We are proud to announce that Collinson Group’s Founder and Chairman, Colin Evans , has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Loyalty & Awards 2025. The award recognises Colin’s pioneering role in transforming how brands worldwide engage with their customers over more than four decades.
As the founder of Collinson Group and creator of Priority Pass, the world's original and market-leading global airport lounge and travel experiences program, Colin revolutionised the travel industry by democratising airport lounge access for millions of travelers worldwide. The family-owned Collinson Group formed over 40 years ago now has five distinct operating companies, including Priority Pass and Valuedynamx, with a combined revenue of over £1.9 bn, over 2,300 employees across 14 countries, and a client list of over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups.
Regarded as one of the true architects of modern loyalty, his career includes establishing ICLP in the 1980s as the first dedicated international loyalty agency serving airlines, hotels, and global brands, and launching direct-to-consumer travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct. His innovations have consistently reshaped how businesses engage with customers across travel, rewards, and loyalty platforms on a global scale.
Colin's contributions to the loyalty industry have earned him major accolades throughout his career, including being named Loyalty Magazine Personality of the Year (2017) and receiving the Loyalty Lifetime Achievement Mega Award (2011). Beyond the companies he has founded, his influence extends to the next generation of innovators in loyalty, travel, and fintech, where he serves as both mentor and investor, providing capital and strategic guidance to emerging leaders shaping the future of the industry.
"When I started out, my ambition was to create experiences that made customers feel valued and recognised, while helping brands build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their audiences. From launching the first global airport lounge network to helping shape the future of rewards with Valuedynamx, I've always believed loyalty is fundamentally about trust and simplicity – these are the foundations of any lasting relationship between a brand and its customers," said Colin Evans, Founder & Chairman of Collinson Group. "I'm incredibly honoured to receive this award, and I share it with the amazing teams, partners, and clients who have been part of this journey."
