New customer membership programme makes us GDPR-ready, says Saga

Saga Possibilities offer members access to exclusive offer and events, as well as deals from partners including Apple, Nuffield Health, wine retailer Majestic and restaurant chain Prezzo. Continue reading →

New customer membership programme makes us GDPR-ready, says Saga

Over-50’s tour operator and cruise line Saga has unveiled a new loyalty club which it says will ensure it is prepared for next year’s new EU data regulations.

Saga Possibilities offer members access to exclusive offer and events, as well as deals from partners including Apple, Nuffield Health, wine retailer Majestic and restaurant chain Prezzo.

Announcing the launch of the scheme today as part of the FTSE firm’s half-year trading update the firm, group chief executive Lance Batchelor said:

“Saga Possibilities is designed to say thank you to our members and we are committed to developing the scheme over me.

“Membership represents a fundamental change in the way in which we develop and create a beneficial long?term relationship with our customers, one that rewards loyalty and incentivises them to hold more products with us.

“We see Saga Possibilities as critical to how we engage with our members and the scheme will provide us with a truly unique proposition in readiness for the new General Data Protection Regulations coming into effect in May 2018.

“We fully support the introduction of this new data protection legislation, which will enable consumers to better control their personal data and how it is used.

“We see this as an opportunity to engage with our members and ensure that we are providing them with the information they want, in the way that they want it.”

The GDPR legislation requires all firms to request customer opt in for using their data. Any firm found in breach risks fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher.

Earlier today, Saga revealed that pre-tax profits for its core retail broking and travel businesses rose by 10.4% to £82.8 million year-on-year in the six months to July 31.

In its travel division revenues were up 9.7% to £228.2 million and underlying profits up 63% to £11.9 million on the back of a 1.1% rise in the number of holiday passengers and 18.2% rise in cruise customers.

However, overall pre-tax profits fell by 6.3% to £103 million, reflecting costs associated with re-financing and other losses.