Hangzhou, China – Booking.com, an online travel platform, has recently announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Ant International’s merchant payment and digitisation services provider, Antom.
Under the alliance, the companies shared that said move will integrate diverse payment solutions across key markets in Asia.
It will further enable Booking.com to provide a more personalised customer experience exploring business opportunities in China’s Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
According to the firm, each market presents distinct challenges, such as varying payment methods and currencies, to complex regulatory requirements. Antom supports global merchants like Booking.com by utilising its advanced payment channel partnerships and expertise in local payment systems.
Moreover, said partnership allows the digital travel platform to make over forty payment options available over time, including online banking, bank transfers, digital wallets, and local card payments.
Mobile wallets such as AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Boost (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), GrabPay (Singapore), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Naver Pay (South Korea), Touch’n Go eWallet (Malaysia), and TrueMoney (Thailand) will also be the first to be introduced as new payment methods.
This initiative enhances flexibility for customers, ensuring smoother checkouts and faster transactions while expanding travel possibilities for a diverse range of consumers throughout the Asia Pacific region.
With Antom’s multi-currency support and cross-border settlement capabilities, Booking.com is enhancing the ability of its global accommodation partners to accept payments seamlessly and reconcile across varied markets.
Said collaboration will benefit smaller properties and holiday rentals that may lack access to traditional payment infrastructures, enabling them to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.
Daniel Marovitz, Senior Vice President of Fintech at Booking.com, stated, “Partnering with Antom allows us to streamline and enhance the payment experience for our travellers across Asia Pacific, integrating a wider range of local payment options that align with regional preferences.”
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering a seamless travel experience from booking to checkout. We look forward to working with Antom to support local businesses and continue advancing a more connected, innovative payment ecosystem for travel,” Marovitz further remarked.
Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom, Ant International, also said, “We’re excited to partner with Booking.com to expand payment options, broaden customer reach across diverse markets, and support the platform in better serving the unique needs of each region.”
“This partnership reflects our commitment to making payments more efficient and enabling merchants to unlock new growth opportunities in today’s dynamic landscape,” he shared.