More partners sign up to Skywards loyalty scheme

The three new partners are Emirates Bank International in the UAE, Standard Chartered Bank in Qatar and the Rotana Hotels group across the Middle East.

Since it was established in 2000, Skywards has rapidly become an award-winning loyalty programme, with more than 900,000 members across the globe,

The programme has already won coveted Freddie awards (the frequent flyer programmes' equivalent of the Oscars) in 2002 and 2003. Besides winning Programme of the Year, Skywards also won Freddies for Best Elite Level, Best Award Redemption, Best Affinity Credit Card, Best Website and Best Customer Service last year.

On SriLankan Airlines and Emirates, Skywards offers members upgrades, free flights, lounge facilities, priority check-in, enhanced baggage allowance, limousine service and more. The programme has three tiers - Blue, Silver and Gold with premium facilities for Gold members.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and South African Airways are already partners, as are several leading hotel chains such as the Hilton International, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International and many more.

Leisure and lifestyle partners include Arabian Adventures, Damas, Danat Dubai Cruises, Magrudy's, Rivoli, Wild Wadi Water Park, Emirates Holidays, SriLankan Holidays. Budget Rent A Car, Hertz and Sixt are partners as are Citibank and Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait. The telecommunications multi-national Dialog GSM is also a partner.

Emirates Bank International, a new partner, is one of the UAE's leading banks, offering both corporate and retails banking and a wide range of financial products and services. Holders of any Emirates Bank Group credit card who are also Skywards members will earn three of the bank's own meMiles for every Dhs10 spent on purchases worldwide. These can later be converted to Skywards Miles at the rate of 0.9 Skywards Miles for every meMile earned.

Skywards and Standard Chartered Bank in Qatar (also a new partner) have teamed up to offer members in Qatar a co-branded credit card that combines enhanced travel rewards with all the advantages of a Standard Chartered Master Card. Each time the co-branded card is used, a member earns one Skywards Mile for every four Qatari Riyals spent.

Rotana Hotels, a new addition to the Skywards partner group, are four and five-star properties that combine luxury with genuine Arabian hospitality. Rotana rewards Skywards members with 500 Skywards Miles for every eligible stay.

SriLankan Airlines currently operates services from Colombo to 33 destinations in 21 countries, and future expansion plans call for additional flights to cities in India, as well as long-haul destinations such as Rome and Beijing.