Strategic partnership to streamline payment solutions and elevate the travel experience, introducing over 40 new payment methods across 8 key Asian markets.
Singapore, 20 January 2025 – Booking.com, a global leader in the travel industry, and Antom, a prominent provider of merchant payment and digitalisation services under Ant International, have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing the payment experience for Booking.com customers. This partnership will introduce a variety of payment options across key Asian markets.
Through this partnership, Booking.com seeks to deliver a more personalised experience for its customers while unlocking business opportunities in Hong Kong SAR (China), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. With a collective population of approximately 680 million, these markets pose distinct challenges, such as differing payment preferences, currencies, and regulatory requirements. Antom, leveraging its extensive network of payment channel partnerships and deep understanding of local payment ecosystems, will assist Booking.com in navigating this complexity.
Antom boasts established local acquiring capabilities in over 40 countries and regions, offering businesses access to hundreds of payment methods while supporting transactions in over 100 currencies. Its comprehensive services include credit cards, e-wallets, and local payment solutions, all powered by AI-driven enhancements for transaction security, foreign exchange risk optimisation, cost efficiency, and real-time payment capabilities. Additionally, Antom supports business growth through its digitalisation and marketing solutions.
Booking.com is dedicated to making travel more accessible, with a seamless payment experience being central to achieving this vision. Thanks to its partnership with Antom, the platform will gradually introduce over 40 payment options, including online banking, bank transfers, digital wallets, and local card payments. Key mobile wallets, such as AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), Boost (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), GrabPay (Singapore), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Naver Pay (South Korea), Touch’n Go eWallet (Malaysia), and TrueMoney (Thailand), will be prioritised as new payment methods. This expanded range of options allows more customers to select their preferred payment methods, simplifying the checkout process and enabling faster, more convenient transactions. Ultimately, this initiative will unlock new travel opportunities for consumers across the Asia-Pacific region.
The integration of Antom’s multi-currency offerings and cross-border settlement capabilities further enables Booking.com’s global accommodation providers to enhance their reach and streamline payment acceptance and reconciliation processes across various markets. Smaller properties and holiday rentals, which often face barriers in accessing traditional payment infrastructure, stand to benefit greatly from this partnership. These businesses will gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
Daniel Marovitz, Senior Vice President of Fintech at Booking.com, remarked, “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.”
Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom at Ant International, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “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.”
By addressing the region’s diverse payment needs and expanding options for travellers and businesses alike, this partnership signifies a major step forward in enhancing the digital payment landscape across Asia.
