Loyyal teams with Dubai Future Foundation for blockchain-based tourism program

Loyalty and rewards platform Loyyal (formerly Ribbit.me) has announced the new Dubai Points program with the backing of the Dubai Future Foundation, according to a press release sent to CoinReport.

The program was announced at the Keynote Blockchain Technology Conference held this past weekend in the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. The goal of the program is to enrich tourists’ experiences when visiting Dubai. It will bring together government bodies with established private companies to accomplish this.

“This will be both the world’s first tourism incentification program and the largest scale public/private sector collaboration using blockchain and smart contract technology ever,” said Greg Simon, co-founder and CEO of Loyyal. “We want Dubai to become the happiest city in the world by 2020. This program helps by giving Dubai a customizable and personal relationship with every visitor.”

Dubai Future Foundation CEO Saif Al Aleeli

“This program is proof that blockchain is not limited to financial transactions but could be used in many ways, including promoting tourism,” said Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation. “The Foundation established the Global Blockchain Council as part of its Future Agenda to explore emerging technologies, investigate their impact, and also come up with ways to regulate it.”

The press release explains that Dubai Points will be earned and redeemed dynamically based on the participant’s unique lifestyle along with other available data points (e.g. age, location, time of day).

“Many tourists visiting Dubai may miss out on experiencing its rich history and culture, as well as so many of the activities or facilities on offer,” explained Sean Dennis, co-founder and COO of Loyyal. “Dubai Points will incentivize tourists to visit other locations that may be suited to their preferences by rewarding them with points when they visit, and allowing for dynamic redemption based on their what they value.”

Confirmed participants in the program include:

• Consulting firm Privity
• Luxury hotel chain Jumeirah
• International Culinary Centre for Culinary Arts Dubai
• SquareCircle Tech
• Telecommunications company du
• Travel and tourism booking site Flyin

“As part of du’s ongoing endeavor to contribute in positioning Dubai as one of the most rewarding and attractive tourist destinations in the world, we are proud to be part of the innovative Loyyal Dubai Points initiative as a world-first for any tourist destination to have this scheme,” said Carlos Domingo, senior executive officer of New Business and Innovation at du.

Loyyal is partnering with DigitUS to develop an app that will “bring the service to life” based on the Loyyal’s platform.

The Dubai Future Foundation was founded as part of the Dubai Future agenda, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.

Images via press release