Travel agents have long gone the way of video store clerks, and consumers haven\u2019t walked into an airport or hotel to make a flight or room reservation in more than a generation. Booking travel, whether a short Uber ride across town or vacation abroad, first went digital roughly three decades ago amid the rise of desktop computers and websites for travel platforms, hotels and rental cars.
\nThe newest trend within that digital revolution: Consumers are using their mobile phones to purchase trips. But only people of certain ages and only certain kinds of trips.
\nA forthcoming study from PYMNTS Intelligence shows how mobile phones have taken the lead as the preferred tool for booking travel, transforming how consumers plan and purchase everything from Lyft rides and short-haul flights to cross-country adventures and overseas vacations.
\nThe shift, detailed in the forthcoming special report, \u201cConsumers Go Mobile-First on Travel Purchases,\u201d reveals a consumer landscape in which convenience and instant access reign supreme.
\nThe report, which will be published Monday (April 7) and is based on a survey of more than 2,200 U.S. adult consumers conducted in early February 2025, paints a clear picture: Mobile devices are now the dominant force in travel booking.
\nMore than 7 in 10 U.S. consumers prefer using such devices when booking local travel. Nearly 6 in 10 say the same for long-distance travel and rental cars.
\nThe mobile-first trend is notably stronger for travel compared to other common purchase categories such as restaurant orders and retail goods. Today, your next getaway likely begins and ends in the palm of your hand.
\nBut the way consumers book isn\u2019t uniform. Rather, it depends on their age and the type of travel they\u2019re pursuing.
\nMobile devices have the biggest lead in local travel purchases, like taxi rides and public transportation fares. A striking 73% of shoppers who recently paid for these services via apps prefer using their mobile devices, compared to only 37% who favor computers. Interestingly, around 1 in 10 shoppers who recently bought any type of travel prefers using voice-activated devices.
\nBut while mobile holds an edge for longer journeys and rental cars, computers remain surprisingly resilient. Nearly 6 in 10 consumers (59%) prefer mobile for long-distance travel, with 54% opting to book via a computer.
\nSimilarly, for rental cars, 57% favor mobile, while 50% prefer computers. This suggests that for more complex itineraries, a\u00a0 computer\u2019s larger screen and potentially more detailed interface holds appeal for many travel buyers.
\nDelving into generational differences uncovers some fascinating trends. The majority of consumers across age groups are now mobile-first when it comes to booking travel, ranging from 64% for Gen Zers to 53% for Generation X.
\nBaby boomers stand out as the only generation where computers are still preferred over mobile devices. Only 28% of that cohort prefer mobile for booking all types of travel, while 45% favor computers.
\nBut there\u2019s a twist. Gen Z, the cohort that grew up with smartphones, shows an affinity for purchasing travel via computers, with 40% preferring this method. This puts them closer to baby boomers in this regard than to millennials.
\nThe report suggests that Gen Z\u2019s preference for computers often revolves around purchases made through browsers rather than via mobile apps, and that the cohort is notably less likely to prefer mobile browsers compared to zillennials and millennials. One possible explanation is that many Gen Z consumers are students and frequently use laptops for coursework, giving them consistent access to both device types.
\nAcross all three transit categories \u2014 local transportation, long-distance travel and rental cars \u2014 baby boomers were the least likely to have made travel purchases within the last 12 months, followed by Gen Z. This could reflect their respective life stages, with many baby boomers retired and Gen Z consumers often still in school or early in their careers.
\nRegardless of how they book, a large majority of digital-first travel consumers prioritize research. More than 7 in 10 digital shoppers typically conduct research as part of their travel buying process, highlighting the smartphone\u2019s role not just in booking a ticket but also in the earlier planning stage. This holds true across generations, with Gen Z leading at 79%. Even 69% of boomers engaging in online research before making a purchase.
\nInterestingly, only about half of shoppers who buy their travel digitally consider the perks offered by their credit cards or other payment plans when booking online. This indicates an area where merchants and service providers could better incentivize travelers to use their rewards programs. Bridge millennials lead in considering perks, followed by Gen X and millennials. Gen Z shoppers show less interest in this benefit. Baby boomers exhibit the least interest in perks and rewards.
\nAs mobile phones become even more sophisticated, the dominance of smartphones in the travel sector is likely to strengthen. Businesses in the travel industry should recognize and adapt to these mobile-first behaviors to reach and serve travelers.
\nThe post Mobile Phones Overtake Desktops as Consumers’ Preferred Travel Booking Tool appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Travel agents have long gone the way of video store clerks, and consumers haven\u2019t walked into an airport or hotel to make a flight or room reservation in more than a generation. Booking travel, whether a short Uber ride across town or vacation abroad, first went digital roughly three decades ago amid the rise of desktop computers and websites for travel platforms, hotels and rental cars. \nThe newest trend within that digital revolution: Consumers are using their mobile phones to purchase trips. But only people of certain ages and only certain kinds of trips.\nA forthcoming study from PYMNTS Intelligence shows how mobile phones have taken the lead as the preferred tool for booking travel, transforming how consumers plan and purchase everything from Lyft rides and short-haul flights to cross-country adventures and overseas vacations. \nThe shift, detailed in the forthcoming special report, \u201cConsumers Go Mobile-First on Travel Purchases,\u201d reveals a consumer landscape in which convenience and instant access reign supreme.\nThe report, which will be published Monday (April 7) and is based on a survey of more than 2,200 U.S. adult consumers conducted in early February 2025, paints a clear picture: Mobile devices are now the dominant force in travel booking. \nMore than 7 in 10 U.S. consumers prefer using such devices when booking local travel. Nearly 6 in 10 say the same for long-distance travel and rental cars. \nThe mobile-first trend is notably stronger for travel compared to other common purchase categories such as restaurant orders and retail goods. Today, your next getaway likely begins and ends in the palm of your hand.\nBut the way consumers book isn\u2019t uniform. Rather, it depends on their age and the type of travel they\u2019re pursuing. \nMobile Phones Rule \nMobile devices have the biggest lead in local travel purchases, like taxi rides and public transportation fares. A striking 73% of shoppers who recently paid for these services via apps prefer using their mobile devices, compared to only 37% who favor computers. Interestingly, around 1 in 10 shoppers who recently bought any type of travel prefers using voice-activated devices.\nBut while mobile holds an edge for longer journeys and rental cars, computers remain surprisingly resilient. Nearly 6 in 10 consumers (59%) prefer mobile for long-distance travel, with 54% opting to book via a computer.\n Similarly, for rental cars, 57% favor mobile, while 50% prefer computers. This suggests that for more complex itineraries, a\u00a0 computer\u2019s larger screen and potentially more detailed interface holds appeal for many travel buyers. \nWhat Gen Z, Boomers Have in Common\nDelving into generational differences uncovers some fascinating trends. The majority of consumers across age groups are now mobile-first when it comes to booking travel, ranging from 64% for Gen Zers to 53% for Generation X. \nBaby boomers stand out as the only generation where computers are still preferred over mobile devices. Only 28% of that cohort prefer mobile for booking all types of travel, while 45% favor computers.\nBut there\u2019s a twist. Gen Z, the cohort that grew up with smartphones, shows an affinity for purchasing travel via computers, with 40% preferring this method. This puts them closer to baby boomers in this regard than to millennials. \nThe report suggests that Gen Z\u2019s preference for computers often revolves around purchases made through browsers rather than via mobile apps, and that the cohort is notably less likely to prefer mobile browsers compared to zillennials and millennials. One possible explanation is that many Gen Z consumers are students and frequently use laptops for coursework, giving them consistent access to both device types.\nAcross all three transit categories \u2014 local transportation, long-distance travel and rental cars \u2014 baby boomers were the least likely to have made travel purchases within the last 12 months, followed by Gen Z. This could reflect their respective life stages, with many baby boomers retired and Gen Z consumers often still in school or early in their careers.\nResearch Is Key\nRegardless of how they book, a large majority of digital-first travel consumers prioritize research. More than 7 in 10 digital shoppers typically conduct research as part of their travel buying process, highlighting the smartphone\u2019s role not just in booking a ticket but also in the earlier planning stage. This holds true across generations, with Gen Z leading at 79%. Even 69% of boomers engaging in online research before making a purchase.\nInterestingly, only about half of shoppers who buy their travel digitally consider the perks offered by their credit cards or other payment plans when booking online. This indicates an area where merchants and service providers could better incentivize travelers to use their rewards programs. Bridge millennials lead in considering perks, followed by Gen X and millennials. Gen Z shoppers show less interest in this benefit. Baby boomers exhibit the least interest in perks and rewards.\nAs mobile phones become even more sophisticated, the dominance of smartphones in the travel sector is likely to strengthen. Businesses in the travel industry should recognize and adapt to these mobile-first behaviors to reach and serve travelers.\nThe post Mobile Phones Overtake Desktops as Consumers’ Preferred Travel Booking Tool appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-04T09:00:20-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-03T21:49:03-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/travel-mobile-phone.jpg", "tags": [ "airline booking", "Connected Economy", "digital transformation", "hotel booking", "mobile phones", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "Ridesharing", "travel booking", "Travel Payments" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2519304", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/wirex-launches-travel-booking-platform-enabling-payments-in-bitcoin-and-usdt/", "title": "Wirex Launches Travel Booking Platform Enabling Payments in Bitcoin and USDT", "content_html": "Web3 money app Wirex said Thursday (March 27) that it launched a travel booking platform that offers reduced rates on hotel stays and cash-back rewards when using a Wirex card.
