Why hotel payment tools matter
Hotel payment tools are more than just a way to process card payments successfully – they enhance the guest experience, increase operational efficiency and strengthen security and compliance.
Improve guest experience
Guests now expect multiple payment options, whether they book online, pay in-person at check-in or settle incidentals during their stay. A seamless, integrated payment process makes a strong impression, improving satisfaction and encouraging repeat bookings.
Increase operational efficiency
Guests prefer smooth stays, and your front desk staff benefit from hassle-free payments, automated invoicing and simplified reporting. This not only saves time but also reduces errors, creating a more efficient and professional operation.
Strengthen security and compliance
Modern payment tools ensure compliance with PCI DSS standards, fraud detection and other security measures for online payments. Features like tokenization and encryption protect guest data and provide peace of mind for both staff and customers.
Learn more about this process in our guide to why hotels need tokenization.
Best hotel payment tools with the most payment options
1. Mews Payments
Mews Payments offers one of the most complete hotel payment processing solutions. Guests can pay via e-wallets like iDeal, traditional credit cards such as Maestro, Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express, and Visa, or mobile payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Another advantage of Mews Payments is that you have flexibility over when to take the payment during any phase of the guest journey.
Whether it’s at an integrated front desk terminal, a check-in kiosk or via the Mews booking engine, payments are easier than ever. Guests can pay online, at check-in, during online check-out, or even receive automated payment requests for upcoming or past stays.
2. Planet
Planet is ideal for hotels seeking a multiprocessor gateway with contactless payment capabilities. It supports GlobalPayments (Credit Card Processing) and major credit cards like American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and Discover.
For hotels serving guests from Asia, Planet accepts popular regional payment methods like WeChatPay and AliPay. Other benefits include split payments, pre-authorizations, Google Pay, Apple Pay and Mail Order Telephone Orders (MOTO).
3. Airplus
Airplus is popular among hotels catering to business travelers, offering corporate credit card processing and business travel solutions. Its online management system and central accounts simplify payment method oversight, saving time and reducing administrative burdens.
Catering to a wide variety of customers? Learn more about appealing to different types of guests.
4. PayPal
PayPal is a safe, widely trusted digital wallet for online payments. Guests can pay using their PayPal balance or a stored credit card. While transaction fees for American Express and international cards may be higher, PayPal provides security and convenience, especially for online reservations.
5. Mobile wallets
Mobile wallets – including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Amazon Pay – are increasingly popular for hotel payments and may well outstrip traditional POS transactions worldwide.
Contactless, fast and secure, mobile wallets allow you to process a huge variety of payment options like major credit cards and debit cards instantly.
These solutions also speed up payment processing times since customers don’t need to search for their wallets. This reduces the amount of time your front desk staff spend on manual processing, allowing them to focus on delivering excellent customer service.
6. Merchant Link
Merchant Link is a cloud-based payment gateway favored in the hospitality industry. It supports a wide range of credit and debit cards, digital wallets and offers integrations with multiple booking engines, making it a versatile option for hoteliers.
7. Stripe
Stripe is becoming more common in hotels worldwide. Supporting mobile wallets, cryptocurrencies, bank transfers and local payment methods, it works well for custom booking platforms and is widely recognized as a reliable payment solution.
How hotels can choose the right payment tool
Think about your guests
Guest profiles should guide your choice of hotel payment tool. Business travelers often prefer lodge cards, corporate cards, pay-later options or even virtual payments for quick checkouts, whereas leisure guests may favor virtual payments or digital wallets.
You also need to consider regional payments – in the US, PayPal is very common, while in Europe you might find more bank transfers.
Consider your technical requirements
Look for hotel payment tools that easily integrate with your PMS and POS systems, support multi-currency and contactless payments, and offer a seamless end-to-end solution. Reducing incompatibilities is key as contactless and digital payments continue to grow.
Prioritize security and compliance
Choose a tool with strong fraud protection, PCI DSS compliance and secure online processing via tokenization. This protects guest data and reduces the risk of payment fraud.
Best practices for using hotel payment tools effectively
1. Offer multiple payment options
Hotel payment solutions should include credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), PayPal and other guest-preferred methods to avoid booking drop-offs. You may even consider cryptocurrency or Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) where appropriate.
2. Prioritize a seamless payment experience
Enable stored payment methods, one-click checkouts and auto-fill features to simplify checkout, reduce friction in the booking process and improve conversions.
3. Ensure operational efficiency
Integrate with your PMS and POS, automate invoicing, refunds and financial reporting. Streamlined systems and tools save time, reduce errors and help you achieve operational excellence.
4. Maintain strong security
Use tokenization, online payment gateways and PCI DSS compliance to maintain your security. Also conduct in depth fraud monitoring and set up real-time alerts to protect guest data.
5. Update and audit systems regularly
Keep software up-to-date and conduct regular audits to identify any potential vulnerabilities in your systems. Hotel management should constantly monitor this process to make sure staff are adhering to secure payment protocols.
6. Train staff
Ensure your team can handle payments securely, recognize suspicious activity and respect guest privacy when collecting payment information.
7. Monitor and optimize performance
Track conversions, failed transactions and guest feedback. Adjust tools to improve guest experience and revenue to refine your payment strategy. The more you understand the whole panorama of the payment experience, the more efficient you and your staff can be.
Conclusion
Hotels that adopt secure and flexible payment tools can boost guest satisfaction and increase revenue. With the right hotel property management software that allows for integrated payments, you can also reduce staff workload and ensure smooth operations.
With a variety of payment processors to choose from, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each method and select the solution that best fits your property.
In most cases, online and contactless payments offer the most convenience and efficiency. Ultimately, the more payment options you provide, the higher your chances of driving bookings and boosting guest satisfaction.
Download our guide “We Need to Talk about Payments”
