Accor Services, a Worldwide Leader in Incentive and Rewards Programs, Brings New Solution to U.S. Market Through Accor Services North America

18 Jun 2009

by: Julien Rochard

WATERTOWN, MA - Accor Services North America, a subsidiary of Accor Group and leader in incentive and rewards programs in more than 40 countries around the globe announced general availability of its new integrated Global Rewards program in the U.S.

As more and more U.S.-based corporations expand globally, challenges mount to offer the same opportunities, benefits and programs to their worldwide employees, customers and sales channels. The new integrated Global Rewards program has been developed to provide U.S.-based incentive agencies and their corporate clients with a cost effective and localized incentive and employee recognition programs with the convenience of centralized U.S.-based account management.

Worldwide Coverage Integrated into a Single Solution

The Global Rewards program is managed in real-time from the U.S., with Accor Services North America teams dispatching orders and information across its global network, while consolidating payables into a single invoice in U.S. dollars for the customer. Through its global network of domestic subsidiaries, Accor Services provides North American incentive agencies and their corporate clients with reward fulfillment services in 46 countries: 22 in Europe, 7 in Latin and South America, 13 in Asia Pacific and 4 in the Middle East and Africa.

Accor Services North America President Olivier Waucampt said, “Our Global Rewards program offers three tangible benefits to incentive agency partners: seamless and immediate access to a global reward catalog at a time when the requests of U.S. multinationals often include an international component; cost savings in shipping and custom taxes compared to reward shipping from the U.S.; and finally the highest quality in local customer service coupled with a single point of contact in the U.S.”

Local Expertise in Sourcing and Fulfillment

In today’s difficult economic climate, fulfillment of rewards, such as merchandise and gift cards, from the U.S. for incentive programs is no longer a cost effective solution. For example, shipping an iPod from the U.S. to India costs approximately $95 USD, but an iPod shipped locally costs less than $10 USD. Global Rewards programs eliminate this disparity by sourcing and fulfilling orders locally, but still managing them centrally. Accor Services relies on local experts in each country for best of breed reward sourcing. Customers can choose from a wide range of reward solutions including multiple retailer gift vouchers, retailer gift cards, open loop gift cards, merchandise, and more.

“Customs and culture are so different from one country to another, but the objective is generally the same in all locations—attracting and retaining the best employees and customers,” said Accor Services North America Reward Director Julien Rochard. “Tapping into local experts, we provide customized reward solutions that respect culture, language and standard of living in every locale while still centralizing operations and billing.”

The program also includes a sophisticated IT redemption platform under Accor’s Accentiv label for a completely customizable solution with point engine and online rewards catalogs. Further, it includes in-country customer service by phone or email with support for more than 30 languages including Hungarian, Arabic, Thai, and Chinese.

About Accor Services North America

Accor Services North America designs and develops innovative prepaid card and voucher solutions that enhance individual well-being and organizational performance for companies and public institutions. Through its secure, prepaid solutions, Accor Services makes life easier for employees, constituents and consumers, in alignment with the social benefit commitments and marketing strategies of its clients. Its portfolio focuses on two types of service: employee benefits with its flagship products Commuter Check and WiredCommute, and incentive & rewards with its new Global Rewards program. http://rewards.accorservicesusa.com

Accor Services is the worldwide leader of corporate prepaid services for employee benefits, rewards & incentives and expense management. With operations in more than 40 countries on five continents, Accor Services solutions are purchased by more than 450,000 companies annually and represents a business volume of 12.7 billion Euros and 30 million daily users. Accentiv’, Accor Services’ incentive marketing network, specializes in two areas of expertise:

 

- Reward solutions: creation and distribution of gift vouchers, gift cards, incentive travel and merchandise
  - Loyalty, motivation & incentives: design, implementation and management of programs

Accor Services North America, Global Rewards, and Accor Services are Registered Trademarks of the Accor Group. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Accor Services
Julien Rochard, 857-228-1484
Incentive and Reward Director
jrochard@accorservicesusa.com