\nThe new platform, Wirex Travel, also offers exclusive deals and allows users to pay with bitcoin, USDT or traditional currencies, the company said in a Thursday press release.
\nThese new offerings join the benefits Wirex already provides to travelers, including zero foreign exchange fees, interbank exchange rates and crypto rewards, according to the release.
\n\u201cWith Wirex Travel, we\u2019re helping users unlock incredible hotel deals while earning generous rewards when they pay with their Wirex card,\u201d Wirex Co-founder Pavel Matveev said in the release.
\nWirex\u2019s digital payments platform, which enables users to store, purchase and exchange multiple currencies, has more than 6 million customers across 130 countries, per the release.
\nBlockchain technology offers transformative potential to address the current inefficiencies that plague cross-border payments, including high fees, slow settlement times and poor transparency, by streamlining processes and reducing costs, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence, Solana and Solana Foundation collaboration, \u201cCan Blockchain Solve the Cross-Border Payments Puzzle?\u201d
\nThe report found that permissioned decentralized finance (DeFi) could lower transaction costs by up to 80% compared to traditional methods; automated recordkeeping and smart contracts could enhance transparency and efficiency; and stablecoins, pegged to fiat currency, could mitigate volatility concerns.
\nWirex launched its decentralized payment method, Wirex Pay, in August, saying this blockchain-based payment method allows users to make transactions using cryptocurrencies at more than 80 million merchants in more than 200 countries.
\nIn December, the company added two new stablecoins \u2014 VNX Euro (VEUR) and VNX Swiss Franc (VCHF) \u2014 to its digital payments platform, saying this enables users to spend these currencies directly through their Wirex cards.
\n\u201cThis addition allows our users to effortlessly spend stablecoins in real life, whether for daily purchases, remittances or managing their digital asserts,\u201d Matveev said at the time in a press release. \u201cAt Wirex, our goal is to make digital currencies as convenient and versatile as traditional money, and VEUR and VCHF are another step toward achieving that vision.\u201d
\nThe post Wirex Launches Travel Booking Platform Enabling Payments in Bitcoin and USDT appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Web3 money app Wirex said Thursday (March 27) that it launched a travel booking platform that offers reduced rates on hotel stays and cash-back rewards when using a Wirex card.\nThe new platform, Wirex Travel, also offers exclusive deals and allows users to pay with bitcoin, USDT or traditional currencies, the company said in a Thursday press release.\nThese new offerings join the benefits Wirex already provides to travelers, including zero foreign exchange fees, interbank exchange rates and crypto rewards, according to the release.\n\u201cWith Wirex Travel, we\u2019re helping users unlock incredible hotel deals while earning generous rewards when they pay with their Wirex card,\u201d Wirex Co-founder Pavel Matveev said in the release.\nWirex\u2019s digital payments platform, which enables users to store, purchase and exchange multiple currencies, has more than 6 million customers across 130 countries, per the release.\nBlockchain technology offers transformative potential to address the current inefficiencies that plague cross-border payments, including high fees, slow settlement times and poor transparency, by streamlining processes and reducing costs, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence, Solana and Solana Foundation collaboration, \u201cCan Blockchain Solve the Cross-Border Payments Puzzle?\u201d\nThe report found that permissioned decentralized finance (DeFi) could lower transaction costs by up to 80% compared to traditional methods; automated recordkeeping and smart contracts could enhance transparency and efficiency; and stablecoins, pegged to fiat currency, could mitigate volatility concerns.\nWirex launched its decentralized payment method, Wirex Pay, in August, saying this blockchain-based payment method allows users to make transactions using cryptocurrencies at more than 80 million merchants in more than 200 countries.\nIn December, the company added two new stablecoins \u2014 VNX Euro (VEUR) and VNX Swiss Franc (VCHF) \u2014 to its digital payments platform, saying this enables users to spend these currencies directly through their Wirex cards.\n\u201cThis addition allows our users to effortlessly spend stablecoins in real life, whether for daily purchases, remittances or managing their digital asserts,\u201d Matveev said at the time in a press release. \u201cAt Wirex, our goal is to make digital currencies as convenient and versatile as traditional money, and VEUR and VCHF are another step toward achieving that vision.\u201d\nThe post Wirex Launches Travel Booking Platform Enabling Payments in Bitcoin and USDT appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-27T10:53:29-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-27T10:53:29-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wirex-travel-booking-bitcoin.png", "tags": [ "Bitcoin", "Blockchain", "Cryptocurrency", "digital currency", "Digital Payments", "News", "PYMNTS News", "travel", "travel booking", "USDt", "Web3", "What's Hot", "WireX", "Wirex Travel", "Travel Payments" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2518884", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/wex-and-engine-team-to-help-truckers-cover-travel/", "title": "WEX and Engine Team to Help Truckers Cover Travel", "content_html": "Business and group travel platform\u00a0Engine\u00a0has joined forces with commerce platform\u00a0WEX.
\nThe partnership is designed to offer WEX\u2019s Over The Road Fuel Cards as a payment option for eligible customers, making Engine the first business travel company to accept WEX\u2019s Fleet One and EFS fuel cards, per a Wednesday (March 26) news release.
\n\u201cTruck drivers today face major challenges traveling on the road, from finding safe parking to managing fuel costs,\u201d Engine founder and CEO Elia Wallen said in the release.
