While virtual payment has taken off with the pandemic, many are adding to this strategic area. One of the leading GDSs, the American company Sabre, has announced the acquisition of Conferma PayConferma, which specialises in issuing and managing virtual cards, is a partner of most TMCs, GDSs and online booking tools, as well as key players in the payment sector, including American Express and AirPlus. For example, Conferma's expertise underpins the Visa Commercial Pay Mobile offering, which will be launched at the end of 2020. In the same way, at the same time, Amadeus and Booking teamed up with this technology provider to join a virtual payment solution hotel reservations via Booking through the GDS.
For its part, Sabre had already been a partner of Conferma since 2011, whose solution supported the Sabre Virtual Payments offering. The GDS is now counting on this acquisition to strengthen its position with travel agencies and develop innovative B2B payment solutions. " By combining Sabre's expertise in the travel sector with Conferma Pay's expertise in payments, we believe we will be able to continue to offer a value proposition strong travel agencies" wrote Martin Cowley, Sabre's former Senior VP EMEA and now interim CEO of Conferma Pay, in a letter that our colleague BTN Europe relayed to us.
Another sign of the interest shown by retailers in suppliers of virtual payment technology, hotel reservation specialist HRS has announced its intention to acquire the Paypense platform, a technology provider specialising in both expense management and virtual cards. While Paypense's expertise will be integrated into HRS Pay, this acquisition is designed to simplify both the payment side for employees and, on the corporate side, reporting and expense control. " HRS Pay, strengthened by years of proprietary investment and our purchase of Itelya in 2021 to propel the digital transformation of payment, takes the next step in delivering an exceptional experience for business employeessaid Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS. Paypense provides intelligent expense management services to managers and employees, whether they're on the road for weeks at a time or supporting a one-day, off-site event that doesn't require travel."
