ATS Travel to accept crypto payments

ATS Travel and Payhound announced a partnership that will enable ATS Travel to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for all its services. The development marks a significant milestone in the Middle East’s travel industry, making ATS Travel the first large-scale travel management company in the region to adopt cryptocurrency for both corporate and leisure travel transactions.

TT Bureau

Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director, ATS travel, on the sidelines of the travel industry’s leading event, Private Luxury Barcelona, shared that ATS Travel will be the first travel management company in the region to adopt cryptocurrency for leisure and corporate travel transactions.

Under the historic arrangement, ATS Travel’s clients – many of whom are High-Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) from across the Middle East – will now have the flexibility to pay for a wide range of travel services, including airline tickets, luxury travel, holiday packages, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions, and Events) services, and more, using leading cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. “This initiative is poised to be a game changer in the travel industry and reflects the region’s growing interest in digital currencies and blockchain technology,” Sharif said.

A first in the Middle East

The collaboration is the first of its kind for a company of ATS Travel’s scale and prestige in the Middle East, setting a new benchmark for the industry. With a focus on innovation and forward-thinking business solutions, the understanding with Payhound enables ATS Travel to meet the demands of a tech-savvy, digital-first clientele, particularly those accustomed to high-end services. The implementation of crypto payments is expected to significantly enhance the customer experience by providing seamless, instant, and secure payment options while eliminating the delays and costs typically associated with traditional banking methods, informed Sharif.

Pioneering the future of payments

Melissa Lamb, Director of Sales – Luxury, Payhound, said, “We are excited about the prospect of collaborating with ATS Travel to facilitate acceptance of cryptocurrency as a form of payment for them.”

Payhound, headquartered in Malta, is a fully regulated crypto payment provider with a proven track record of supporting businesses across multiple industries, including iGaming, financial institutions, e-commerce, affiliate marketing, and more. The company specialises in crypto payment processing, settlements, and large volume trading, offering businesses a secure and efficient way to accept digital currencies for their products and services.

A strategic move for ATS Travel

The strategic collaboration with Payhound aligns with ATS Travel’s ongoing commitment to providing innovative solutions to its corporate and leisure customers. Khaled Ghubash, Managing Director, ATS Travel, expressed excitement over the proposed partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to be the first travel management company in the Middle East to integrate cryptocurrency payments into our services, once done.”