\n\u201cBy accepting WEX Fleet One and EFS fuel cards, we\u2019re making business travel easier for trucking fleets \u2014 offering greater payment flexibility, streamlined expense tracking, and time-saving solutions that keep drivers moving.\u201d
\nWith the integration, the release added, WEX over the road (OTR) customers can let their drivers use Engine\u2019s platform to book \u201ctruck-friendly lodging\u201d with their WEX Fleet One and EFS fuel cards. WEX customers can even filter their search for facilities that offer things like parking for tractor trailers or free continental breakfast.
\n\u201cManaging business travel expenses and logistics costs companies time and money, which makes this seamless integration of WEX\u2019s EFS and Fleet One fuel cards with Engine\u2019s expansive network a logical collaboration,\u201d WEX Senior Vice President and Over-the-Road General Manager Tim Hampton said in the release.
\n\u201cThis move provides trucking companies and their drivers with a streamlined solution, combining hotel bookings on the Engine platform with the ease of using their existing WEX over-the-road fuel cards.\u201d
\nIn other travel-related news, PYMNTS recently examined the role treasury teams play in the sector. In many cases, these professionals find themselves sidelined from strategic decisions.
\n\u201cThis oversight is not just a\u00a0missed opportunity; it\u2019s a costly mistake,\u201d PYMNTS wrote. \u201cThe transportation and logistics industry faces unprecedented financial pressures.\u201d
\nIncreasing costs\u00a0and regulatory scrutiny, coupled with changing consumer demands, are forcing companies to reconsider their financial strategies. Treasurers can play a key role in navigating these challenges if presented with the opportunity.
\n\u201cIn 2025, the treasury department isn\u2019t just some back-office bean-counting operation. It can be a secret weapon worth deploying,\u201d the report added.
\nThis argument is backed by PYMNTS Intelligence research showing a disconnect between treasurers and other department heads in the transportation industry.
\nAlthough\u00a060% of treasurers\u00a0see themselves as strategic players, just 33% of department heads recognize their influence, meaning that companies are failing to fully utilize the financial expertise necessary to drive stronger cash flow predictability, bring down debt and improve operational efficiency.
\nThe post WEX and Engine Team to Help Truckers Cover Travel appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Business and group travel platform\u00a0Engine\u00a0has joined forces with commerce platform\u00a0WEX.\nThe partnership is designed to offer WEX\u2019s Over The Road Fuel Cards as a payment option for eligible customers, making Engine the first business travel company to accept WEX\u2019s Fleet One and EFS fuel cards, per a Wednesday (March 26) news release.\n\u201cTruck drivers today face major challenges traveling on the road, from finding safe parking to managing fuel costs,\u201d Engine founder and CEO Elia Wallen said in the release.\n\u201cBy accepting WEX Fleet One and EFS fuel cards, we\u2019re making business travel easier for trucking fleets \u2014 offering greater payment flexibility, streamlined expense tracking, and time-saving solutions that keep drivers moving.\u201d\nWith the integration, the release added, WEX over the road (OTR) customers can let their drivers use Engine\u2019s platform to book \u201ctruck-friendly lodging\u201d with their WEX Fleet One and EFS fuel cards. WEX customers can even filter their search for facilities that offer things like parking for tractor trailers or free continental breakfast.\n\u201cManaging business travel expenses and logistics costs companies time and money, which makes this seamless integration of WEX\u2019s EFS and Fleet One fuel cards with Engine\u2019s expansive network a logical collaboration,\u201d WEX Senior Vice President and Over-the-Road General Manager Tim Hampton said in the release.\n\u201cThis move provides trucking companies and their drivers with a streamlined solution, combining hotel bookings on the Engine platform with the ease of using their existing WEX over-the-road fuel cards.\u201d\nIn other travel-related news, PYMNTS recently examined the role treasury teams play in the sector. In many cases, these professionals find themselves sidelined from strategic decisions.\n\u201cThis oversight is not just a\u00a0missed opportunity; it\u2019s a costly mistake,\u201d PYMNTS wrote. \u201cThe transportation and logistics industry faces unprecedented financial pressures.\u201d\nIncreasing costs\u00a0and regulatory scrutiny, coupled with changing consumer demands, are forcing companies to reconsider their financial strategies. Treasurers can play a key role in navigating these challenges if presented with the opportunity.\n\u201cIn 2025, the treasury department isn\u2019t just some back-office bean-counting operation. It can be a secret weapon worth deploying,\u201d the report added.\nThis argument is backed by PYMNTS Intelligence research showing a disconnect between treasurers and other department heads in the transportation industry.\nAlthough\u00a060% of treasurers\u00a0see themselves as strategic players, just 33% of department heads recognize their influence, meaning that companies are failing to fully utilize the financial expertise necessary to drive stronger cash flow predictability, bring down debt and improve operational efficiency.\nThe post WEX and Engine Team to Help Truckers Cover Travel appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-26T15:45:02-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-26T15:45:02-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WEX-Engine-truckers.png", "tags": [ "business travel", "Engine", "Fleet Management", "fuel cards", "News", "partnerships", "PYMNTS News", "transportation", "Travel Payments", "Trucking", "WEX", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2513426", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/cellpoint-and-southwest-expand-payment-orchestration-partnership/", "title": "CellPoint and Southwest Expand Payment Orchestration Partnership", "content_html": "Travel-focused payment orchestration provider\u00a0CellPoint Digital\u00a0is expanding its partnership with\u00a0Southwest Airlines.
\nThe new collaboration will see Southwest use CellPoint\u2019s new cloud-native orchestration platform to provide a personalized travel experience via an \u201cadvanced Offer & Order payment solution,\u201d the company said in a Tuesday (March 18)\u00a0news release.
\nThe platform, the release added, allows for the combination of multiple payment methods, including credit cards, alternative payment methods and the airline\u2019s Rapid Rewards points, within a single transaction.
\n\u201cOur growing relationship with Southwest Airlines reflects both the strength of our existing partnership and our shared vision for the future of airline commerce,\u201d said\u00a0Kristian Gjerding, CEO at CellPoint Digital.
\n\u201cWith the launch of our new platform, we\u2019re helping one of our most valued airline partners navigate the crucial transition to modern retailing, enabling them to take greater control of their shopping experience whilst delivering the payment flexibility their customers demand.\u201d
\nCellPoint\u00a0introduced\u00a0its new platform last month, saying it was designed to bolster the airline and travel sector shift to \u201cmodern retailing practices\u201d and simplify travel payments.
\n\u201cThe need for simplification has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d Gjerding told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster following the launch.
\nThe traveler is not worried about the mechanics of the payment process, Gjerding added, but with getting what they want for the right price and\u00a0without friction.
\nIn a travel-transaction, \u201cyou\u2019re touching a booking system or reservation system, and then you\u2019re touching a loyalty platform \u2026 and then as you go through and pay, then you\u2019re moving to the back-office part of it, where the reconciliation and transfer of funds takes place,\u201d he said.
\nGjerding also discussed efforts to turn travel into a bundled, \u201cAmazon-like\u201d experience, which will make payments orchestrators \u201ctier one, mission-critical platforms \u2026 so that you\u2019ll be able to split payments into different components\u201d and use\u00a0buy now, pay later\u00a0offerings.
\nAs he told Webster: \u201cIt\u2019ll take 10 years, but you\u2019ll see the entire travel industry transformed.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, Southwest and other airlines are\u00a0lowering their guidance\u00a0due to economic uncertainty, as reported here last week.
\nDuring a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference, Southwest projected that its RASM \u2014 a revenue production metric based on available seat miles flown \u2014 would grow by 2% to 4% rather than the 5% to 7% it forecast in its prior guidance.
