Frictionless booking increasingly expected in a growing and dynamic online travel membership economy, says Bidroom.
AMSTERDAM – Bidroom.com hotel booking platform has introduced Apple Pay purchases for its customers after the service rolled out in the Netherlands on June 11.
From July 9, Apple users on Bidroom.com can now pick one of three available plans that grant them access to major discounts in over 120,000 hotels in 128 countries. This function is accessible to residents of the United Kingdom and of 54 other regions where Apple Pay is available (as indicated by Apple’s official list here).
Michael Ros, Bidroom’s Chief Operating Officer, said the company, which aims to offer hotel rooms cheaper than any other OTA, moved quickly to add more convenience and payment options to its frequent traveller community.
“The moment we got the heads-up about the launch for The Netherlands, we jumped to integrate it with Bidroom,” he said. “We're always on the lookout for ways to simplify the booking process. We want it to become intuitive and frictionless for our users,” said Ros.
Bidroom’s worldwide audience has been recognized as mainly tech-savvy users between 30-40 years of age who take at least 10 short trips a year. Traveling so often, they’re keen on joining membership-based programs that allow them to save on their bookings in the long-run.
The next step towards intuitive booking
Apple Pay is faster because there is no need to type in credit card details for each transaction. There is an extra bonus of an added layer of security compared to traditional credit card purchases as Apple doesn’t keep transaction information that can be linked back to the purchaser.
Apple Pay is available to hotel bookers browsing Bidroom in Safari browser on an Apple device*, or alternatively, by those who have their credit card connected to their Wallet app on their iPhones.
From July 9, Bidroom users will now notice a new Apple Pay option button right after the membership selection screen. Users can click on that to confirm the transaction on their iPhone, Apple Watch, or with the Touch ID scanner on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. For Bidroom, Apple Pay will become a standard payment option wherever possible.
Easier and faster booking by clicking on the Apple Pay button after the membership selection screen on Bidroom.com.
The Background Story: Netherlands Finally Welcomes Apple Pay
Apple Pay remained unavailable for the Dutch for nearly five years even though it had been rolled out around the world in multiple markets since 2014. As of June 18, 2019, Apple Pay is now available in 55 regions. The roll-out for The Netherlands was initiated by Apple and ING Bank on June 11. ING card owners can now pay contactlessly in physical stores, web shops, and within apps by using Apple Pay.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
