Articles tagged “travel payments”

Virtual payments have become a critical revenue driver for the travel industry by optimizing the payment flow between travel agencies and providers. This roundtable discussion between SkiftX and two Sabre executives explores the challenges and opportunities around business-to-business payments to help travel companies unlock new revenue streams.

In this video from Skift Global Forum 2023, we hear from Edward Chandler, global head of B2B travel at Visa, about what defines the connected trip, what brands can do to create fast and seamless payment journeys, and what new technologies will enable the connected trip of the future.

In this video from Skift Global Forum 2022, we hear from Jeni Mundy, global head of merchant sales and acquiring at Visa, about the rise of contactless technology, enhancing traveler touchpoints, and the future of digital payment innovations.

Travel is officially back in full swing, but consumer habits have shifted. Affirm’s new report, “On the Move: What Today’s Travel Trends Mean for Your Business,” touches on key market trends and explains how travel businesses can attract customers by offering payment options that meet their individual needs.

Optimizing the guest experience doesn’t start when a customer arrives at the boarding gate or checks into a hotel room. It’s time for travel brands to focus on uncovering opportunities earlier in the journey: the online checkout process.

Guests are returning to hotels and are more ready than ever to embrace digital and mobile technology to take control of their journeys. The challenge for hotels is balancing the right level of face-to-face interaction and contactless options to ensure a five-star experience.

For many hotels, getting payments right is just another cost, system to integrate, or added complexity to manage. But when done correctly, payments can go beyond simply being used for transactions to better connect the dots between who your guests are and the experiences and services you provide.

The pandemic proved that digitized payment solutions are no longer a “nice-to-have” for travel and hospitality companies and the businesses they work with — they’re now a must. Thankfully, new digital payment solutions in the B2B space, many inspired by innovations in B2C payments, are now available, as the industry looks toward a post-pandemic landscape.

The pandemic has brought to the forefront the inequality of flight pricing and payment methods. Offering interest-free deferred payments to all passengers would be a step in the right direction for airlines.

Wex Chair and CEO Melissa Smith has proven her mettle by being a shrewd negotiator, going up against the famously ferocious activist investor Elliott Management, part-owner of Travelport.