\nCEO\u00a0Bob Jordan\u00a0told conference-goers that the airline lowered its guidance mainly because bookings have weakened in the 2025 macroeconomic environment.
\nThe post CellPoint and Southwest Expand Payment Orchestration Partnership appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Travel-focused payment orchestration provider\u00a0CellPoint Digital\u00a0is expanding its partnership with\u00a0Southwest Airlines.\nThe new collaboration will see Southwest use CellPoint\u2019s new cloud-native orchestration platform to provide a personalized travel experience via an \u201cadvanced Offer & Order payment solution,\u201d the company said in a Tuesday (March 18)\u00a0news release.\nThe platform, the release added, allows for the combination of multiple payment methods, including credit cards, alternative payment methods and the airline\u2019s Rapid Rewards points, within a single transaction.\n\u201cOur growing relationship with Southwest Airlines reflects both the strength of our existing partnership and our shared vision for the future of airline commerce,\u201d said\u00a0Kristian Gjerding, CEO at CellPoint Digital.\n\u201cWith the launch of our new platform, we\u2019re helping one of our most valued airline partners navigate the crucial transition to modern retailing, enabling them to take greater control of their shopping experience whilst delivering the payment flexibility their customers demand.\u201d\nCellPoint\u00a0introduced\u00a0its new platform last month, saying it was designed to bolster the airline and travel sector shift to \u201cmodern retailing practices\u201d and simplify travel payments.\n\u201cThe need for simplification has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d Gjerding told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster following the launch.\nThe traveler is not worried about the mechanics of the payment process, Gjerding added, but with getting what they want for the right price and\u00a0without friction.\nIn a travel-transaction, \u201cyou\u2019re touching a booking system or reservation system, and then you\u2019re touching a loyalty platform \u2026 and then as you go through and pay, then you\u2019re moving to the back-office part of it, where the reconciliation and transfer of funds takes place,\u201d he said.\nGjerding also discussed efforts to turn travel into a bundled, \u201cAmazon-like\u201d experience, which will make payments orchestrators \u201ctier one, mission-critical platforms \u2026 so that you\u2019ll be able to split payments into different components\u201d and use\u00a0buy now, pay later\u00a0offerings.\nAs he told Webster: \u201cIt\u2019ll take 10 years, but you\u2019ll see the entire travel industry transformed.\u201d\nMeanwhile, Southwest and other airlines are\u00a0lowering their guidance\u00a0due to economic uncertainty, as reported here last week.\nDuring a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference, Southwest projected that its RASM \u2014 a revenue production metric based on available seat miles flown \u2014 would grow by 2% to 4% rather than the 5% to 7% it forecast in its prior guidance.\nCEO\u00a0Bob Jordan\u00a0told conference-goers that the airline lowered its guidance mainly because bookings have weakened in the 2025 macroeconomic environment.\nThe post CellPoint and Southwest Expand Payment Orchestration Partnership appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-18T08:52:32-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-18T08:52:32-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CellPoint-Southwest-payment.png", "tags": [ "air travel", "airlines", "CellPoint Digital", "News", "partnerships", "payment orchestration", "payments", "PYMNTS News", "Southwest", "Southwest Airlines", "travel", "Travel Payments", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2512096", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/snappstay-launches-short-term-rental-platform/", "title": "SnappStay Launches Short-Term Rental Platform", "content_html": "SnappStay officially launched its short-term rental platform Friday (March 14).
\nThe company aims to compete with other vacation rental platforms by offering a user-friendly interface, a streamlined booking process, and lower fees that enable guests to pay less and property owners to keep more of their earnings, according to a Friday press release.
\n\u201cAs a host myself, I saw firsthand the challenges of high service fees cutting into earnings,\u201d SnappStay founder and CEO Patrick Davis said in the release. \u201cWe created SnappStay to provide a fair and transparent marketplace where homeowners can maximize their revenue, and travelers can book accommodations without unnecessary costs.\u201d
\nThe SnappStay app is now live on the Google Play store and Apple\u2019s App Store, and the platform has listings in New York, Paris, London, Dubai and Sydney, according to the release.
\nShort-term rental platform Airbnb said in February that it is investing in refining its mobile app, streamlining the booking process and offering a more tailored experience.
\n\u201cWe want the Airbnb app to be similar to Amazon, in that you only need one place to go,\u201d Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said Feb. 13 during the company\u2019s quarterly earnings call. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start with things adjacent to travel. This goes along with our product optimization. We have 5 billion visitors a year to Airbnb. It\u2019s important they can find the right Airbnb for them.\u201d
\nHostaway said in December that it secured a $365 million strategic growth investment to expand its vacation rental software and management system designed for short-term rental property owners and managers.
\nHostaway said at the time that its platform supports customers with properties in more than 90 countries; provides a property management system and two-way API connection to major online travel agencies; and offers an integrated marketplace that provides access to vacation rental software and tools from more than 200 partners.
\nIn April, Guesty raised $130 million in a Series F funding round to expand the capabilities and global footprint of its property management software platform for the short-term rental and hospitality industry.
\nGuesty said at the time that it operates in 80 countries and serves a variety of short-term rental hosts, including enterprises, small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and individuals.
\nThe post SnappStay Launches Short-Term Rental Platform appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "SnappStay officially launched its short-term rental platform Friday (March 14).\nThe company aims to compete with other vacation rental platforms by offering a user-friendly interface, a streamlined booking process, and lower fees that enable guests to pay less and property owners to keep more of their earnings, according to a Friday press release.\n\u201cAs a host myself, I saw firsthand the challenges of high service fees cutting into earnings,\u201d SnappStay founder and CEO Patrick Davis said in the release. \u201cWe created SnappStay to provide a fair and transparent marketplace where homeowners can maximize their revenue, and travelers can book accommodations without unnecessary costs.\u201d\nThe SnappStay app is now live on the Google Play store and Apple\u2019s App Store, and the platform has listings in New York, Paris, London, Dubai and Sydney, according to the release.\nShort-term rental platform Airbnb said in February that it is investing in refining its mobile app, streamlining the booking process and offering a more tailored experience.\n\u201cWe want the Airbnb app to be similar to Amazon, in that you only need one place to go,\u201d Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said Feb. 13 during the company\u2019s quarterly earnings call. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start with things adjacent to travel. This goes along with our product optimization. We have 5 billion visitors a year to Airbnb. It\u2019s important they can find the right Airbnb for them.\u201d\nHostaway said in December that it secured a $365 million strategic growth investment to expand its vacation rental software and management system designed for short-term rental property owners and managers.\nHostaway said at the time that its platform supports customers with properties in more than 90 countries; provides a property management system and two-way API connection to major online travel agencies; and offers an integrated marketplace that provides access to vacation rental software and tools from more than 200 partners.\nIn April, Guesty raised $130 million in a Series F funding round to expand the capabilities and global footprint of its property management software platform for the short-term rental and hospitality industry.\nGuesty said at the time that it operates in 80 countries and serves a variety of short-term rental hosts, including enterprises, small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and individuals.\nThe post SnappStay Launches Short-Term Rental Platform appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-14T13:43:56-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-14T13:43:56-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SnappStay.jpg", "tags": [ "Mobile Applications", "News", "platform economy", "PYMNTS News", "SnappyStay", "travel", "Travel Payments", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2510991", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/mews-founder-says-its-time-to-stop-treating-hotel-guests-like-a-room-number/", "title": "Mews Founder Says It\u2019s Time to Stop Treating Hotel Guests Like a Room Number\u00a0", "content_html": "The hospitality industry is built on service, but the hotel experience has remained largely unchanged for decades.
