Booking low-cost flights or hotels online: these two issues for business travellers and their TMCs have underpinned the advent of virtual cards in the world of payments, alongside debit cards. Although the virtual card has made significant inroads since the middle of the last decade, its use by hoteliers is not always optimal.
To improve and simplify virtual card payments, the Hilton Group recently teamed up with Conferma, the world leader in this technology, to integrate this means of payment into its hotel management system. The result is a smooth, frictionless check-in experience for travellers and an automated process for travel agents that secures payments and simplifies expense reconciliation.
However, all is not yet perfect in this area. To identify hotels with the capacity to process these virtual cards, Conferma has entered into a partnership with BCD Travel to launch the first system for evaluating virtual card acceptance in the hotel industry. The Virtual Card Acceptance (VCA) Rating assigns scores from 1 to 10 according to the maturity of establishments in this area. This is based on real-time transaction data via Conferma Connect, with hotels connected via API achieving the highest scores, "proof of the benefits of automation", as the press release points out.
This evaluation will enable both travellers and travel agents to filter hotels that accept virtual cards. At the same time, buyers and travel managers will have reliable data with which to compare and negotiate with their suppliers. " The VCA Rating gives customers actionable insights to simplify their operations and boost traveller confidence "commented Neil Fyfe, Head of Payment Solutions at BCD. " By making the acceptance of virtual cards visible, we are moving the industry towards an intelligent, interoperable ecosystem. "says Stuart Davenport, Chief Product Officer at Conferma. A key point at a time when the adoption of virtual cards is set to triple by 2030.
