RBC partners with Hopper to update Avion Rewards Travel

RBC has entered a long-term partnership with Hopper Technology Solutions to operate Avion Rewards Travel. The new booking portal will be available to all Avion Rewards members, including Avion credit cardholders.

The agreement connects RBC's Avion Rewards programme with Hopper Technology Solutions, or HTS, as the bank updates the travel offering within one of Canada's largest proprietary loyalty schemes.

Under the arrangement, an updated Avion Rewards Travel platform will be integrated into the wider Avion Rewards system. Members will be able to redeem Avion points for flights, accommodation, car hire, activities and holiday packages through a single portal.

Avion credit cardholders will retain access to fixed-point pricing across any airline and any flight, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. RBC also said the transition for existing members would be seamless.

Travel focus

The move reflects ongoing competition among banks and loyalty providers to make rewards programmes more central to everyday customer activity. Travel remains one of the most visible elements of those schemes, particularly for cardholders who use points for higher-value redemptions.

The updated platform is expected to add more flexible booking options and new loyalty features. One will guide when to book flights using historical and predictive pricing data.

That points to a broader shift in travel booking, as financial groups and travel technology providers use data tools to present pricing information and booking choices within loyalty channels. For banks, the goal is often to increase customer engagement and spending through card-linked ecosystems rather than standalone transactions.

RBC described Avion Rewards as one of Canada's largest travel providers and said the programme serves a broad base of consumers who redeem points for merchandise, experiences and travel. The travel proposition has long been central to the Avion brand, with its "any airline, any flight, any time" offer used as a differentiator in the credit card market.

Partnership terms

Neither side disclosed the financial terms of the long-term arrangement. HTS, part of Hopper, provides booking and travel technology to the direct customer channels of banks, airlines and travel companies.

Hopper and its business-to-business arm have focused on selling travel tools to large consumer brands, particularly in financial services. Those tools include services designed to address fare changes, booking decisions and travel disruption, where providers see room to improve conversion and repeat use.

For RBC, the partnership gives Avion Rewards access to an external travel technology platform while keeping the loyalty programme within the bank's own customer offering. That structure is becoming more common as major consumer brands add specialist travel services without building every element in-house.

Vinita Savani, Executive Vice President, Cards & Loyalty at RBC, described the deal as a significant step in reshaping travel loyalty and said the partnership would create a seamless, personalised booking experience for Avion Rewards members and credit cardholders.

"RBC's collaboration with HTS represents a significant milestone in transforming travel loyalty, delivering smarter, industry-first features for our Avion Rewards members to enjoy," said Savani. "By combining HTS' technology with Avion Rewards' unparalleled loyalty expertise, we're creating a seamless, personalised travel booking experience that puts the needs of our members and credit cardholders first. This exciting shift underscores our dedication to innovation and reinforces Avion Rewards' position as Canada's leading loyalty program."

Dakota Smith, President and Co-Founder of Hopper & HTS, said the partnership would bring next-generation travel technology to Avion Rewards members and deliver a more dynamic and personalised experience.

"As a proudly Canadian company, we're thrilled to team up with RBC, Canada's leading bank, to bring next-generation travel innovation to Canadians and deliver a more dynamic, personalised, and rewarding experience for Avion Rewards members," said Smith. "RBC continues to set the standard for what clients expect from a world-class bank, and this venture underscores our shared commitment to redefining travel and loyalty through best-in-class technology."

RBC serves more than 19 million clients in Canada, the US and 27 other countries. HTS has been expanding its business with banks and travel suppliers seeking to add booking services and related products to consumer-facing platforms.