\nGuests arrive at a front desk, provide identification, hand over a credit card for pre-authorization, and receive a room key, often on a printed piece of plastic.
\nHowever, as customer behavior shifts toward frictionless experiences, the hospitality industry can no longer afford to stand still.
\n\u201cMost people now are pretty used to running everything through their phone,\u201d Mews founder Richard Valtr told Karen Webster. \u201cIf you think about just boarding a plane, how easy it is\u2026 most of the time you don\u2019t need to go to a desk. Hotels are still stuck in the same paradigm that was there maybe 30 years ago.\u201d
\nHospitality\u2019s reluctance to embrace digital transformation is not for lack of incentive. The industry has long recognized the need for modernization, but fragmented legacy systems, complex operational workflows and cultural concerns have stymied progress.
\nStill, Valtr said he envisions a new era of hospitality and is working to build it. Mews announced March 4 that it raised $75 million to expand its hospitality management platform and scale its transformation of outdated industry processes.
\n\u201cYou want your arrival at a hotel to feel like a welcome, rather than a [know your customer (KYC)] process,\u201d Valtr said.
\nOne of the fundamental shifts Valtr said Mews is bringing to hospitality is moving away from room-centric operations toward guest-centric services.
\n\u201cIn every other hotel system, all charges go toward a room,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why you\u2019re constantly being asked for your room number. But [guests] are not a room number. [Guests] are actual people with needs.\u201d
\nBy using artificial intelligence, Mews enables hotels to recognize and cater to returning guests in ways that were previously impossible at scale, including by providing guests with the ability to check in digitally and unlock their rooms with a mobile key. Imagine checking into a hotel where you\u2019ve stayed before and being welcomed back by name. The system already knows that you prefer a room with a view, enjoy sushi and typically order room service at 7 a.m.
\n\u201cThe best hotels operate so that you don\u2019t even notice all the little things being done for you, whether it\u2019s trying to find ways to surprise and delight a guest, or having something prepared that they weren\u2019t expecting,\u201d Valtr said.
\nThis level of hyper-personalization, once the domain of only the most exclusive luxury hotels, is now within reach for independent properties and smaller chains.
\nA common concern about AI\u2019s role in hospitality is that it will replace human staff, removing the personal touch that defines great hotels. Valtr said it is the opposite, as AI-driven systems free staff from administrative burdens like manually photocopying IDs, stapling receipts or rekeying reservations.
\nInstead, employees can focus on providing exceptional, human-centered service.
\nStill, some hoteliers remain hesitant.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re curious but not convinced,\u201d Valtr said. \u201cThe biggest concern I hear is, \u2018Will this eliminate human interaction?\u2019\u201d
\nHis response is simple: \u201cThere\u2019s no rulebook that says you need a front desk to create a hospitality experience. There\u2019s no rule that says you need a concierge. AI doesn\u2019t replace hospitality, it enhances it.\u201d
\n\u201cIf you think about a receptionist, they\u2019re often just data entry fingers,\u201d Valtr added. \u201cRather than using them for that, why not empower them to truly sell experiences and create memorable stays?\u201d
\nBeyond improving the guest experience, AI-powered personalization can also present a revenue opportunity for hotels. By proactively anticipating guests\u2019 needs and preferences, hotels can drive higher ancillary revenue, from dining and spa services to exclusive experiences.
\n\u201cIf we know that you like sushi, why not reserve you a table at the hotel\u2019s Japanese restaurant?\u201d Valtr said. \u201cIf you always order breakfast at a specific time, why not offer lunch reservations as well?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not just about yield management \u2014 filling up rooms every night,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s about total revenue management.\u201d
\nAnother key trend is the shift toward remote and flexible work, which has changed travel patterns. The shift presents a new opportunity for hotels to reimagine their role not just as places to sleep, but as potentially dynamic hubs for work, leisure and community engagement.
\n\u201cPeople have learned that they don\u2019t need to be in the office every day,\u201d Valtr said. \u201cThey can take five-day trips while still working remotely.\u201d
\n\u201cWe all want consistency and predictability,\u201d he added. \u201cTechnology provides the baseline to deliver that, ensuring that no matter where you stay, you feel welcomed, recognized and valued.\u201d
\nFor all PYMNTS digital transformation coverage, subscribe to the daily Digital Transformation Newsletter.
\nThe post Mews Founder Says It\u2019s Time to Stop Treating Hotel Guests Like a Room Number\u00a0 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "The hospitality industry is built on service, but the hotel experience has remained largely unchanged for decades.\nGuests arrive at a front desk, provide identification, hand over a credit card for pre-authorization, and receive a room key, often on a printed piece of plastic.\nHowever, as customer behavior shifts toward frictionless experiences, the hospitality industry can no longer afford to stand still.\n\u201cMost people now are pretty used to running everything through their phone,\u201d Mews founder Richard Valtr told Karen Webster. \u201cIf you think about just boarding a plane, how easy it is\u2026 most of the time you don\u2019t need to go to a desk. Hotels are still stuck in the same paradigm that was there maybe 30 years ago.\u201d\nHospitality\u2019s reluctance to embrace digital transformation is not for lack of incentive. The industry has long recognized the need for modernization, but fragmented legacy systems, complex operational workflows and cultural concerns have stymied progress.\nStill, Valtr said he envisions a new era of hospitality and is working to build it. Mews announced March 4 that it raised $75 million to expand its hospitality management platform and scale its transformation of outdated industry processes.\n\u201cYou want your arrival at a hotel to feel like a welcome, rather than a [know your customer (KYC)] process,\u201d Valtr said.\nThe Hospitality Sector\u2019s Guest-Centric Digital Revolution\nOne of the fundamental shifts Valtr said Mews is bringing to hospitality is moving away from room-centric operations toward guest-centric services.\n\u201cIn every other hotel system, all charges go toward a room,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why you\u2019re constantly being asked for your room number. But [guests] are not a room number. [Guests] are actual people with needs.\u201d\nBy using artificial intelligence, Mews enables hotels to recognize and cater to returning guests in ways that were previously impossible at scale, including by providing guests with the ability to check in digitally and unlock their rooms with a mobile key. Imagine checking into a hotel where you\u2019ve stayed before and being welcomed back by name. The system already knows that you prefer a room with a view, enjoy sushi and typically order room service at 7 a.m.\n\u201cThe best hotels operate so that you don\u2019t even notice all the little things being done for you, whether it\u2019s trying to find ways to surprise and delight a guest, or having something prepared that they weren\u2019t expecting,\u201d Valtr said.\nThis level of hyper-personalization, once the domain of only the most exclusive luxury hotels, is now within reach for independent properties and smaller chains.\nRethinking the Hotel Experience From Check-in to Welcome\nA common concern about AI\u2019s role in hospitality is that it will replace human staff, removing the personal touch that defines great hotels. Valtr said it is the opposite, as AI-driven systems free staff from administrative burdens like manually photocopying IDs, stapling receipts or rekeying reservations.\nInstead, employees can focus on providing exceptional, human-centered service.\nStill, some hoteliers remain hesitant.\n\u201cThey\u2019re curious but not convinced,\u201d Valtr said. \u201cThe biggest concern I hear is, \u2018Will this eliminate human interaction?\u2019\u201d\nHis response is simple: \u201cThere\u2019s no rulebook that says you need a front desk to create a hospitality experience. There\u2019s no rule that says you need a concierge. AI doesn\u2019t replace hospitality, it enhances it.\u201d\n\u201cIf you think about a receptionist, they\u2019re often just data entry fingers,\u201d Valtr added. \u201cRather than using them for that, why not empower them to truly sell experiences and create memorable stays?\u201d\nBeyond improving the guest experience, AI-powered personalization can also present a revenue opportunity for hotels. By proactively anticipating guests\u2019 needs and preferences, hotels can drive higher ancillary revenue, from dining and spa services to exclusive experiences.\n\u201cIf we know that you like sushi, why not reserve you a table at the hotel\u2019s Japanese restaurant?\u201d Valtr said. \u201cIf you always order breakfast at a specific time, why not offer lunch reservations as well?\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s not just about yield management \u2014 filling up rooms every night,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s about total revenue management.\u201d\nAnother key trend is the shift toward remote and flexible work, which has changed travel patterns. The shift presents a new opportunity for hotels to reimagine their role not just as places to sleep, but as potentially dynamic hubs for work, leisure and community engagement.\n\u201cPeople have learned that they don\u2019t need to be in the office every day,\u201d Valtr said. \u201cThey can take five-day trips while still working remotely.\u201d\n\u201cWe all want consistency and predictability,\u201d he added. \u201cTechnology provides the baseline to deliver that, ensuring that no matter where you stay, you feel welcomed, recognized and valued.\u201d\nFor all PYMNTS digital transformation coverage, subscribe to the daily Digital Transformation Newsletter.\nThe post Mews Founder Says It\u2019s Time to Stop Treating Hotel Guests Like a Room Number\u00a0 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-13T04:03:27-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-13T11:11:30-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Mews-hotel.jpg", "tags": [ "artificial intelligence", "digital transformation", "Featured News", "hospitality", "Innovation", "Mews", "News", "personalization", "PYMNTS News", "pymnts tv", "Revenue", "Richard Valtr", "Technology", "travel", "Travel Payments", "video" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2510441", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/airlines-report-bookings-drop-amid-macroeconomic-uncertainty/", "title": "Airlines Report Bookings Drop Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty", "content_html": "A day after Delta Air Lines cut its guidance, citing lower U.S. consumer confidence, three more airlines made similar comments about the current macroeconomic environment.
