Travel management company Agiito has launched a new innovation allowing travellers to show the TMC’s virtual card details at hotel check-in using the Agiito Connect mobile app.
This functionality has been built inhouse by the TMC’s development teams with Agiito-owned cards able to be downloaded to the app from 22 March.
UK-based Agiito said that this virtual payment card feature would help to resolve “challenges” that some travellers have faced when trying to check in to their hotels.
“The solution ensures that, even if the payment details have not been received, hotels will have immediate access to card details, without the need for the customer or hotel to contact Agiito’s support teams,” explained the TMC in a statement.
Problems with using TMC-owned virtual cards at hotels was highlighted at the Business Travel Association’s finance conference, with travellers being forced to make almost 1,500 hours of calls over a six-month period to resolve check-in issues.
Luke Perry, Agiito’s delivery manager, added: “We’ve developed a mobile solution that provides our customers with the same Agiito-owned virtual card credentials that are sent to hotels as part of their booking.
“It’s our response to an industry-wide billback issue and will alleviate payment issues by adding virtual payment cards to travellers’ booking itineraries in our app.
“By introducing our virtual payment card to Agiito Connect mobile and placing it right in the palm of their hand, this will help ease their check-in and check-out experience, meaning travellers aren’t waiting around in reception whilst the hotel calls us for payment details.”