Booking.com partners with Antom to enhance payment options in Asia
- Booking.com has formed a strategic partnership with Antom to expand local payment options across key Asian markets.
- The collaboration aims to enhance the payment experience by integrating popular local payment methods like AlipayHK and GCash.
- This initiative is set to unlock travel opportunities for more consumers and support smaller businesses in the region.
In a significant development for the travel industry, Booking.com, a major player in the global travel market, announced a strategic alliance with Antom, a prominent merchant payment and digitisation services provider on January 14, 2025. This collaboration aims to enhance the payment experience for customers by integrating various local payment methods across multiple key markets in Asia. The targeted countries include Hong Kong SAR, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, collectively housing approximately 680 million people. Each of these markets has its distinct payment preferences, currencies, and regulatory requirements, presenting challenges for online travel businesses that wish to operate effectively in the region. By addressing these varying needs, Booking.com seeks to streamline the checkout process for travelers, ultimately making travel bookings easier and more efficient. The partnership will primarily introduce popular mobile wallets like AlipayHK, Boost, GCash, GrabPay, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, and TrueMoney to meet local payment preferences. This flexibility is expected to attract a broader customer base, making transactions quicker and more seamless for travelers throughout the Asia Pacific. Furthermore, the integration of Antom’s multi-currency offerings will empower accommodation providers on Booking.com’s platform to extend their reach and optimize payment acceptance and reconciliation across different markets. Smaller properties and holiday rentals, which often lack access to traditional payment infrastructures, stand to gain significantly from this collaboration, as it will allow them to compete more effectively on a global scale. Daniel Marovitz, Senior Vice President of Fintech at Booking.com, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that it reflects their commitment to delivering a seamless travel experience while supporting local businesses. Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the partnership's potential to enhance payment efficiency and unlock growth opportunities across diverse markets in Asia.