\nIn presentations made Tuesday (March 11) at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference,\u00a0American Airlines,\u00a0Southwest Airlines and\u00a0United Airlines revised their outlooks downward or said they expect earnings to come in at the lower end of their guidance.
\nAmerican Airlines updated its first-quarter guidance to call for its first-quarter revenue to be flat compared to a year earlier, rather than seeing a gain of 3% to 5% as it had previously forecast, according to a presentation\u00a0issued Tuesday.
\nThe company attributed the change to wildfires, Sunbelt weather, the Flight 5342 crash, softness in the domestic leisure segment and \u201cincreasing macroeconomic uncertainty.\u201d
\nSouthwest Airlines said in a Tuesday\u00a0presentation that it expects its RASM \u2014 a measure of operating revenue production based on available seat miles flown \u2014 to see a year-over-year increase of 2% to 4% rather than the 5% to 7% it forecast in its prior guidance.
\nSpeaking at the conference, Southwest Airlines CEO\u00a0Bob Jordan said the airline lowered its guidance primarily because bookings have weakened in the current macroeconomic environment, the Financial Times (FT)\u00a0reported\u00a0Tuesday.
\nUnited Airlines said it now expects its first-quarter earnings to come in at the lower end of its forecast, Reuters\u00a0reported\u00a0Tuesday.
\nThe airline said it had seen that government-related travel bookings were down 50% and that the domestic leisure market was also being impacted by government spending cuts, according to the report.
\nDelta Air Lines said in a Monday (March 10)\u00a0press release issued ahead of the conference that it now expects its total revenue to grow 3% to 4% year over year during the March quarter, down from its earlier guidance of 7% to 9%, and its operating margin to be 4% to 5%, down from its previous guidance of 6% to 8%.
\n\u201cThe outlook has been impacted by the recent reduction in consumer and corporate confidence caused by increased\u00a0macro uncertainty, driving softness in Domestic demand,\u201d Delta said in the release. \u201cPremium, international and loyalty revenue growth trends are consistent with expectations and reflect the resilience of Delta\u2019s diversified revenue base.\u201d
\nThe post Airlines Report Bookings Drop Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "A day after Delta Air Lines cut its guidance, citing lower U.S. consumer confidence, three more airlines made similar comments about the current macroeconomic environment.\nIn presentations made Tuesday (March 11) at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference,\u00a0American Airlines,\u00a0Southwest Airlines and\u00a0United Airlines revised their outlooks downward or said they expect earnings to come in at the lower end of their guidance.\nAmerican Airlines updated its first-quarter guidance to call for its first-quarter revenue to be flat compared to a year earlier, rather than seeing a gain of 3% to 5% as it had previously forecast, according to a presentation\u00a0issued Tuesday.\nThe company attributed the change to wildfires, Sunbelt weather, the Flight 5342 crash, softness in the domestic leisure segment and \u201cincreasing macroeconomic uncertainty.\u201d\nSouthwest Airlines said in a Tuesday\u00a0presentation that it expects its RASM \u2014 a measure of operating revenue production based on available seat miles flown \u2014 to see a year-over-year increase of 2% to 4% rather than the 5% to 7% it forecast in its prior guidance.\nSpeaking at the conference, Southwest Airlines CEO\u00a0Bob Jordan said the airline lowered its guidance primarily because bookings have weakened in the current macroeconomic environment, the Financial Times (FT)\u00a0reported\u00a0Tuesday.\nUnited Airlines said it now expects its first-quarter earnings to come in at the lower end of its forecast, Reuters\u00a0reported\u00a0Tuesday.\nThe airline said it had seen that government-related travel bookings were down 50% and that the domestic leisure market was also being impacted by government spending cuts, according to the report.\nDelta Air Lines said in a Monday (March 10)\u00a0press release issued ahead of the conference that it now expects its total revenue to grow 3% to 4% year over year during the March quarter, down from its earlier guidance of 7% to 9%, and its operating margin to be 4% to 5%, down from its previous guidance of 6% to 8%.\n\u201cThe outlook has been impacted by the recent reduction in consumer and corporate confidence caused by increased\u00a0macro uncertainty, driving softness in Domestic demand,\u201d Delta said in the release. \u201cPremium, international and loyalty revenue growth trends are consistent with expectations and reflect the resilience of Delta\u2019s diversified revenue base.\u201d\nThe post Airlines Report Bookings Drop Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-11T19:57:38-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-11T19:57:38-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/travel-flights-economy.jpg", "tags": [ "airlines", "American Airlines", "consumer finances", "consumer insights", "Consumer Spending", "economy", "Flights", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Southwest Airlines", "transportation", "travel", "travel bookings", "Travel Payments", "United Airlines", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2506333", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/sunrate-and-atlas-partner-on-travel-industry-cross-border-payment-solutions/", "title": "Sunrate and Atlas Partner on Travel Industry Cross-Border Payment Solutions", "content_html": "Sunrate and Atlas have partnered to address the travel industry\u2019s cross-border payment challenges.
\nIn this collaboration, Sunrate will integrate its travel payment solutions with Atlas\u2019 Air Travel Retailing and Information Platform (ATRIP), the companies said in a Tuesday (March 4) press release.
\nSunrate\u2019s virtual and physical commercial cards enable customers to settle card spends in more than 15 currencies; customize card limits, use cases and other parameters; and access real-time transaction statements and reconciliation tools, according to the release.
