Margins in travel are tight, and even minor delays can create larger issues. When payments have to reach hotels, airlines, and operators across different countries and currencies, staying organised becomes a constant challenge. Many agencies still rely on outdated tools that add friction and make it harder to track where money is going. The old systems fall short. To stay efficient, travel companies need quicker, clearer, and more dependable ways to manage supplier payments.
How to streamline supplier payments in the travel industry
Travel businesses face unique challenges when it comes to supplier payments. Unlike other industries, the travel ecosystem includes countless moving parts, from hotels and airlines to car rental companies and tour operators. Each supplier has different payment preferences, currencies, and processing times, creating a complex web of financial relationships.
The key to success lies in adopting a comprehensive payment solution that can handle multiple currencies, work smoothly with existing systems, and offer full visibility into every transaction. Virtual payments have become a practical option, giving travel suppliers quick access to funds while helping agencies gain better control over their cash flow.
Modern payments platforms offer API integrations that link directly with booking systems, removing manual steps and lowering the chance of errors. This kind of automation saves time and can also open up new revenue opportunities through rebates and interchange fees that make a visible difference to the bottom line.
Further Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Card Solutions for Travel Companies
How Wallester Solves Payment Challenges for Travel Businesses
Wallester’s virtual card technology changes how travel businesses manage supplier payments. Instead of relying on bank transfers that take days to clear, companies can create dedicated virtual cards for each payment. Each card comes with its own limits, expiry, and usage rules, helping reduce fraud and giving finance teams precise control over every transaction.
The platform also supports multiple currencies and local payment methods, which is especially useful for businesses operating in different regions. Whether working with a hotel in Thailand or a tour company in Spain, payments are routed through the most efficient channels, and currency conversion happens automatically.
Wallester helps travel companies reduce manual work through automation. Virtual cards can be issued and tracked within the same system, while transaction data feeds directly into expense and reporting tools.
In addition to smoother operations, the platform offers cost benefits. Competitive interchange rates and the potential for rebates create new revenue streams that help offset expenses.
The main advantages of using Wallester for travel payments include:
- Instant virtual card generation for supplier transactions
- Real-time visibility into spending and approvals
- Seamless reconciliation and accurate tracking
- Multi-currency support with smart routing
- Lower fraud risk through built-in card controls
- Improved cash flow and reduced reliance on manual processes
Further Reading: Top 5 Payment Challenges Faced by OTAs and How to Overcome Them
Making payments easier for online travel agencies
Online travel agencies often manage payments across thousands of suppliers, each with their own expectations, timelines, and preferred methods. Scaling this process without losing control is a constant challenge. Wallester helps simplify things by offering flexible payment options while keeping everything organised in one system. Agencies can use virtual cards where speed and control are needed or fall back on traditional bank transfers when required – all without disrupting internal processes.
This flexibility is paired with automation that takes pressure off the finance team. Payments can be matched automatically to bookings, lowering the risk of errors. It’s easier to keep records in order and respond quickly to supplier queries.
Cash flow is also easier to manage. Agencies can set payment rules based on factors like booking confirmations or departure dates, allowing payments to move on time without someone having to chase them manually. The result is a more stable workflow.
Why travel agencies choose to work with us
Travel agencies work with Wallester because the platform is built around how they actually operate. The team knows how travel payments work in practice — with tight schedules, changing bookings, and suppliers spread across time zones. The system reflects that reality, not a simplified version of it.
Cost efficiency is a major factor. Traditional methods come with a long list of fees: international wires, currency conversions, intermediary charges. Wallester helps cut those out. And with each virtual payment, agencies may benefit from rebates that can bring in extra revenue over time.
Widespread acceptance is another reason agencies stick with it. Suppliers across the world already accept payments via Wallester virtual cards, so agencies can manage transactions through a single system instead of switching between different tools or adapting to individual supplier demands.
What they value most tends to come down to a few things:
- Tools made specifically for travel payments
- Clear and predictable pricing
- A support team that knows the travel space
- Reporting that actually helps track and manage cash flow
To see how it works in action, explore Wallester Business – the platform built to simplify travel payments, speed up supplier transactions, and improve financial visibility across the board.
Wallester’s virtual cards: our solution for all your travel needs
Virtual cards offer travel companies a way to handle payments with more control, speed, and transparency. Each card can be tailored to the situation, whether that means setting limits, narrowing down merchant categories, or assigning expiry dates.
Key features travel companies use daily:
- Instant payment capability for urgent bookings
- Configurable spending limits and merchant restrictions
- Encrypted, tokenised transactions for better security
- Rich data for easier reconciliation and reporting
Wallester’s virtual cards connect directly with travel platforms through APIs, so finance teams can issue cards, track payments, and manage accounts without extra software or switching between systems. It feels like part of the booking flow, not a separate task.
Suppliers also benefit. They get paid fast, with no need to update their tools or processes. The card details they receive work with existing setups, which is why more travel partners now prefer virtual cards over slower, traditional options.
Exactly what customers say?
Travel agencies using Wallester highlight three consistent benefits: faster processing, lower costs, and stronger supplier relations. They regularly note shorter payment cycles and more reliable settlements, which help build trust and support better negotiation with partners.
Real-time transaction visibility draws particular praise. With payments and statuses visible as they happen, agencies gain clarity over cash flow and respond to supplier queries quickly. Automated reconciliation also stands out – cases of human error drop significantly, and month-end closing becomes smoother and faster.
For agencies running multiple brands or subsidiaries, Wallester’s B2B wallet makes a difference. Teams now manage payments centrally while keeping reporting separate for each unit, reducing complexity without losing clarity.
Learn how Wallester’s payment solution can help
Adopting Wallester begins with a short discovery. The team sits down with travel businesses to map out current payment workflows and uncover bottlenecks. From there, they suggest where virtual cards and smart routing can simplify supplier payouts and reduce costs.
Integration is smooth thanks to Wallester’s REST-based APIs and full sandbox environment. Booking systems, ERPs, or mid-office tools can connect directly to the platform, allowing agencies to issue virtual cards and make payments from their existing interfaces. The APIs support features like single-use cards, configurable spending limits, real-time tracking, tokenisation for digital wallets, and fraud monitoring.
Onboarding moves quickly. An account can be created in under 24 hours, after which KYC is completed and the agency receives access to both test and production environments. Following that, teams typically spend two to four weeks finalising setup, running test payments in sandbox mode, and training finance or booking staff.
Wallester includes round-the-clock technical help, review sessions, and advice on fine-tuning card limits, approval workflows, and reconciliation reports. We also keep pace with new countries, currencies, and security protocols – so agencies don’t need to worry about their payments falling behind.
What travel agencies gain
| Benefit | What it means in practice |
| Plug-and-play integration | Work with your existing tools rather than starting over |
| Sandboxed API testing | Try card issuance, payments, and security rules before going live |
| Fast onboarding | Set up account, issue cards, and make live payments within weeks |
| Round-the-clock support | Get technical help whenever time zones or workflows demand it |
| Future-proof compliance | Automatic coverage for new currencies, payment types, and global regulations |
Want to try a simpler way to manage supplier payments? Wallester Business works with your current setup and helps you keep things running smoothly across regions and currencies.
