Dive Brief:

• Applebee’s has partnered with Wyndham Rewards to offer free delivery for members who spend $15 or more on Applebee’s To Go through the Wyndham Mobile App, the companies said in a Tuesday press release.
• Applebee’s has over 1,100 locations within a five-mile radius of a Wyndham hotel in the U.S. 
• The partnership could expand Applebee’s off-premise channel, which made up nearly 24% of sales — consisting of 11.9% from to-go and 12.1% from delivery — during the first quarter.

Dive Insight:

While many hotels have partnered with third-party delivery providers to offer restaurant and retail delivery, this partnership is unique due to its level of integration by offering points toward both the hotel and restaurant rewards programs. Customers earn 10 Wyndham Rewards points per dollar for every qualifying mobile order of $15 or more. Members who join Club Applebee’s will receive 2,500 bonus points for their first qualifying order. 

Applebee’s off-premise sales mix is also on the rise, with first quarter results 3.5% higher than the year-ago period. This increase was largely due to third-party delivery and targeted promotions around the Super Bowl and NCAA basketball tournament, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said in a recent earnings call.  

Other chains have partnered with rewards programs to increase brand awareness. Starbucks has linked its rewards program to Bank of America and Delta in recent years, for example.