Booking.com joins up with Ant International payment provider Antom to integrate more payment options in key Asian markets.
Travel in the age of big tech has never been easier and yet, at the same time, bewildering. Everything can go pretty smoothly if you have the right app and card but, if not, then beware.
Now, to prevent travelers from getting stuck at an airport ATM that refuses to accept any of their legacy bank cards, Booking.com has joined up with Ant International payment provider Antom.
More Payment Options
A media release issued Wednesday announces a strategic partnership between the two that intends to enhance diverse payment options in key markets across Asia.
According to them, it will allow for a «more tailored» customer experience while also unlocking business opportunities in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.
Distinct Challenges
«Each market presents distinct challenges, including varying payment methods, currencies, and regulatory frameworks. Antom helps global merchants like Booking.com navigate this complexity by leveraging its extensive payment channel partnerships and deep knowledge of local payment landscapes,» the media release says.
This will allow Booking.com to offer over 40 payment options on its digital platform over time, including online banking, bank transfers, digital wallets, and local card payments.
AI to the Rescue
AI, increasingly ubiquitous since the advent of ChatGPT two years ago, is also being used on the back end with merchants, helping them to enhance transaction security, optimize foreign exchange risk management, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency by way of real-time payments and blockchain solutions.
«By integrating Antom’s multi-currency offerings and cross-border settlement capabilities, Booking.com is empowering its global accommodation providers to expand user reach and optimize payment acceptance and reconciliation across diverse markets. This collaboration will especially benefit smaller properties and holiday rentals that may lack access to traditional payment infrastructures, enabling them to compete more effectively in the global marketplace,» the press release stated.
No Frantic Exchange
At the outset, the partnership will include AlipayHK (Hong Kong), Malaysia's Boost and Touch'n Go, Philippines GCAsh, Singapore's GrabPay, South Korea's Kakao Pay and Naver Pay, and Thailand's TrueMoney.
If nothing else, it will substantially reduce the likelihood of being stuck at a foreign airport frantically trying to change money or, worse, having your banking card chewed up and swallowed by that offending ATM.
