o you think your merchants would like a customer-loyalty program featuring universal miles redeemable for free or discounted travel on any airline with no blackout dates? WebMiles Inc. is betting on it.

The Salt Lake City-based corporation has an exclusive partnership with CenterlinQ to offer WebMiles rewards to malls in CenterlinQ's network of retailers. With a presence in 33 malls nationwide and under contract with another 200 malls to provide kiosk and loyalty programs, CenterlinQ provides shopping malls with customer-loyalty program infrastructure as well as public-access, touch-screen Internet kiosks and now extends its attraction with a proven tool for inspiring repeat business - free and discounted travel. On July 12, 2001, the program was made available to banks and credit card issuers.

Consumers earn WebMiles rewards by shopping within the partner network. They can get miles by making daily purchases and then can redeem their miles for free or discounted airline travel without the common restrictions and frustrations found in traditional frequent-flyer programs, such as blackout dates and frequent-flyer seat limitations. WebMiles redemption begins with as few as 8,000 miles, which entitles the consumer to $100 off the price of any airline ticket.

Through the CenterlinQ partnership, consumers are able to join the WebMiles program at participating malls, earn miles for shopping and track their mileage earnings on the WebMiles Web site. The program has a mechanism that enables members of legacy affinity programs to exchange points already accumulated in those programs for WebMiles rewards, and it also provides for the ongoing accumulation of WebMiles rewards based on purchases at participating malls' retailers.

Originally launched in January 2000, the WebMiles program features approximately 100 network partners. WebMiles has signed contracts with more than 300 Ralph's Supermarkets in Southern California, MCI WorldCom, Avis Rent A Car, Smith's Food & Drug stores, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and a host of online partners such as Spiegel.com, JCPenney.com, Nordstrom.com, Borders.com and Overstock.com.

CenterlinQ is a rapidly expanding network accessible via the Web and through public-access, touch-screen Internet kiosks in shopping malls. CenterlinQ attracts more than 33 million consumers per month with one of the largest loyalty shopping programs in the U.S., providing coupons, directories and quick-touch access to high-profile national advertising partners.

The kiosks also provide information regarding the preferences and interests of the consumers who utilize them, enabling businesses to successfully target consumers likely to purchase their products and services in the future. CenterlinQ was honored by Microsoft Corp. last year with the 2000 Retail Application Developer "RAD" award for "Best Retail Headquarters Application" in the category of Core Retail Marketing, its second such honor within three years.

The partnership with CenterlinQ further strengthens WebMiles' position as a leading provider of travel-based customer loyalty rewards for retailers. According to Jeff Crapo, Vice President of Business Development and WebMiles co-founder, "WebMiles is breaking new ground by combining shopping mall and grocery-earning opportunities. Once again, our program is breaking through the barriers of attainability that severely encumber other rewards programs. Consumers will be able to pool their WebMiles rewards earnings from both grocery stores and shopping malls in addition to many other earning opportunities."

ISOs looking to put wings on their merchants' chests should contact Crapo at 801-907-4207 or jcrapo@webmiles.com.