Seamless Journeys |📱 35% of Hotels Still Don’t Accept Digital Wallets

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🌟Sector Spotlight

PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

35% Of Hotels Still Lag Behind In Adopting Digital Wallet Payment Systems

Gen Z is setting a brisk pace for digital wallet adoption in travel, with 79% favouring mobile payments and real-time transactions. This group’s expectations for instant, seamless payments—mirrored in their lightning-fast attention spans—are rapidly reshaping how bookings happen, especially as social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram increasingly drive holiday decisions.

Despite this shift, 35% of hotels still aren’t equipped to accept digital wallets, leaving them trailing in a market where 80–90% of travellers now book via mobile. Small accommodation providers, in particular, face high transaction fees and clunky processes that hinder their cash flow and competitiveness internationally. The writing’s on the wall: those who don’t modernise risk missing out on a significant, tech-savvy clientele who value speed, access, and inclusion more than ever before.

BUSINESS TRAVEL INSIGHTS

BCD Travel Publishes Global Survey on Business Travellers’ Hotel Preferences and Experiences

BCD Travel’s latest survey of over 1,000 business travellers digs into what truly matters on the road—think location, cost, and employer policies topping hotel choices. Notably, 77% opt for chain hotels for consistency, while loyalty programmes remain a powerful draw, with nearly all North American travellers enrolled and three-quarters allowed to keep their points. Wi-Fi and breakfast rank as indispensable amenities, yet challenges like sluggish internet and outdated rooms still dampen satisfaction.

Interestingly, more than half rarely consider sustainability, suggesting a sizeable gap between corporate travel talk and actual booking behaviour. Safety also remains a sticking point, with 30% feeling unsafe at times. Companies keen to enhance traveller experience should focus on clearer hotel policies, improved facilities, and weaving sustainability into both sourcing and traveller education—steps that will pay dividends in both employee satisfaction and long-term travel programme goals.

AVIATION MARKET CHALLENGES

EU Airline Costs Hit €15.5 Billion Due to Regulation and Market Inefficiencies

European airlines are grappling with skyrocketing operational costs, which soared to €15.5 billion in 2024, largely due to burdensome regulations and persistent market inefficiencies. Compliance with stringent EU environmental, consumer, tax, and corporate disclosure policies accounted for €9.9 billion, highlighting just how heavy regulatory pressures are weighing on the industry. Without decisive legislative overhaul—particularly the long-promised Single European Sky, which could streamline airspace management and cut major inefficiencies—these costs could rise to an eye-watering €27.6 billion by 2030.

AVIATION PERFORMANCE

Manchester Airport Reveals Record July Passenger Numbers and Top Travel Destinations

Manchester Airport witnessed a near-record July, processing almost 3.3 million passengers and reinforcing its place as a pivotal UK travel hub. School holidays fuelled unprecedented demand, with more than 113,000 travellers moving through the airport on the busiest day, and plans for August hint at yet another record-breaking period. Notably, the airport has ramped up staff, especially in security, achieving impressive queue times: 98% of passengers cleared security in under 15 minutes.

PAYMENT SOLUTIONS

Studies Reveal Growing Acceptance of Digital Wallets in Travel Payment Solutions

Gen Z travellers are rapidly driving the adoption of digital wallets, with 79 percent already using these platforms and shaping a shift towards mobile-first, real-time travel payments. By 2028, real-time transactions via global wallets are projected to represent around 27 percent of all payments—a direct response to Gen Z's demand for instant, seamless financial tools inspired heavily by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

PAYMENTS INNOVATION

Loganair Partners with PayPal to Offer Flexible Interest-Free Flight Payments

Loganair’s partnership with PayPal ushers in greater payment flexibility for travellers, allowing bookings to be split into three interest-free instalments via PayPal’s Pay in 3 feature. This approach meets a real consumer need for less financial stress when planning trips—particularly timely for late summer holidays or those prepping early for Christmas. By embracing PayPal’s extensive digital payments ecosystem, Loganair empowers customers to seize fare deals without immediate cost hurdles, striking a fine balance between affordability and convenience.