Minor Hotels taps Checkout.com for global payments

Minor Hotels has partnered with Checkout.com to manage payments for its resort properties across multiple markets. The agreement covers a hotel group with more than 640 properties in 67 countries.

As it expands internationally, the hospitality company is consolidating its payments infrastructure. Checkout.com will provide global acquiring services and payment optimisation tools for transactions made by guests across markets and currencies.

Minor Hotels operates hotels and resorts under brands including Anantara, Tivoli, Avani, Oaks, NH Collection and nhow, alongside restaurant, travel and wellness businesses. As its portfolio grows across regions, it wants a more consistent payments setup.

Under the arrangement, Checkout.com will use local acquiring in a number of markets, allowing transactions to be routed domestically where available. The companies said this could lift authorisation rates and lower processing costs. Settlement in local currencies could also reduce some foreign exchange conversion and ease reconciliation.

The deal also includes two Checkout.com products designed to reduce failed transactions and limit unnecessary security checks during checkout. One uses artificial intelligence to improve the chances of a payment being approved on the first attempt. The other applies 3D Secure authentication based on issuer preferences and local regulatory requirements.

For hotel operators, failed card payments can create immediate operational issues, particularly for advance bookings, international guests and transactions that pass through multiple currencies or banking systems. Payments companies have increasingly focused on the travel and hospitality sector because of the volume of cross-border transactions and the risk of customers abandoning a purchase if checkout takes too long or requires repeated checks.

Minor Hotels said the partnership is intended to support its broader international growth by reducing complexity in its payments operations. The company has been adding properties in multiple markets and needs systems that can operate consistently while meeting local requirements.

"As our portfolio continues to grow across markets, we need payment infrastructure that is reliable, flexible and able to support a premium experience for our guests. Checkout.com's global acquiring capabilities and payments expertise will help us simplify complexity, improve performance and build a stronger foundation for our next phase of growth," said Anthony Green, Global Head of Digital Marketing and Ecommerce at Minor Hotels.

Checkout.com, based in London, processes payments for businesses operating online in more than 145 currencies. The partnership with Minor Hotels expands its work with businesses that handle cross-border consumer payments and need local market coverage across regions.

Domestic acquiring remains a key part of its offer to multinational merchants because card issuers are often more likely to approve transactions processed locally. That can matter in sectors such as hospitality, where a booking may be made in one country for a stay in another and settled in a third currency.

Travel and hotel groups have been updating payment systems as more bookings move to digital channels and consumers expect transactions to be completed quickly on mobile and desktop platforms. The sector also faces added complexity from security standards, regional regulation, and the mix of direct bookings, online travel agencies and in-person payments at properties.

Yao Xiang, Head of Commercial, Greater China and Southeast Asia at Checkout.com, said hospitality has particularly complex payment demands.

"Hospitality businesses operate across complex payment flows, markets and currencies, while guests expect every payment to be simple and secure. We're proud to partner with Minor Hotels as it continues to grow globally, bringing together our local acquiring capabilities, payment optimization technology and dedicated expertise to help its team improve performance and deliver better guest experiences," Xiang said.