Why Modern Hospitality Venues Are Winning with Flexible, Real-World Rewards

Across Australia, hospitality and gaming venues are redefining what loyalty means. Members, especially top-tier patrons, now expect flexibility, real-world value and genuine convenience, not restrictive point systems or venue-only perks.

That’s why many leading venues are turning to all-in-one loyalty solutions like Next Payments’ GSL Loyalty Program to meet this shift. Venues adopting these loyalty offerings are seeing measurable gains in visitation, retention, and spend.

What Australian Consumers Look for in a Loyalty Program

Australian consumers are more loyalty-conscious than ever, but also selective. According to the Australian Loyalty Association, 86% of Australians belong to at least one loyalty program, yet participation only increases when rewards are useful, easy to redeem and personally meaningful.

Today’s loyalty expectations lean strongly toward:

• Simple, frictionless redemption

• Personalised value and flexibility

• Everyday usefulness outside the business

• Clear rewards and not complex tiers

Australian research also shows that loyalty customers respond best to practical rewards they can use in their everyday lives - rather than prizes that are hard to redeem or restricted to a single business.

This shift also raises a critical question for hospitality and gaming operators: How do you deliver value that follows members beyond your venue - while still driving spend inside it?

GSL: The Loyalty Add-On Designed for Modern Australian Venues

GSL is purpose-built for Australian clubs, pubs and gaming operators looking to upgrade their loyalty offering without replacing their current system. It does this by extending the value of a venue’s existing program into the everyday lives of members.

With Next Payments’ GSL Program:

• Points become real dollars: members convert rewards into spendable value at any eftpos merchant in Australia.

• One card does everything: membership, loyalty, promotions and prepaid eftpos all in one.

• Members can load personal funds via BPAY: turning the card into a budgeting and spending tool.

• Members gain more value: when venues use the GSL Plus program, which includes retail partnerships with local businesses. This allows members to keep earning points at these businesses even when they’re not at the venue.  

GSL reframes loyalty as a flexible, real-world asset rather than a venue-bound loyalty system, ensuring members experience value wherever they go.

Proof That Modern Loyalty Drives Real Revenue

Here are some results from a NSW venue using GSL - showing how a flexible loyalty program can reshape member behaviour and boost performance.

• 124% growth in top-tier members: demonstrating stronger retention and deeper engagement from the club’s highest-value patrons.
• 170% surge in top-tier spend: resulting in turnover increasing from $1.6M to $4.4M, with top-tier members now driving nearly 30% of total venue revenue.
• Monthly turnover uplift above $16M: several months in 2024 exceeded $16M in turnover, reflecting widespread growth and improved activity across the full membership base.

These results make one thing clear: when rewards deliver real, everyday value, members visit more frequently, stay longer and spend more.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Prioritise Your Venue’s Loyalty Program

Australian hospitality and gaming operators face rising competition, tightening margins and increasingly savvy patrons.  

The old model of “earn points, redeem points” simply isn’t enough. Programs like GSL, which extend value far beyond the venue and integrate into real-life spending patterns, is in fact where the industry is heading:

• More flexibility

• More relevance

• More personal value

• More data-driven decision-making

• And ultimately, more profitable loyalty for venues

Venues that invest in this shift now will lead the industry in 2026, while those who don’t risk falling behind as member expectations continue to accelerate.

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Have a question or would like more information? Please contact: media@nextpayments.com.au