NEWS
NEWS
Limited payment choices drive away one-third of hotel guests
New research published by Adyen , a global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses , has uncovered the importance of a frictionless payment experience for hotel customers , with over a third ( 32 %) of consumers admitting to have left the booking process because they haven ’ t been able to pay the way they would like .
The findings published in Adyen ’ s first Global Hospitality Report , suggest the payment experience could be impacting hotel revenues . Nearly a third of hotels ( 27 %) confessed that they can ’ t currently accept payment options like BNPL and Apple Pay .
New payment trends are emerging across the hospitality sector in 2024 , as research found that one of the most popular ways to pay for a hotel experience online was via a digital wallet ( 20 %).
Almost one in ten ( 9 %) guests said they had booked a stay via social media for the first time over the past 12 months , and 5 % said they had done so using BNPL over the same time period .
The majority of consumers ( 58 %) said that a seamless experience from booking to check-out was important to them when choosing a hotel . The report pointed towards three new trends :
1 . Payment flexibility is a deal-breaker : Offering a wide range of payment options is important 40 % of consumers surveyed , with 37 % admitting greater options would support them making bigger purchases . 35 % of hotel guests said they don ’ t like paying the full cost of a hotel upfront .
2 . Cancellation policies are well researched : Flexibility in cancellation policies also emerged as a critical factor in hotel selection , with 53 % of travellers considering free cancellation 24- 48 hours before arrival a deal-maker .
3 . Financial experiences affect returning travellers : Many hotel goers have not rebooked a stay due to finance-related issues or grievances . Specifically , problems with payments , such as card declines or incorrect charges ( 11 %), being requested to share card details over the phone ( 9 %), experiencing delayed charges or refunds ( 9 %) and overpayment due to error ( 8 %).
Klarna is now an official Apple reseller with the launch of its storefront
Klarna , the AI-powered global payments network and shopping assistant , has unveiled ‘ Apple from Klarna ’, a storefront in the Klarna app and Klarna . com where customers can purchase Apple products using its flexible payment options . Now an official Apple reseller , Klarna also launches a brand new , bespoke payment option for Apple products : Upgrade Financing . This new payment option makes Apple ’ s innovative product lineups available for as little as US $ 7.99 a month exclusively through ‘ Apple from Klarna .’
Upgrade Financing enables Klarna customers to purchase the latest Apple
Watch , iPad , and Mac lineups through lowcost monthly payment plans . At the end of the loan term , customers can trade in their device and upgrade to the latest model , or they can choose to keep their current device for a final , interest-free payment .
“ I love Apple ’ s products ! I love the design , the security and the ease-of-use ” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski , Cofounder and CEO of Klarna . “ So it is super exciting that we ’ re simplifying the shopping experience for Apple products in the Klarna app and Klarna . com . Apple from Klarna gives our 25 million active US consumers another way to access the latest and best tech as they work , play and create .”
The introduction of ‘ Apple from Klarna ’ underscores Klarna ’ s mission to provide consumers everywhere with a seamless shopping experience and more payment options .
10 www . intelligentfin . tech