“The strength of the commercial infrastructure behind each transaction may be just as important as the customer experience it supports”
payments, using cash primarily for smaller incidental purchases. The opportunity now is to help bring a similar level of consistency to B2B travel payment flows. This matters because travel distribution is increasingly digital and intermediary- led. In many transactions, OTAs, TMCs, wholesalers, aggregators and other intermediaries invest in demand generation, manage customer relationships and assume commercial risk before settling with suppliers. For these models to scale efficiently, supplier payments need to be broad, reliable and predictable. Virtual cards have become an important foundation for this evolution. They can provide enhanced control, security, visibility and booking-level data. For an OTA paying suppliers across multiple markets, a virtual card can support one credential per booking and help simplify reconciliation. For a TMC managing complex corporate travel, virtual cards can help align payments to travellers, policies, cost centres and supplier records. For hotels, airlines and other suppliers, stronger acceptance and richer data can support more efficient processing and settlement visibility. Acceptance, therefore, is not just a payment operations issue. It is increasingly a growth and distribution issue.
in an environment shaped by evolving economic conditions, shifting travel patterns and geopolitical uncertainty. In this context, growth is not only about attracting more travellers, but about enabling the industry to respond quickly and efficiently to changing demand. For airlines, hotels, OTAs and travel management companies operating across multiple markets, the ability to move money securely, settle efficiently and reconcile payments accurately becomes increasingly important. As travel ecosystems become more interconnected, the strength of the commercial infrastructure behind each transaction may be just as important as the customer experience it supports.
systems will need to deliver not only speed, but also reliability, data quality, security and clear rules for authorisation. Payment performance may increasingly influence AI performance, determining whether transactions can be completed efficiently, accurately and with confidence. The point is not that humans disappear from the process. Human oversight will remain essential. However, as AI takes on a greater role in managing commercial activity, the quality of the underlying payment infrastructure may become an increasingly important source of competitive advantage for travel businesses. QUALITY OF ACCEPTANCE WILL MATTER AS MUCH AS COVERAGE As B2B travel becomes more connected and automated, the definition of acceptance may need to evolve. In the future, success will be measured not only by where payments are accepted, but by the quality of that acceptance, whether transactions are authorised with confidence, reconciled efficiently, processed securely and integrated seamlessly into travel and finance workflows. At Visa, we are investing in the infrastructure, data, AI and security capabilities that can help enable this future and support a more connected travel ecosystem. While the future of travel will continue to be shaped by remarkable destinations, compelling brands and exceptional customer experiences, the industry's ability to scale and deliver those experiences consistently may increasingly depend on the commercial infrastructure that connects the journey. That is the potential of connected B2B commerce, and a key opportunity for the travel industry in the years ahead. Sources: NielsenIQ; Edgar, Dunn & Company; Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, IMF; Visa.
AI WILL RAISE EXPECTATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES
Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly shape how travellers plan, book and experience trips. As more search, recommendation and booking decisions become automated, the systems that support those journeys will need to become equally intelligent. But one of AI’s most significant impacts on B2B travel payments, may happen behind the scenes. Agentic AI, autonomous systems capable of researching, deciding and executing transactions, has the potential to transform how payments are initiated, authorised, settled and reconciled across the commercial infrastructure that supports each booking. As more decisions are automated, payment
THE GCC DEMONSTRATES WHY THIS MATTERS
The GCC offers a compelling example of why resilient B2B commerce matters. The region continues to invest heavily in tourism, aviation and digital infrastructure, while positioning itself as a major global hub for business and leisure travel. At the same time, travel businesses across the region operate
82% Of travellers in CEMEA prefer digital payments, using cash primarily for smaller incidental purchases
Below: Digital pay- ments are becoming integral to the travel experience
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