a fair share

Uber rolls out attractive new loyalty program for Houston users

UberLUX lux black car luxury vehicle ride sharing service 2015

Houstonians can earn points on trips and food delivery.

Courtesy of Uber

A common refrain heard from many ridesharing Houstonians is, “man, if I had a dollar for every Uber trip.” Now, that wish is a reality.

Uber’s first-ever loyalty program, which has been slowly rolled out across nine U.S. cities, is now available in Houston.

The ridesharing company offers four membership levels: blue, gold, platinum, and diamond. Houston users simply join a waiting list and the rewards program at no additional cost.

Once a participant opts into the program, the rider gets $5 added to their Uber Cash balance for every 500 points earned, regardless of the membership level. The Uber Cash balance can be spent on both rides and Uber Eats, according to Uber.

Participants will can earn one point for every eligible dollar spent on UberPool and UberEats orders. That means a fun Friday and Saturday night out — and ensuing Sunday food delivery — can really pay off.

How does the point system work? Two points for UberX, UberXL, and Select; three points for Black and Black SUV. Once 500 points is earned, the rider will advance from Blue to Gold. At 2,500 points they will advance to Platinum. And at 7,500 points, an advance to Diamond.

Diamond status boasts attractive perks: Users can enjoy dedicated phone support with fast 24/7 response times from our most experienced customer support agents. Uber also promises complimentary surprise upgrades from UberX to premium products like Uber Black at no extra cost. There’s also a special “UberX Diamond” option offers access to highly-rated drivers. Diamond members also receive no delivery fee on three Uber Eats orders every six months.

Similar to many loyalty programs, earnings periods are six months long and are tied to the date signed up to join the program. When a tier is unlocked, the rider will have that tier for the remaining earnings period, and the next six months.

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breaking ground

Pharmacy giant Bristol Myers Squibb to build $2.3B Houston factory

Bristol Myers Squibb Houston factory rendering

Courtesy of Bristol Myers Squibb

The 60,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2030.

New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has officially named Houston as the home of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing site.

The 60,000-square-foot facility represents a $2.3 billion investment, according to a news release. It is expected to create 500 skilled jobs and will be located in Houston's Generation Park.

BMS first announced that it was considering Houston among 16 other cities for the facility in May. The new hub will manufacture small molecule, biologic and antibody-drug conjugates and is part of a $40 billion commitment to invest in the United States over five years. Construction is slated to begin next year, with the facility coming online in 2030.

"We're building the domestic manufacturing capabilities needed to deliver the next generation of medicines and support future scientific breakthroughs. Houston and the state of Texas offer the talent, infrastructure, and partnership needed to help bring that vision to life," Christopher Boerner, CEO and board chair of BMS, said in the release.

The new facility will feature a modular, multi-modal design, which will allow the company to reconfigure and add to its manufacturing capabilities over time. BMS says it expects the facility to "(grow) in scale and capability well beyond its opening configuration."

"Our decision to build this state-of-the-art manufacturing campus in Houston, Texas, reflects our confidence in the region’s ability to support a world-class, digitally advanced supply operation,” Karin Shanahan, EVP and chief supply chain and operations officer of BMS, added in the release. “This facility is designed to deliver the speed, quality, and reliability that patients depend on, combining flexible, modular manufacturing with advanced digital capabilities to ensure consistent supply across multiple modalities. It strengthens our ability to operate with resilience and positions us to reliably deliver medicines to patients today while adapting future demands.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shared that the state has granted BMS a $4.89 million Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant for the project. TEF grants, administered by the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, support business relocation or expansion projects that create "new, good-paying jobs in the community and attract significant new capital investment to the state." The development is also a qualified project under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation (JETI) program.

“Texas is a global hub for life sciences, where today’s innovations shape the future of healthcare,” Abbott said in a news release. “This $2.3 billion investment by Bristol Myers Squibb in the dynamic biotech ecosystem in Houston is a testament to the depth of our skilled workforce and the pipeline of talent coming through our nation-leading technical colleges and research universities. With lower operating costs and easy access to markets across the U.S. and the world, Texas drives affordability for consumers.”

"Bristol Myers Squibb’s announcement is a tremendous win for Texas and the Houston region, further reinforcing our position as a premier destination for life sciences and advanced manufacturing,” added Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean.

Last fall, Eli Lilly and Co. selected Generation Park, a 4,300-acre, master-planned commercial district near Lake Houston, for its $6.5 billion manufacturing plant. More than 300 locations in the U.S. competed for the factory. Read more here.

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This story was first published on our sister site InnovationMap.