Blockchain-based loyalty programs in the hotel industry: a systematic review

Nuruly Y. Sembayeva A. Aktymbayeva A. Abdullayeva A. Moldagaliyeva A.
2025 Emerald Publishing

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology
2025 1 - 19 pp.

Purpose – This study aims to systematically review blockchain-based loyalty programs in hotels, identify their enabling mechanisms and reported outcomes and specify when blockchain materially extends traditional loyalty programs. Design/methodology/approach – A PRISMA-guided review of Scopus and Web of Science (2014–2024) identified 55 studies. Evidence was synthesized via a standardized extraction template, qualitative thematic analysis and bibliometric co-occurrence mapping. Findings – Three capabilities recur: smart-contract rule automation; shared, tamper-evident records on distributed ledgers and portability through tokenization/interoperability. Outcomes are strongest when blockchain logic is embedded at familiar booking/payment touchpoints, personally identifiable information remains off-chain with on-chain proofs and wallets abstract keys/fees. Adoption remains uneven due to regulatory classification of tokenized rewards, privacy management, throughput/fee variability, user-experience frictions and multiparty governance. Two under-specified levers – token governance and the interaction between portability and brand attachment – shape perceived fairness, economics and engagement. Evidence favors hybrid deployment layered onto incumbent systems rather than wholesale replacement. Research limitations/implications – Evidence skews toward pilots and single-case designs; cost and environmental metrics are inconsistently reported. Practical implications – Prioritize compliance-first hybrid designs: off-chain personal data with on-chain proofs, recovery-enabled/custodial wallets with fee abstraction and selective smart contracts for partner clearing and high-risk redemption. Originality/value – This hotel-focused synthesis integrates technical, managerial and regulatory lenses; distinguishes auditability-based trust from affective attachment; and reframes portability as both opportunity and boundary condition, setting a targeted agenda around governance, user experience and cross-jurisdictional compliance.

Blockchain , Hotel loyalty , Interoperability , Smart contracts , Systematic review , Tokenization , 互操作性 , 代币化 , 区块链 , 智能合约 , 系统性综述 , 酒店忠诚度

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism
Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism
Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026