Amadeus Trials Conferma Payment Technology in UK

Following the successful integration of Conferma’s payment technology into Amadeus Billback, TMCs and their corporate clients can now use Virtual Card Numbers (VCN) as a payment method for Amadeus GDS hotel bookings created in Amadeus’ online self-booking tool, 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.”

Amadeus is currently piloting the payment solution in the UK with a number of leading TMCs, before it makes it available in other countries.