The Future of Travel: Why Subscription Is Taking Over | Henrik Berglind

<p>What really makes a loyalty program work?</p><p><br /></p><p>It’s not just discounts.It’s not just points.And it’s definitely not just perks.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode of Always Business Class, we go behind the scenes of one of the most successful travel membership programs in the world.</p><p><br /></p><p>From rebuilding after COVID to scaling to 500,000 members, this conversation breaks down how loyalty, psychology, and experience design come together.</p><p><br /></p><p>We cover:</p><ul><li><p>Why subscription is the future of travel</p></li><li><p>The psychology behind loyalty programs</p></li><li><p>How small group dining became a breakthrough feature</p></li><li><p>Why emotional connection beats transactional rewards</p></li><li><p>Lessons from relaunching a global program</p></li><li><p>How partnerships drive growth and retention</p></li><li><p>Why travel creates better ideas and better business outcomes</p></li><li><p>Practical travel hacks like choosing the best seat every time</p></li></ul><p>This is not just about travel.</p><p>It’s about how great businesses build loyalty that lasts.</p><p><br /></p><p>Guest: <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/hberglind" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Henrik Berglind - Accor Plus</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Business Class in the Sky &amp; On the Ground</p><p>01:33 Behind the Loyalty Program Growth</p><p>02:56 30 Years in Hospitality</p><p>04:09 COVID &amp; Industry Reset</p><p>05:33 Loyalty Program Relaunch</p><p>06:16 Winning Best Loyalty Relaunch</p><p>07:49 Real Value of Membership Benefits</p><p>08:46 Why Travel Sparks Better Ideas</p><p>09:40 The Power of Face-to-Face</p><p>11:14 Designing Dining Experiences</p><p>12:43 The “Small Group Dining” Breakthrough</p><p>12:58 Lessons from the Relaunch</p><p>14:22 Global Expansion of Benefits</p><p>15:02 Why Change Doesn’t Kill Businesses</p><p>17:03 Behavioural Science in Business</p><p>19:15 Boutique vs Large Hotel Experiences</p><p>20:27 From Discounts to Loyalty Culture</p><p>22:44 Building a Global Loyalty Ecosystem</p><p>26:17 Innovation &amp; Scaling Challenges</p><p>27:22 48 Brands, One Ecosystem</p><p>28:35 Travel Habits &amp; Seat Hacks</p><p>31:18 Subscription Model Explained</p><p>34:43 Reducing Decision Fatigue in Travel</p><p>36:23 The Future of Travel Curation</p><p>38:33 Partnerships &amp; Experiences Strategy</p><p>41:58 Sales Channels &amp; Growth</p><p>44:10 Key Benefits of Explorer Membership</p><p>46:27 Flights Club Explore Launch</p><p><br /></p>