CITGO Launches Good Rewards Summer Promotion

HOUSTON -- CITGO Petroleum is launching CITGO Good Rewards, a summer promotion through which customers can earn CITGO gift cards by making eight minimum purchases of $20 or more using a Visa card enrolled in the program. The rewards program will run from June 1 through Sept. 20 in all CITGO markets and is designed to increase store traffic, volume and sales.

"We know that summer is an ideal time to offer incentives for consumers to shop at their local CITGO," said Alan Flagg, general manager of light oils marketing for CITGO. "One of the great benefits of the CITGO Good Rewards program is that it encourages consumers to come back again and again to earn rewards for gasoline purchases. The benefit to our marketers and retailers is the simplicity of a turnkey promotion."

CITGO Good Rewards utilizes the Visa Offers real-time messaging platform to confirm qualified purchases and keep account holders up-to-date on their progress toward earning a gift card, the company stated. Starting June 1, customers can enroll, www.CITGOGoodRewards.com, register up to three eligible Visa cards and provide a mobile phone number to receive updates via SMS [short message service] text messages. Once they have made eight purchases of $20 or more using their enrolled Visa card, they will receive redemption instructions for a $15 CITGO gift card.

"The CITGO Good Rewards card is a great example of how Visa Offers programs make it possible for Visa account holders to earn rewards on-the-go for making everyday purchases," said Leigh Amaro, head of media and advertising solutions, Visa Inc. "We designed a program with CITGO that offers value to Visa account holders and CITGO marketers and retailers without creating an administrative burden."

Marketers and retailers can also expect to see an increase in consumer traffic and sales with no additional administration, according to CITGO. Retailers will not need to keep track of purchases or provide the gift cards because Visa will track purchases and send notifications and CITGO will fulfill the rewards. Additionally, the program works with any point-of-sale equipment, and there is no cost to participate.

To support Good Rewards, CITGO plans to run a mix of television, radio and out-of-home advertising in markets across the CITGO footprint starting in June, and provide point-of-purchase materials to retailers. CITGO will also promote the program nationally on cable networks, websites and social networking sites.