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RBC and Hopper have just announced a strategic partnership. Members of the RBC Avion Rewards program will now be able to book flights, hotels, and car rentals directly through the Hopper platform. This collaboration marks a significant step for both Canadian companies.
Hopper, founded in Montreal, has established itself as a major player in travel booking thanks to its price prediction algorithms and flexibility products. For its part, RBC seeks to offer a modern booking experience to its millions of RBC cardholders. Here’s what this partnership changes for you in practical terms.
Through the Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS) division, RBC integrates Hopper’s booking technology directly into its Avion ecosystem. In practical terms, members access a booking portal powered by Hopper to plan their trips.
The partnership covers three booking categories:
RBC cardholders will be able to use their Avion points to pay for part or all of their bookings. This is a concrete addition to the RBC Avion Rewards ecosystem, which until now relied on its own booking portal.
Hopper is a technology company founded in Montreal in 2007. The app is best known for its price predictions: it analyzes billions of pricing data points to recommend the best time to buy a flight or hotel. Over 100 million people worldwide have downloaded the app.
However, Hopper is no longer limited to its consumer app. Its B2B division, Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS), provides its technology to financial and airline partners. Among its notable clients:
The partnership with Capital One is particularly revealing. In the United States, Capital One Travel has become one of the most popular bank booking portals thanks to Hopper technology. RBC appears to want to replicate this success in Canada.
Consult our guide on Capital One Travel on Milesopedia USA.
Several concrete improvements result from this partnership. Here are the main benefits for RBC Avion cardholders.
Hopper’s interface is recognized for its simplicity and speed. Avion members will benefit from a smoother booking experience than RBC’s current portal. Searching, comparing, and paying are done in just a few steps.
Hopper excels in predictive analysis. Its algorithms indicate whether the price of a flight or hotel will rise or fall in the coming days. This feature helps travelers choose the right time to book and save on their tickets.
Hopper offers products such as price freeze, flexible cancellation, and protection against fare drops. These options, for an additional fee, provide peace of mind when booking. It remains to be confirmed which of these products will be available through the RBC portal.
The partnership targets members of the RBC Avion Rewards program. In practice, any RBC card that accumulates Avion points should provide access to the new Hopper portal. Here are the main cards concerned:
To discover all RBC options, visit our dedicated page on RBC credit cards. Additionally, if you’re hesitating between several issuers, our comparison of the best travel credit cards can help you.
This collaboration is part of a broader trend. Major Canadian banks are seeking to transform their loyalty programs into true travel platforms. Rather than developing their own technology, they partner with specialists.
For RBC, the challenge is twofold. First, improve the booking experience to retain its cardholders. Second, stand out against competition from Aeroplan (TD and CIBC), Scene+ (Scotiabank), and American Express Membership Rewards.
For Hopper, securing RBC confirms HTS’s credibility with financial institutions. After Capital One in the United States, signing with Canada’s largest bank is a strong signal. This positions HTS as the reference in bank booking portals in North America.
This partnership could push other Canadian banks to modernize their booking portals. Currently, several bank loyalty programs offer aging portals with a user experience that could be improved.
Despite the enthusiasm, some questions remain unanswered. Here are the elements we’re monitoring closely.
The partnership between RBC Avion and Hopper is excellent news for Canadian travelers. By leveraging HTS’s proven technology, RBC is modernizing its booking experience and offering tools that members have been waiting for: price prediction, intuitive interface, and potentially unique flexibility products.
Hopper continues to establish itself as the technology partner of reference for financial institutions. After Capital One in the United States, this Canadian partnership with RBC confirms the Montreal company’s ambition.
If you hold an RBC Avion card, you don’t need to do anything for now. Watch for communications from RBC and visit our page on the best credit cards to compare your options. We will update this article as soon as the new portal is accessible.
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