiences Card offers 350,000 experiences worldwide in 30 currencies and 12 languages. Peter has been responsible for all aspects of the business model including Technology, Branding, Business Development, Finance and Marketing. He has been actively involved in the IMA for 15 years and serves on the IMA Board and the IMA Europe Board.

Steven Kane, Senior Vice President, Client Development at SVS

Steven has 17 years of experience in the gift card and incentive industries. He has 10 years managing global marketing and gift card sales at Spafinder Wellness, 3 years at Blackhawk Network (post-acquisition of Spafinder), and in his 4th year at SVS, Steven started in August of 2019 and began to build the foundation of what would become Solutions B2B. His primary role on the team is to bring brand content to our program. Steven also serves on both the RGCA and IGCC Boards. He has a passion for gift cards and gifting, but also, importantly, as currency in loyalty, reward, and incentive programs.

Alex Preece, Co-Founder & CEO of Tillo

Alex started his career in the British Army and spent seven years jumping out of military planes and touring Bosnia and Iraq on active duty. He co-founded the UK’s first daily deal business, later sold to Moneysupermarket.com, the world's biggest comparison website. Alex is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Tillo, a digital gift card platform connecting the world's most popular brands with fintechs and enterprises looking to reward and incentivize in new ways. Tillo is leading the innovation for digital rewards and incentives globally.

Chris Stewart, Senior Director of Promotions Partnerships & Digital Strategy at InComm Incentives

Chris has more than two decades of experience, specializing in partnerships and product marketing within digital environments. With a focus on cultivating robust relationships in the incentives and loyalty space, Chris has effectively bridged the gap between brand partners and clients. Over the past 11+ years at InComm, Chris has revolutionized the company's approach by implementing an agency-like model that capitalizes on datadriven insights and strategic partnerships, resulting in significant market-share growth and amplified sales for InComm's cutting-edge technology and connectivity offerings. Chris's extensive experience, combined with his innovative approach to partnerships and product marketing, has solidified his reputation as a trusted industry expert. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, he continues to forge new pathways in the ever-evolving digital landscape, consistently exceeding expectations and delivering remarkable outcomes for InComm and its diverse ecosystem of partners.