# Experiential Resort Loyalty Programs Sandals Launches the Island Insiders Club By Mursal Rahman | Published 2026-06-16 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/island-insiders-club References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sandals-and-beaches-resorts-launch-rebranded-loyalty-program-island-insiders-club-302800547.html)  The [Island Insiders Club](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/island-fin-pok) is a new loyalty program from [Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sandals-resorts-international) and [Beaches Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fam-jam) that expands traditional rewards beyond points-based perks. Replacing the long-running Sandals Select Rewards program, the membership platform introduces flexible experience credits, exclusive events, room upgrade opportunities, concierge support and complimentary resort stays tied to guest activity. Members also gain access to a private merchandise shop and curated on- and off-resort experiences designed to strengthen connections with Caribbean destinations. This approach reflects a broader shift in hospitality, where travel brands are placing greater emphasis on personalized experiences and emotional engagement. By rewarding participation with exclusive access and customized benefits, Sandals is creating more reasons for guests to remain loyal between vacations. The program could encourage longer stays, increased spending on premium services and stronger customer retention. As competition intensifies within the resort sector, experience-driven loyalty strategies may become an increasingly important differentiator for travel and hospitality brands. Image Credit: Sandals and Beaches Resorts ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 80% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Experience-based Loyalty:** Hospitality rewards are shifting from transactional points toward exclusive activities, personalized credits and memorable access that deepen emotional attachment and create new premium engagement models. - **Destination-integrated Memberships:** Resort programs tied to local culture, off-property excursions and curated regional experiences create differentiated loyalty ecosystems that extend brand value beyond the hotel stay. - **Personalized Travel Privileges:** Data-informed concierge support, flexible upgrades and customized benefits represent a growing pathway for brands to increase retention while making loyalty feel more individualized and aspirational. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Hospitality:** Resorts and hotel groups are using experiential memberships to compete on emotional value, guest recognition and exclusive access rather than relying solely on price or points. - **Travel and Tourism:** Tourism operators, destination marketers and excursion providers gain new relevance as loyalty platforms bundle local experiences into branded vacation ecosystems. - **Luxury Retail:** Private merchandise shops and member-only product access signal new opportunities for travel brands and lifestyle retailers to merge exclusivity, souvenirs and loyalty-driven commerce. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cross-Family Cruise Benefits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norwegian-cruise-line-2.md) - [Comprehensive Wellness Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comprehensive-wellness-program.md) - [Fast-Track Loyalty Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diamond-reserve.md) - [Customer-Led Loyalty Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-iconic.md) - [Luxury Safari Camps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-safari-camps.md) - [Cross-Industry Loyalty Ecosystems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crossindustry-loyalty-ecosystems.md) - [Residential Luxury Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/residential-luxury-resorts.md) - [Longevity Holiday Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thelifeco-st-lucia.md) - [Unified Travel Reward Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unified-travel-reward-cards.md)