Optimizing payments for guests and industry players in hospitality

The hospitality industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by evolving guest expectations and digital innovation. Today’s travelers demand fast, secure, and frictionless payment experiences that support every step of their journey — from booking to check-out.

 Although the majority (63%) of hoteliers expect continued improvement in the coming season—indicating not only stabilization but also resilience and strength—three in five European accommodations cite high implementation costs and the complexity of integration with existing systems as barriers to adopting digital technologies. [1]

However, when it comes to payments, streamlining processes is no longer just a back-office concern; it is a strategic imperative to enhance guest satisfaction, increase direct bookings, and improve operational efficiency. In this article, we explore the critical role of payment optimization in hospitality and how MyBank, with its pay by bank scheme-based payment solution, empowers businesses to meet these challenges head-on.

The importance of payment optimization in hospitality

Payments are a fundamental part of the guest experience. Whether booking a room, paying extras, or settling the bill, guests expect a smooth, secure, and convenient payment process. However, many hospitality providers still struggle with fragmented payment systems that cause delays, increase fraud risks, and complicate reconciliation.

Key challenges include:

• Inefficient reconciliation processes consume time and resources.
• Security concerns and fraud risks associated with traditional payment methods.
• Limited payment options that do not always align with guest preferences.
• Lack of real-time payment confirmation, leading to uncertainty and operational delays.
• Complex integrations that slow down digital transformation initiatives.

In addition to these challenges, the hospitality sector must also manage high seasonal demand fluctuations, complex multi-channel sales environments, and the need to cater to a diverse international clientele with varying payment preferences. Moreover, the rise of online bookings and purchases demands that providers offer flexible, fast, and secure payment options that integrate seamlessly across platforms and devices.

Operationally, inefficient reconciliation processes and delayed payment confirmations can lead to cash flow uncertainties and administrative burdens, which impact both financial planning and guest satisfaction. Furthermore, the growing sophistication of fraud schemes requires robust security measures that comply with evolving regulations, such as PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA).

Overcoming these obstacles is crucial to boosting conversion rates, cutting operational costs, and fostering trust with guests.

Introducing MyBank: a key payment solution for hospitality

MyBank is a pan-European e-payment solution that enables customers to make irrevocable wire transfers directly from their online banking environment, with immediate payment confirmation. Unlike traditional card payments or third-party digital wallets, MyBank leverages the existing online banking infrastructure to provide a user-friendly, secure, transparent, and seamless payment experience.

For hospitality businesses, this translates into faster booking confirmations, reduced risk of cancellations, and improved cash flow management — all essential in a sector where timing and trust are critical.

Key features of MyBank with practical examples

• Immediate payment confirmation: When a guest books a room, MyBank provides instant confirmation of payment, allowing hotels to confirm reservations immediately and avoid delays caused by pending transactions.

• No new registrations or new service activations needed: Guests simply use their familiar online banking credentials, reducing friction. For example, international travelers can pay securely without activating any new account or service.

• No transaction amount limits imposed by the payment scheme: MyBank supports payments of any size, from single-room bookings to large corporate events, accommodating diverse hospitality needs.

• Pre-filled transfer forms: Payment details including the amount, payment reference, and beneficiary IBAN are automatically populated in the payment form, so customers do not need to enter any information manually. For instance, a guest booking a hotel will see a payment form already filled with all the necessary data and can approve the transaction with a single click, ensuring a fast, accurate, and hassle-free payment process.

• Strong security and compliance: Fully compliant with PSD2 and GDPR, MyBank incorporates Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), significantly reducing fraud risk — a major concern for high-value hospitality transactions.
• Automatic reconciliation: Thanks to pre-filled and unmodifiable payment details, each transaction is accurate and fully traceable. This precision enables finance teams to perform reconciliation more efficiently, reducing manual errors and saving time.
• Pan-European reach: Operating across the SEPA zone, MyBank allows hospitality businesses to accept payments seamlessly from customers throughout Europe on any device.

How MyBank drives value for hospitality providers

Immediate payment certainty and optimized cash flow: Irrevocable payments confirmed in real time provide hospitality providers with immediate certainty of funds, reducing cancellations and enabling better operational planning, especially during peak seasons.

Simplified, cost-effective integration: MyBank requires minimal technical effort to integrate with booking engines or e-commerce platforms. For businesses without full e-commerce capabilities, pay-by-link options via email, SMS, or QR codes offer flexible payment collection methods.

Enhanced security reducing fraud and chargebacks: Compliance with PSD2 and SCA helps mitigate fraud and chargeback risks, protecting both hospitality businesses and their guests.

Support for high-value transactions: MyBank accommodates luxury bookings, group events, and other high-value payments common in hospitality as its payment scheme allows transactions with no amount limit.

Streamlined reconciliation saving time and reducing errors: The accuracy and traceability of payments simplify reconciliation processes, saving administrative time, and minimizing errors.

Improved guest satisfaction and higher booking conversions: By offering a fast, secure, and familiar payment experience that requires no new registrations or apps, MyBank reduces payment abandonment and increases booking conversions, fostering guest loyalty.

European trends supporting MyBank’s value proposition for hospitality

Several recent studies and reports highlight trends in European payments and consumer preferences that underscore the relevance of MyBank’s solution for hospitality:

– Real-time payment solutions and instant payments have seen significant growth in Europe in recent years, with transaction volumes increasing by over 40% annually. [2] This trend reflects a clear consumer and business preference for fast, secure, and seamless payment methods that MyBank provides, enabling direct connections to bank accounts and enhancing payment transparency and convenience.

– Digital adoption among European travellers is accelerating, with around 70% of bookings now made online. [3] MyBank supports this trend by securely redirecting customers to their trusted online banking environment, enabling smooth payments with immediate confirmation before seamlessly returning them to the hotel or airline website.

– Account to Account (A2A) payments will grow from 24% in 2025 to nearly 40% of total e-commerce by 2035 across selected European markets. [4] This highlights the growing trust and preference for bank-based payment methods, which MyBank leverages.

– Fraud prevention and regulatory compliance remain top priorities for businesses, with over 60% of companies investing in Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) and secure payment technologies. [5] MyBank’s compliance with PSD2, SCA, and VOP directly addresses these concerns.

These trends collectively demonstrate that hospitality businesses adopting payment solutions like MyBank are well-positioned to meet guest expectations, reduce operational risks, and capitalize on the shift toward instant, secure bank payments.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Hospitality Payments

Looking forward, as digital payments become the norm across Europe, MyBank’s pan-European reach and user-friendly approach will enable hospitality businesses to capitalize on the shift towards bank-based payments.

By adopting MyBank, all players across the hospitality value chain can future-proof their payment systems, ensuring they remain competitive and responsive to evolving consumer preferences in 2025 and beyond. With immediate payment confirmation, strong security compliance, and seamless integration, MyBank empowers hospitality providers to enhance operational efficiency and deliver superior guest experiences in an increasingly digital world.

Adopting MyBank is not just a payment upgrade—it’s a strategic move towards building trust, improving cash flow, and driving growth in the fast-evolving hospitality landscape.

[1] Statista and Booking.com, European Accommodation Barometer 2025

[2] Capgemini, World Payments Report 2023

[3] Euromonitor, Revolutionising Travel: ChatGPT and Generative AI Usher in New Era of Automation

[4] Celent, A Future of European Payments | Celent

[5] Capgemini, World Payments Report 2023