Emirates Skywards and Accor Elevate Their Loyalty Partnership: More Rewards, More Experiences

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

A Game-Changer in Travel and Hospitality Loyalty Programs

Emirates Skywards and Accor’s ALL (Accor Live Limitless) loyalty program have unveiled an enhanced partnership, taking their members’ travel and hospitality experiences to new heights. This development allows members to seamlessly convert their rewards between the two programs, offering more flexibility, value, and exclusive experiences.

Maximizing Loyalty: Seamless Points Conversion

With this new integration, Emirates Skywards members can now convert their Skywards Miles into ALL Reward Points at a ratio of 4,000 Miles to 1,000 ALL Points. These points can be used for hotel stays at Accor’s extensive network of over 5,600 hotels across 110 countries, including top-tier brands such as:

Raffles

Fairmont

Sofitel

Novotel

Ibis Styles

Conversely, ALL members can convert 4,000 ALL Reward Points into 2,000 Skywards Miles, which can be redeemed for:

Flights on Emirates and partner airlines

Seat upgrades

Exclusive experiences at sporting and cultural events

This two-way conversion system gives members unparalleled access to world-class travel and hospitality perks.

A Stronger Partnership for Global Travelers

This partnership is not just about accumulating points—it’s about creating unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s a luxury stay at a Sofitel in Paris, a beachfront retreat in Bali, or a business trip to Dubai, travelers can now integrate their flights and accommodations effortlessly.

Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates Skywards, emphasized:

“We’re constantly exploring new ways to help our members maximize the value of every Skywards Mile earned and redeemed. This enhanced partnership with ALL will offer exactly that—exceptional hotel stays, limitless experiences, and more.”

Mehdi Hemici, Chief Loyalty and Ecommerce Officer at Accor, echoed the sentiment:

“Our members will have the ability to easily earn and redeem their Points and Miles, unlocking an exciting range of opportunities in new destinations where Emirates operates. This partnership will take membership to the next level.”

Why This Matters for Filipino Travelers

Filipino travelers, both for business and leisure, stand to benefit significantly from this partnership. Many are already frequent flyers with Emirates and loyal guests at Accor properties such as:

Fairmont and Raffles Makati

Novotel Manila Araneta City

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila

With more seamless travel experiences, Filipino members can now enjoy better rewards, whether they’re traveling within the Philippines or internationally.

How to Take Advantage of This Partnership

Sign up for BOTH Emirates Skywards and Accor ALL loyalty programs (if not already a member).

Start earning points and miles by booking flights, hotel stays, and using partner services.

Convert points between programs to maximize benefits for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and exclusive experiences.

This expanded partnership between Emirates Skywards and ALL marks a new era for travel loyalty programs, making premium travel and hospitality more rewarding than ever.

For more details and to sign up, visit Emirates Skywards and ALL Accor.

Busted! Politicians Caught Killing Trees for Campaigns—Are They Breaking the Law?

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As the 2025 midterm election campaign gains momentum in the Philippines, environmental advocates are urging candidates to conduct their campaigns responsibly, emphasizing the importance of protecting trees from the detrimental effects of improperly placed campaign materials.

The EcoWaste Coalition and the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) have jointly called on political aspirants to refrain from affixing posters, banners, and other promotional materials to trees. They highlight that such actions not only harm the environment but also violate existing laws.

Trees offer numerous benefits, including supporting wildlife, providing food, purifying the air, preventing soil erosion, conserving water, mitigating flooding, and absorbing greenhouse gases. Attaching campaign materials to trees can cause physical damage, making them susceptible to insects and diseases, potentially leading to decay and death. Atty. Mark Peñalver, Executive Director of IDIS, emphasized, "Harm not the trees. Nurture and protect them instead."

Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, added, "As the election campaign goes full blast, we ask all candidates and their supporters to abide by ecological and legal practices and save our trees and the environment as a whole from abuse and disrespect."

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has clear guidelines regarding the placement of campaign materials. According to COMELEC Resolution No. 11111, "posting of campaign materials on planted or growing trees... shall be strictly prohibited." Violations can result in imprisonment, fines, and, for public officers or employees, dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

In line with these regulations, COMELEC has initiated "Operation Baklas," a nationwide campaign to remove illegally posted campaign materials. COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia warned candidates that failure to remove such materials within three days could lead to charges of election offenses and potential disqualification. 

Environmental groups are also advocating for the use of eco-friendly campaign materials. They encourage candidates to choose recyclable and reusable non-toxic materials, reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, and manage campaign waste responsibly. The EcoWaste Coalition and IDIS urge adherence to the "Guidelines on the Use of Environmentally Sustainable Election Propaganda" as outlined in COMELEC Resolution No. 11111.

COMELEC has also appealed to aspirants to use biodegradable materials during their campaigns to help protect the environment. Chairman Garcia stated, "We want to protect the environment even during the campaign season. Don’t use non-biodegradable materials, such as plastics or tarpaulin. As much as possible, use only biodegradable materials, those that we can dissolve or use again." 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been active in this regard as well. In a previous campaign, the DENR removed over 114,000 campaign materials posted on trees, underscoring the government's commitment to enforcing environmental laws during election periods. 

As the campaign season progresses, it is imperative for candidates and their supporters to recognize the environmental impact of their activities. By adhering to legal guidelines and embracing eco-friendly practices, they can contribute to a healthier environment and demonstrate genuine leadership in environmental stewardship.

BIR to educate business establishments in Nationwide Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD); No Penalties to be imposed during Nationwide TCVD

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BIR’S FRIENDLY TAX COMPLIANCE VERIFICATION DRIVE

 

In celebration of Tax Awareness Month, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched the Friendly Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD) to promote taxpayer education and encourage voluntary compliance. This initiative focuses on helping taxpayers understand their tax obligations, identify common issues, and guide them in correcting these to ensure proper compliance with tax laws.

"The BIR will conduct a tax education campaign, through a nationwide TCVD. The purpose of this TCVD is solely to educate businesses on their tax obligations. No penalties will be imposed" Commissioner Lumagui stated.

The Friendly TCVD, which runs from February 10 to 14, 2025, takes an educational and supportive approach. Instead of imposing penalties, the BIR aims to assist taxpayers by explaining their obligations and how they can comply with tax regulations.

On its first day alone, more than 24,000 establishments across the entire Philippines were visited as part of the drive. Some of the most common issues found included businesses not being officially registered, not keeping their books of accounts at their place of business, and not displaying their certificate of registration. Additionally, some taxpayers had not yet converted their official receipts into the required sales or service invoices under the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act.

The top five types of establishments visited were retail stores, restaurants, healthcare providers, automotive shops, and construction supply stores. These businesses received practical advice on how to address their compliance issues and were given time to make the necessary corrections.

During the visits, BIR officers made sure to explain the issues clearly and provide guidance on how to fix them. Taxpayers were encouraged to ask questions and seek clarifications about their tax responsibilities. The focus was to help them understand their obligations and support them in becoming fully compliant.

"We are here to educate our taxpayers, not to penalize them. Education leads to compliance. Improved services leads to compliance. Our revenuers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will be visiting businesses to explain the fundamentals of taxation to everyone" Commissioner Lumagui stated.

The Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD) reflects the BIR’s goal of creating a culture of voluntary compliance. Beyond addressing immediate concerns, the TCVD aims to build lasting awareness and improve cooperation between the BIR and the business community.

Through education and continuous guidance, the BIR is committed to helping taxpayers comply with ease and confidence. The Friendly TCVD is a step toward ensuring that businesses understand their tax responsibilities while contributing to the growth and development of the nation.