Ayala Malls triumphs with two wins at Retail Asia Awards 2024

It has won the Digital Initiative of the Year - Philippines and the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines categories.

Shopping centre development company Ayala Malls secured two major accolades at the esteemed Retail Asia Awards 2024 for the success of its app and loyalty programme, Zing, and its recently established mall, One Ayala.

The Ayala Malls Zing app, which brought the company the win in the Digital Initiative of the Year - Philippines category, became Ayala Malls’ way to transcend brick and mortar and enter the digital space. It has been designed to provide shoppers with the convenience of a mall companion that provides instant information, exclusive benefits and a fully digital rewards programme.

It also features the first-in-market interactive map that shows the user the quickest way to get to their searched restaurant, store or amenities from exactly where they are. 

Members who are not sure where to shop or dine can use Zing’s search feature, and shoppers can also find the latest movie schedules, book their seats, and pay without having to line up at the booth.

At the core of Zing is the loyalty programme, which enables Ayala Malls to deliver world-class technology and a delightful customer experience, in collaboration with payment partners. In November 2023, the app innovated by adding a means for cash payments to earn points by scanning a receipt.

This feature uses machine learning to detect eligible receipts and award Zing Points. Members can easily track their points balance and history in the app, and redeem vouchers on a point-to-peso value basis. 

Another enhancement featured in the app is the Member Perks section. By simply clicking on an offer and showing the Zing profile page, members can avail of the special benefit – be it a discount or freebie.

Responses to Zing have been tremendous, with the company’s membership growing four times more in 2023. The hyper-growth is driven by high-value marketing promotions ranging from shopping sprees to vacations, communicated both in malls and through social media marketing.

“Invaluable customer data helps us understand our customers' spending patterns and app usage, such that we can develop marketing and operations strategies that cater to their needs. Insights from our customer data also help us work better with our merchants, as we help boost their business based on customer behaviour and trends,” the company said.
Meanwhile, the opening of One Ayala in 2022 has served the diverse needs of the central business district’s market with over four hundred stores, including dining concepts at all price points, in-demand retail options, plus an 825 sqm Concourse located at the heart of the mall serves as an activity centre for opportunities to connect with the community. Amongst its standout features is SPACE at One Ayala, a sprawling 2,700 sqm canvas designed to accommodate a variety of events, from concerts and trade shows to meetings and weddings. Most notably, it has become a recognised landmark with a 20,000 sqm intermodal transport hub accredited by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Located at the intersection of two major thoroughfares at the gateway of the city, One Ayala has become a hub for all Public Utility Vehicle operators, providing an average of 2,300 daily trips with all modes of public transportation such as city buses, jeepneys and vans. It has also established a safe connection via elevated walkways for 60,000 average daily commuters to the Metro Rail Transit train line. Last year, One Ayala recorded over 800,000 trips, which translates into 13 million passengers served.

With guidance from local government and environmental specialists, the mall has been future-proofed from the ground up, by gearing up with all the trappings of a next-generation facility: an electric vehicle charging station, all-LED lighting, fresh air ducts, and multi-gas testing devices to monitor carbon monoxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and combustible levels in the building.

By the end of 2023, One Ayala has contributed to the alleviation of several of the metro’s transportation woes. The new hub aided the decongestion of the notorious rush-hour traffic with sustainable mass transport options on EDSA, the metro’s largest highway.

“One Ayala has exemplified its commitment to enhancing the EDSA Busway experience by providing a more conducive and commuter-friendly bus stop at Ayala, and we are extremely pleased with our partnership with them,” said Joshua Joseph Rodriguez, Project Manager at the Philippine Department of Transportation.

Ayala Malls has been recognised with the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines category win for the great leap made by the mall.

The Retail Asia Awards honour companies that have recently launched innovative retail projects or initiatives, as well as industry leaders that have propelled their respective brands to maintain a competitive edge.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].