• TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Powering growth through travel payments
The GCC is investing heavily in tourism and digital infrastructure
distribution, issuing, acquiring and settlement partners across dozens of countries. To the traveller, the experience may look simple, but behind the scenes, money must move between businesses; data must move between systems; and trust must move across borders. At Visa, we believe the future of travel will be shaped not only by how people discover and book journeys, but by how effectively the industry enables this connected B2B commerce.
The future of travel may be defined by what happens after the booking, says Pinaaz Kulkarni , Head of Visa Commercial Solutions, CEMEA, as B2B infrastructure becomes critical to supporting industry growth
A s travel becomes more digital, cross-border and AI-enabled, B2B payment performance could become one of the industry’s most important growth enablers. At Visa, we see this shift creating new opportunities for travel businesses to strengthen the commercial infrastructure that supports global commerce. The future of travel is often imagined through the traveller’s eyes: smarter search, personalised recommendations, AI- powered itineraries, and more connected booking experiences. These innovations are important. But for the businesses
here, another question may prove just as consequential: can the B2B commercial infrastructure behind travel keep pace with the industry’s growth? Every booking creates a chain of B2B activity. An online travel agency may need to settle with an airline, hotel or ground transportation provider. A travel management company may need to support a multinational corporate programme across multiple markets. A hotel group may receive payments from direct channels, online travel agencies (OTAs), wholesalers and corporate platforms. An airline may work with
ACCEPTANCE AS THE UNLOCK FOR SCALABLE B2B TRAVEL
Travel already operates within one of the world’s most established consumer card ecosystems. Travellers expect fast, secure, and increasingly invisible payments when booking flights, hotels, and experiences. In the Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region, research indicates that 82% of travellers prefer digital
Pinaaz Kulkarni
72 | ATM YEARBOOK 2026
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