Restaurant owners researching Rewards Network often have questions about how the company works, especially how its marketing programs and funding options differ.
This guide answers common questions and explains how Rewards Network helps restaurants generate demand through large-scale loyalty partnerships, with optional funding solutions available for qualifying businesses.
- What is Rewards Network for restaurants?
Rewards Network is a demand generation and marketing company for restaurants.
The core offering is a marketing program that connects restaurants to millions of diners through loyalty programs from major airline, hotel, and credit card brands.
Through these partnerships, Rewards Network promotes participating restaurants to loyalty program members who are actively choosing where to dine based on where they can earn points, miles, or cash back.
In addition to its marketing program, Rewards Network offers optional funding solutions for qualifying restaurants. All funding programs include Rewards Network marketing services as a core component of how restaurants generate the transactions used to fulfill their agreement.
- How do Rewards Network programs work?
Whether a restaurant is on the marketing program or a funding program, diners join a loyalty dining program offered by a Rewards Network partner (such as AAdvantage Dining, Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town, United MileagePlus Dining, and more) by opting in and linking a payment card to their account.
Rewards Network markets participating restaurants to these diners on behalf of those loyalty programs via email, app, and web marketing.
When a diner visits a participating restaurant and pays with their linked card, the transaction is recognized automatically, and rewards are issued through the loyalty program partner.
- How much does Rewards Network cost for restaurants?
For the marketing program:
Restaurants pay a percentage of qualified transactions generated through participating diners.
Because the cost is tied to qualified transactions, restaurants only pay when a participating diner visits and completes a transaction.
For funding programs (such as Dining Credits or Premier Restaurant Funding):
Restaurants either pay a percentage of Rewards Network member transactions or a percentage of all daily transactions processed by the restaurant.
- Does Rewards Network offer a loan or a merchant cash advance?
The standalone Rewards Network marketing program is not a loan or a merchant cash advance. It is a marketing program designed to generate diner demand.
Separately, Rewards Network offers funding solutions (Dining Credits and Premier Restaurant Funding) that are structured as merchant cash advances but with the marketing services program included. These are not loans and involve the purchase of future credit card receivables under agreed-upon terms.
Because the marketing is included as part of these funding programs, Rewards Network can help drive the transactions used to fulfill the agreement.
- Do diners receive discounts at participating restaurants?
Rewards Network does not offer discounts. When dining through Rewards Network partner programs, loyalty program members earn spend-based rewards such as airline miles, hotel points, or other loyalty dining benefits when they pay with a linked card.
- What types of restaurants perform best with Rewards Network marketing?
Restaurants that perform well with the marketing program often have:
- Higher average check sizes
- Available seating during slower hours
- Locations near hotels, offices, or travel hubs
Fine-dining and casual-dining restaurants often see stronger results than quick-service concepts with very small ticket sizes.
- Can small restaurants use Rewards Network?
Yes. Independent restaurants and small restaurant groups can participate in the Rewards Network marketing program and can apply to see if they are qualified to participate in Dining Credits or Premier Restaurant Funding programs.
Many participating restaurants are single-location businesses that use the marketing program as a way to introduce the restaurant to new diners.
- Does Rewards Network bring in new customers?
Rewards Network’s marketing program is designed to attract rewards-motivated diners who are actively choosing where to eat based on earning loyalty rewards.
This functions as a customer acquisition channel for participating restaurants that can introduce new diners and incentivize them to return to earn additional rewards.
- Do restaurants need to offer discounts?
No. Restaurants do not need to change their menu pricing or offer discounts to participate.
The rewards are funded through the marketing program’s transaction-based fee rather than a discount applied at the restaurant.
- Do restaurants control which diners participate?
Restaurants do not select individual diners.
Participation is based on whether a diner belongs to a Rewards Network partner loyalty dining program and uses a linked credit card when paying at the restaurant.
- Is Rewards Network the same as a restaurant loyalty program?
No. Rewards Network does not operate a restaurant’s in-house loyalty program.
Instead, the company connects restaurants to large, established loyalty programs (such as airline, hotel, and credit card programs) and promotes those restaurants within those ecosystems.
This provides restaurants with access to scaled demand and marketing exposure beyond their own customer base.
- Do restaurants have to sign a long-term contract?
Rewards Network’s marketing program does not require a fixed long-term commitment.
Restaurants can opt out of their marketing agreement with notice, subject to the terms of their agreement, which may include an early termination fee depending on timing.
Funding program agreements do not operate on a fixed term. Instead, they remain in place until the agreed-upon receivables are delivered according to the terms of the agreement.
- Can restaurants leave the program?
Yes. Restaurants can exit the marketing program based on the terms outlined in their agreement.
For funding programs, restaurants must deliver the receivables specified in their agreement before the program is considered fulfilled.
- Do restaurants get access to customer data?
Rewards Network gives you access to detailed sales data and select customer insights that help you run your restaurant.
Restaurants may not receive the same level of direct customer data that they would through their own in-house loyalty program or email list.
- Do diners have to show anything to earn rewards?
No.
Loyalty dining member transactions are tracked automatically when they pay with the credit card linked to their loyalty dining account.
This means there is no coupon, code, or special action required at the restaurant.
- Does Rewards Network replace other restaurant marketing?
No. Most restaurants use it as one marketing channel among many.
Restaurants still rely on other strategies such as local SEO, online reviews, social media, and word-of-mouth.
- Why do some restaurant reviews mention fees?
Some restaurant owners discussing the marketing program online focus on the percentage-based transaction cost associated with participating diners.
As with any marketing channel, restaurant operators evaluate whether the cost aligns with their margins and business goals.
- How do restaurants decide if Rewards Network marketing is worth it?
Restaurant owners often evaluate the marketing program by considering:
- Their average check size
- Available seating during slower periods
- The cost of acquiring new customers
- Their existing marketing strategy
For some restaurants, the program functions as a customer acquisition channel. For others, it may not be necessary.
- Is Rewards Network marketing worth it for restaurants?
The answer depends on the restaurant.
Restaurants that benefit most often have available seating during slower periods and want to attract new diners.
Restaurants that already operate at full capacity every night or have very small average checks may find the value less compelling.
Like most marketing channels, results vary depending on location, concept, pricing, and demand,
- What product offerings does Rewards Network have?
Rewards Network offers two primary types of solutions:
- Marketing (Core product):
A demand generation program that connects restaurants to millions of loyalty program members through partnerships with major airline, hotel, and credit card brands. - Optional funding solutions:
Dining Credits and Premier Restaurant Funding are solutions that are structured as merchant cash advances but with the marketing services program included. These are not loans and involve the purchase of future credit card receivables under agreed-upon terms.
Because the marketing is included as part of these funding programs, Rewards Network can help drive the transactions used to fulfill the agreement.
Restaurants can participate in the marketing program independently or choose to apply for a funding program if it fits their business needs.