\nShawn Qin, head of card business at Sunrate, said in the release that the company\u2019s partnership with Atlas will help travel businesses \u201cnavigate complex payment landscapes with agility and confidence.\u201d
\nAtlas partners with 150 low-cost airlines and serves travel professionals around the world, per the release. Its platform provides its clients with access to low-cost carrier (LCC) content, fares and post-ticketing services.
\nMary Li, CEO and founder of Atlas, said in the release that the partnership will provide \u201cefficient, convenient and secure\u201d payment infrastructure for the global travel ecosystem.
\n\u201cThe global payment ecosystem is constantly evolving, and keeping up with changing needs and regulations is no small task,\u201d Li said. \u201cThat\u2019s why Atlas is committed to working with the world\u2019s leading payment providers to deliver the most up-to-date solutions to our customers.\u201d
\nNearly two-thirds of travel and tourism businesses cite B2B payments as at least a somewhat significant pain point, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence and Flywire collaboration, \u201cSmart Receivables Playbook: Rethinking Payments Processing After the Pandemic.\u201d
\nThe report found that 20% of travel and tourism businesses said B2B payouts are a very or extremely significant pain point, and another 43% said they are a somewhat significant pain point. Only 38% of these businesses said B2B payouts are slightly or not at all significant pain points.
\nSunrate partnered with Voxel, a provider of electronic invoice and B2B payment solutions for travel sellers, hotels and other players in the travel industry, in May to make it easier for Voxel and its clients to scale and expand in the Asia-Pacific region.
\nIn April, Sunrate added Apple Pay to its global payment and treasury management platform, saying this option offers the company\u2019s commercial credit card customers a safer, more secure and private way to pay.
\nFor all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0B2B Newsletter.
\nThe post Sunrate and Atlas Partner on Travel Industry Cross-Border Payment Solutions appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Sunrate and Atlas have partnered to address the travel industry\u2019s cross-border payment challenges.\nIn this collaboration, Sunrate will integrate its travel payment solutions with Atlas\u2019 Air Travel Retailing and Information Platform (ATRIP), the companies said in a Tuesday (March 4) press release.\nSunrate\u2019s virtual and physical commercial cards enable customers to settle card spends in more than 15 currencies; customize card limits, use cases and other parameters; and access real-time transaction statements and reconciliation tools, according to the release.\nShawn Qin, head of card business at Sunrate, said in the release that the company\u2019s partnership with Atlas will help travel businesses \u201cnavigate complex payment landscapes with agility and confidence.\u201d\nAtlas partners with 150 low-cost airlines and serves travel professionals around the world, per the release. Its platform provides its clients with access to low-cost carrier (LCC) content, fares and post-ticketing services.\nMary Li, CEO and founder of Atlas, said in the release that the partnership will provide \u201cefficient, convenient and secure\u201d payment infrastructure for the global travel ecosystem.\n\u201cThe global payment ecosystem is constantly evolving, and keeping up with changing needs and regulations is no small task,\u201d Li said. \u201cThat\u2019s why Atlas is committed to working with the world\u2019s leading payment providers to deliver the most up-to-date solutions to our customers.\u201d\nNearly two-thirds of travel and tourism businesses cite B2B payments as at least a somewhat significant pain point, according to the PYMNTS Intelligence and Flywire collaboration, \u201cSmart Receivables Playbook: Rethinking Payments Processing After the Pandemic.\u201d\nThe report found that 20% of travel and tourism businesses said B2B payouts are a very or extremely significant pain point, and another 43% said they are a somewhat significant pain point. Only 38% of these businesses said B2B payouts are slightly or not at all significant pain points.\nSunrate partnered with Voxel, a provider of electronic invoice and B2B payment solutions for travel sellers, hotels and other players in the travel industry, in May to make it easier for Voxel and its clients to scale and expand in the Asia-Pacific region.\nIn April, Sunrate added Apple Pay to its global payment and treasury management platform, saying this option offers the company\u2019s commercial credit card customers a safer, more secure and private way to pay.\nFor all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily\u00a0B2B Newsletter.\nThe post Sunrate and Atlas Partner on Travel Industry Cross-Border Payment Solutions appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-03-04T15:20:22-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-03-04T21:30:08-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sunrate-Atlas-travel-payment.png", "tags": [ "Atlas", "B2B", "B2B Payments", "commercial payments", "cross-border payments", "News", "partnerships", "PYMNTS News", "Sunrate", "travel", "travel industry", "Travel Payments", "What's Hot", "What's Hot In B2B" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2501481", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/expensify-opens-travel-management-tool-to-all-customers/", "title": "Expensify Opens Travel Management Tool to All Customers", "content_html": "Financial management app Expensify says its travel management tool is now available to all customers.
\nThe company first announced Expensify Travel last year, opening a waitlist to early select customers. Now, Expensify said in a news release Tuesday (Feb. 25), the offering is open to all members through the web, mobile and desktop apps.
\n\u201cThe tool enables members to book and manage flights, hotels, rail, and car rentals all within Expensify\u2019s platform while ensuring compliance with corporate travel policies, reducing costs, and simplifying workflows,\u201d the company said in a news release.
\nAccording to the release, Expensify Travel lets users do things like book flights, hotels or rental cars within the app. It also includes \u201creal-time, policy-driven approvals\u201d to make sure trips are authorized quickly, plus centralized virtual card payments to simplify expenses reconciliation.
\n\u201cThese innovations enable businesses to not only simplify their travel and expense processes but also reduce costs, improve policy compliance, and provide better care for employees on the go,\u201d the company said.
\nThe expanded launch of Expensify Travel comes amid an uptick in business travel, with a majority of companies in one survey late last year saying they had increased their travel budgets for in-person meetings and conferences.
\n\u201cThree in five buyers of commercial travel services say their employees are attending more meetings and conferences than had been seen last year,\u201d PYMNTS wrote in January. \u201cFor the companies sending those employees out, controlling costs remains paramount and has been cited by 78% of firms queried.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, research by PYMNTS Intelligence \u2014 from the Visa-commissioned Growth Corporates Working Capital Index \u2014 found that the use of working capital solutions, including virtual cards, was set to grow by 25% for commercial travel firms.
\n\u201cBusiness expansion is among the top reasons that corporations embrace working capital,\u201d\u00a0that report added. \u201cThe data show that 87% of commercial travel firms are likely to use at least one corporate travel solution in the current year \u2014 and 73% of firms surveyed in this vertical said they\u2019d do so to use those solutions strategically.\u201d
\nIn other travel payments news, PYMNTS spoke recently with Kristian Gjerding, co-founder and CEO at payments orchestration platform CellPoint Digital, about the sector\u2019s slow digital transformation and the importance of payment simplicity.
\n\u201cThe need for simplification has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d Gjerding told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster.
\nThe traveler is not worried with the mechanics of the payment process, he added, but about getting what they want for the right price, without any friction.
\nFor all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.
