Groupon Launches Rewards Program For Visa, Mastercard Foodies

Daily deal website operator Groupon announced Thursday (Sept. 7) the launch of Groupon+, a free to claim, cash back restaurant deals platform.

In a press release the company said Groupon+ enables customers to save money by paying with a credit or debit card that is enrolled in the rewards program. Customers have to have an eligible Mastercard of Visa credit card or debit card and under the program can access deals of up to 30 percent cash back on purchases from more than 1,500 participating restaurants. According to a new survey the company conducted on the latest dating trends, nearly 80 percent of people would use a discount on a date, and almost half of those who said no would change their mind if they could do so discreetly.

“Every day, people are looking to get the most out of every experience, whether shopping, dining or visiting with family and friends. Through our expanded partnership with Groupon, we’re able to offer our cardholders greater convenience and on-demand access to new deals while continuing to benefit from all of the protections and features of their Mastercard cards,” said Sherri Haymond, executive vice president of digital partnerships at Mastercard, in the press release. The 23 U.S. markets where Groupon+ is live include: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, San Jose, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, Tampa, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, San Diego, Las Vegas, Austin, Newark, N.J., Long Island, N.Y. and Orange County, Calif. Groupon plans to expand Groupon+ to include national brands and additional markets, as well as continue to move deeper into other categories beyond restaurants. “Visa U.S. account holders spent $312 billion at fine-dining and quick-service restaurants,” added Doug Rappoport, vice president of Visa commerce solutions, in the same press release. “Visa’s card-linked services enable Groupon+ participating businesses to turn manual offer redemption into an automated experience, which can help them drive incremental business and make for more loyal customers.”