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Dinova launches rewards program for corporate employees

Dinova LLC, a platform solely focused on connecting expense account diners with restaurants nationwide, launched myDinova, a rewards program exclusively for corporate employees.

March 17, 2016

Dinova LLC, a platform focused on connecting expense account diners with restaurants nationwide, launched myDinova, a rewards program exclusively for corporate employees, according to a company press release. With myDinova business diners can earn personal rewards for their business meals and entertainment expenses – whether eating out on the road while traveling, buying meals for training and events, catering meetings, or entertaining clients.  

myDinova works like other corporate programs where employees get rewarded for concentrating their business at a preferred airline, hotel, or car rental provider. It offers personal rewards on company meals and entertainment expenses when employees concentrate their spending with restaurants in the Dinova network, said Vic Macchio, Dinova founder and CEO.

"myDinova is the only rewards program that allows employees to accrue personal rewards in the course of their everyday business dining activities, with the support and approval of their company," he said. "Whether it's colleagues talking about a project over lunch at a restaurant near the office, the road warrior eating three meals a day while traveling, or a sales executive taking a client out for a nice dinner, any reimbursable business meal scenario is an opportunity for employees to earn personal rewards. With myDinova, these employees are motivated to visit company-preferred Dinova network restaurants to gain personal rewards."

A sign-up process at the myDinova website securely registers the individual's corporate credit card. Then they eat at any of Dinova's 13,000+ network restaurants and use their corporate credit card as they normally would. There are three ways for employees to earn myDinova points:

• Dining activity — For every $1 spent in Dinova network restaurants, employees earn one point.      
• Network loyalty bonus — If at least 25 percent of an employee's restaurant visits are in-network in a given month, they will earn an additional 25 percent bonus on in-network spend. If at least 50 percent of restaurant visits are in-network, then the employee earns 50 percent more bonus points on in-network spend.
• Special offers/promotions — Occasionally Dinova offers promotions to reward employees for dining at specific restaurants. When employees take advantage of such offers, they automatically receive the points offered with that promotion.

Points are applied in real-time, and gift cards to Dinova network restaurants can be requested once the employee surpasses certain point thresholds. Gift cards are delivered to employees electronically or via mail.

"myDinova benefits all parties involved," Macchio said. "Individuals build up reward points on business dining expenses. Dinova network restaurants gain new and more frequent expense-account patrons with both local employees and business travelers now motivated to dine at these establishments more frequently. And companies in the Dinova network benefit by receiving savings in the form of monthly rebates."

Rewards-driven programs are historically popular with corporate employees, with suppliers in the air, car, and hotel industry typically gaining repeat business from loyal customers using their corporate credit cards for reimbursable expenses.

• According to a 2013 Deloitte report, 76 percent of high-frequency business travelers view opportunities to earn and redeem points as "vital."
• GBTA reported last year that 78 percent of travel managers are allowed to use individual hotel loyalty accounts when traveling for business.
• One-third of travel managers say they actively inform their travelers about hotel loyalty programs (GBTA).
• A Loyology survey found that 75 percent of respondents agreed they would like to have one rewards program membership that is honored at multiple restaurant chains.

myDinova rewards can be redeemed at a broad range of restaurants, from fast casual to fine dining establishments, the release stated.

"Rewards programs clearly influence behavior, particularly in the business environment. Employees are conditioned to plot scenarios to earn personal points for flights and hotel stays, and they often accumulate those rewards using company-preferred airlines and hotels," Macchio said. "myDinova — the only dining rewards program targeted exclusively at corporate employees — is the logical extension, enabling staff to follow company reimbursement guidelines on meals and entertainment and earn rewards for their personal restaurant use at the same time."