\nThe post Expensify Opens Travel Management Tool to All Customers appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Financial management app Expensify says its travel management tool is now available to all customers.\nThe company first announced Expensify Travel last year, opening a waitlist to early select customers. Now, Expensify said in a news release Tuesday (Feb. 25), the offering is open to all members through the web, mobile and desktop apps.\n\u201cThe tool enables members to book and manage flights, hotels, rail, and car rentals all within Expensify\u2019s platform while ensuring compliance with corporate travel policies, reducing costs, and simplifying workflows,\u201d the company said in a news release.\nAccording to the release, Expensify Travel lets users do things like book flights, hotels or rental cars within the app. It also includes \u201creal-time, policy-driven approvals\u201d to make sure trips are authorized quickly, plus centralized virtual card payments to simplify expenses reconciliation.\n\u201cThese innovations enable businesses to not only simplify their travel and expense processes but also reduce costs, improve policy compliance, and provide better care for employees on the go,\u201d the company said.\nThe expanded launch of Expensify Travel comes amid an uptick in business travel, with a majority of companies in one survey late last year saying they had increased their travel budgets for in-person meetings and conferences.\n\u201cThree in five buyers of commercial travel services say their employees are attending more meetings and conferences than had been seen last year,\u201d PYMNTS wrote in January. \u201cFor the companies sending those employees out, controlling costs remains paramount and has been cited by 78% of firms queried.\u201d\nMeanwhile, research by PYMNTS Intelligence \u2014 from the Visa-commissioned Growth Corporates Working Capital Index \u2014 found that the use of working capital solutions, including virtual cards, was set to grow by 25% for commercial travel firms.\n\u201cBusiness expansion is among the top reasons that corporations embrace working capital,\u201d\u00a0that report added. \u201cThe data show that 87% of commercial travel firms are likely to use at least one corporate travel solution in the current year \u2014 and 73% of firms surveyed in this vertical said they\u2019d do so to use those solutions strategically.\u201d\nIn other travel payments news, PYMNTS spoke recently with Kristian Gjerding, co-founder and CEO at payments orchestration platform CellPoint Digital, about the sector\u2019s slow digital transformation and the importance of payment simplicity.\n\u201cThe need for simplification has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d Gjerding told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster.\nThe traveler is not worried with the mechanics of the payment process, he added, but about getting what they want for the right price, without any friction.\nFor all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.\nThe post Expensify Opens Travel Management Tool to All Customers appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-02-25T12:36:17-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-25T12:36:17-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Expensify-business-travel-b2b.jpg", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "business travel", "commercial payments", "Expensify", "Expensify Travel", "News", "PYMNTS News", "travel", "Travel Payments", "virtual cards", "What's Hot", "What's Hot In B2B" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2490547", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/travel-payments/2025/cellpoint-digital-teams-with-air-europa-on-payment-orchestration/", "title": "CellPoint Digital Teams With Air Europa on Payment Orchestration", "content_html": "Travel-industry-focused payment orchestration provider\u00a0CellPoint Digital\u00a0has launched a partnership with\u00a0Air Europa.
\nThe collaboration,\u00a0announced\u00a0Thursday (Feb. 20), is designed to help the air carrier process a wider range of alternative payment methods (APMs), and comes as Air Europa looks to expand and increase its service frequency to Latin America and the Caribbean from its hub in Madrid.
\n\u201cAs Air Europa enters its next growth chapter, it is crucial for the carrier to have a robust payments infrastructure that will support and nurture this expansion,\u201d CellPoint Digital Co-founder and CEO\u00a0Kristian Gjerding said in a news release.
\n\u201cOur new Payment Orchestration Platform, with Air Europa as one of its first clients, will help Air Europa optimize its payment strategy, increase the number of APMs it supports, and expand its range of acquirers, giving the airline additional control and visibility of its financial health.\u201d
\nAccording to the release, CellPoint\u2019s orchestration platform will complement Air Europa\u2019s internal\u00a0orchestration\u00a0system, and route transactions to boost acceptance, simplify and centralize back-end reconciliation and integrate more than 160 global APMs.
\n\u201cThe platform also considers the pricing, processing and acceptance currency and geographical location of each processor, increasing the success rate of transactions and reducing per-transaction costs for Air Europa,\u201d the release added.
\nPYMNTS CEO Karen Webster spoke recently with CellPoint Digital\u2019s Gjerding about the digital shift in the travel sector, especially as it relates to payments.
\n\u201cThe\u00a0need for simplification\u00a0has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d he said.
\nThe traveler is not focused on the mechanics of the payment process, Gjerding added. They want to get what they want for the right price and without friction.
\nWhen making a\u00a0travel-related transaction, \u201cyou\u2019re touching a booking system or reservation system, and then you\u2019re touching a loyalty platform \u2026 and then as you go through and pay, then you\u2019re moving to the back-office part of it, where the reconciliation and transfer of funds takes place,\u201d he said.
\nCellPoint Digital\u00a0introduced\u00a0the payment orchestration offering for the travel sector earlier this week, saying it is designed to support the industry’s move to \u201cmodern retailing practices\u201d and simplify the complexity of travel payments.
\n\u201cThe travel industry faces a once-in-a-generation transformation creating a unique set of payment challenges that generic payment solutions simply cannot address,\u201d Gjerding said in the company\u2019s announcement.
\nThe post CellPoint Digital Teams With Air Europa on Payment Orchestration appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Travel-industry-focused payment orchestration provider\u00a0CellPoint Digital\u00a0has launched a partnership with\u00a0Air Europa.\nThe collaboration,\u00a0announced\u00a0Thursday (Feb. 20), is designed to help the air carrier process a wider range of alternative payment methods (APMs), and comes as Air Europa looks to expand and increase its service frequency to Latin America and the Caribbean from its hub in Madrid.\n\u201cAs Air Europa enters its next growth chapter, it is crucial for the carrier to have a robust payments infrastructure that will support and nurture this expansion,\u201d CellPoint Digital Co-founder and CEO\u00a0Kristian Gjerding said in a news release.\n\u201cOur new Payment Orchestration Platform, with Air Europa as one of its first clients, will help Air Europa optimize its payment strategy, increase the number of APMs it supports, and expand its range of acquirers, giving the airline additional control and visibility of its financial health.\u201d\nAccording to the release, CellPoint\u2019s orchestration platform will complement Air Europa\u2019s internal\u00a0orchestration\u00a0system, and route transactions to boost acceptance, simplify and centralize back-end reconciliation and integrate more than 160 global APMs.\n\u201cThe platform also considers the pricing, processing and acceptance currency and geographical location of each processor, increasing the success rate of transactions and reducing per-transaction costs for Air Europa,\u201d the release added.\nPYMNTS CEO Karen Webster spoke recently with CellPoint Digital\u2019s Gjerding about the digital shift in the travel sector, especially as it relates to payments.\n\u201cThe\u00a0need for simplification\u00a0has grown as the complexities of the travel ecosystem have exploded,\u201d he said.\nThe traveler is not focused on the mechanics of the payment process, Gjerding added. They want to get what they want for the right price and without friction.\nWhen making a\u00a0travel-related transaction, \u201cyou\u2019re touching a booking system or reservation system, and then you\u2019re touching a loyalty platform \u2026 and then as you go through and pay, then you\u2019re moving to the back-office part of it, where the reconciliation and transfer of funds takes place,\u201d he said.\nCellPoint Digital\u00a0introduced\u00a0the payment orchestration offering for the travel sector earlier this week, saying it is designed to support the industry’s move to \u201cmodern retailing practices\u201d and simplify the complexity of travel payments.\n\u201cThe travel industry faces a once-in-a-generation transformation creating a unique set of payment challenges that generic payment solutions simply cannot address,\u201d Gjerding said in the company\u2019s announcement.\nThe post CellPoint Digital Teams With Air Europa on Payment Orchestration appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-02-20T08:48:27-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-20T08:48:27-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CellPoint-Digital-Air-Europa.png", "tags": [ "Air Europa", "airlines", "alternative payment methods", "CellPoint Digital", "News", "partnerships", "payment orchestration", "PYMNTS News", "travel", "Travel Payments", "What's Hot" ] } ] }