From today small to medium enterprises (SME) can enjoy earning rewards for everyday business expenses following the launch of Qantas Loyalty’s newest program, Aquire.

With close to 30,000 businesses pre-registering for the program, Aquire is already proving popular with SMEs keen to build an Aquire Points balance from a range of everyday eligible business transactions including travel, banking, insurance and even parking.

Qantas Loyalty Chief Executive Officer Ms Lesley Grant said she was very proud to launch Aquire as the first airline loyalty program tailor-made for Australian businesses.

“Aquire rewards businesses for their loyalty by delivering tangible benefits that can have a positive impact on their bottom line.

“With program partners including Qantas, Westpac, Deloitte Private and GIO, Aquire makes it easy for businesses to earn points for everyday transactions.”

NSW Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cartwright said Aquire would provide support for Australia’s two million small business owners.

“Considering the economic challenges Australian businesses currently face, the Aquire loyalty program will be welcomed as an opportunity to be rewarded for doing everyday business.”

By turning eligible business flights and expenses into rewards, Aquire provides businesses with a central Aquire account which keeps track of their Aquire Point balance. Business owners and their employees who are Qantas Frequent Flyer members will continue to earn Qantas Points as they usually would.

Once a small business owner has earned Aquire Points, they can be converted 1:1 into Qantas Points in the name of an individual Qantas Frequent Flyer member. This offers members a range of options that can have a positive impact on their bottom line, including:

– flights and hotels for a business owner and employees for work or leisure

– flight upgrades for a business owner and employees

– products, experiences and gifts from the Qantas Store

Founder of Deus Ex Machina Dare Jennings, who will appear in the Aquire launch campaign alongside other Australian SMEs, said he was looking forward to the benefits Aquire will deliver his business.

“We invest significantly in travel each year so it’s great that Aquire will reward our business for our loyalty whilst still allowing my team to earn Qantas Points as they do today.”

Aquire’s list of launch partners includes Westpac, GIO, Deloitte, Secure Parking, Regus, Randstad, Avis, Macquarie Leasing, Staples, Snap, Budget, QBE and Qantas.  Businesses can earn Aquire Points across a wide range of products and services offered by these partners turning everyday business expenses into real rewards.

All Australia-based SMEs with an ABN can register for Aquire today via aquire.com.au. For the first year of joining the annual membership fee of $179 per annum (inclusive of GST) will be waived for SMEs that join on or before 30 September 2014.

The launch of Aquire follows a series of new opportunities to earn and redeem Qantas Points. These include Qantas Cash (the new pre-paid multiple currency function build into the next generation Qantas Frequent Flyer Card), Qantas Restaurants and Qantas Cruises. Qantas Frequent Flyer is on track to reach 10 million members this financial year.