TMCs can now use Virtual Card Numbers to pay for hotel bookings in Amadeus e-Travel Management.
MANCHESTER – Conferma, the expert provider of Virtual Card Number (VCN) technology, announced that its payment technology is available in Amadeus’ online self-booking tool, Amadeus e-Travel Management.
Following the highly successful integration of the Conferma solution into Amadeus Billback, TMCs and their corporate clients can now use VCNs as a payment method for Amadeus GDS hotel bookings created in Amadeus e-Travel Management.
The seamless integration means there is no change to existing booking processes, while the payment process is streamlined by the system automatically faxing a VCN to the hotel on completion of the booking. At check-out, the booking is charged back to the VCN by the hotel, triggering an automated process that matches and reconciles 100% of payment data to booking data, enhancing process efficiencies for TMCs by eliminating expensive manual reconciliation processes.
For every transaction, all the data captured by Conferma’s VCNs, including additional company-specific data, such as cost centres or project codes, is available to TMCs and travel managers through SNAP, Conferma’s management information and reporting tool. With access to a suite of reports, SNAP provides corporate clients with complete visibility and control over their hotel spend.
In addition, the secure controls applicable to VCNs significantly reduce the risk of misuse and fraud by restricting the category of merchant able to bill the VCN to hotels. Other controls such as credit limits and charge validity dates allow TMCs to enforce compliance with corporate policies. The solution also reduces the risk profile for TMCs and corporate clients by removing the requirement for them to handle and protect sensitive physical payment card data.
“Integrating the Conferma solution into Amadeus e-Travel Management enables us to deliver the kind of seamless process that both travellers and businesses love. Not only has it increased the adoption of the booking tool, improving travel policy compliance and efficiency, but it has also improved cost control and traveller satisfaction,” said Simon Taylor, Business Line Manager, Amadeus UK & Ireland.
“This joint solution from Conferma and Amadeus means that we are now able to provide an automated, PCI DSS compliant payment process that simplifies the often complex and inefficient world of business travel.”
Simon Barker, CEO of Conferma, commented, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Amadeus and enable Amadeus e-Travel Management users to benefit from VCN technology. It’s great to see more and more businesses embracing innovative technology to replace the outdated and inefficient manual processes that are costing the industry US$1.5 billion a year.”
Amadeus is currently piloting the payment solution in the UK with a number of leading TMCs and will then make it available in other countries.
Photo caption: Simon Barker, CEO of Conferma.
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.
