Barrhead Travel claim UK industry first

Barrhead Travel claim UK industry first

Scottish travel agency Barrhead Travel is claiming a UK travel industry first having started using new contactless rewards smartcard sQuid.

Scottish travel agency Barrhead Travel is claiming a UK travel industry first, having started using new contactless rewards smartcard sQuid.

A pilot has started at the agency chain’s Dundee store ahead of what is hoped will be a roll out across its network of 32 shops.

The sQuid card offers a 5% cashback for every booking as well as other discounts for account holders.

Other local retailers in Dundee, as well as schools and colleges, are already using sQuid, with National Express soon to become the latest to sign up.

The cards cost £5, but £10 is added to the customer’s account once registered online and additional rewards are added to the account ready to be redeemed at a future date.

Mark Brock, a director at Barrhead Travel, said: “Despite difficult economic conditions, our business continues to enjoy success, thanks to the great products and services we provide to our customers.

“Our innovative smartcard-based rewards programme is another way of giving a little extra back, while acknowledging and maintaining a great relationship with our clients. sQuid’s excellent product is a great fit for our business.”

Adam Smith, sQuid chief executive, added: “Loyalty and rewards schemes are now a vital part of creating competitive advantage in retail and we are delighted to be working with Scotland’s number 1 travel agency to prove that sQuid is not only the UK’s leading next generation payments system, but a great rewards platform too.”