What is PayLink?
PayLink is a tool designed specifically for hotels, with its main function being to make handling payments easier and more efficient for both the property and their guests.
This means that, instead of having to call to pay for their stay, guests can now click to make this payment. Once the payment succeeds, the booking is automatically confirmed – i.e. no need for manual steps.
This helps hotels reduce chargebacks and save time. Plus, it makes the entire check-in/out safer and faster for everyone. This convenience is especially welcome when your guests just arrived from a long-haul flight or are late to go to the airport.
How Paylink Works
Here's a breakdown of how Paylink helps hotels handle transactions:
- Initiation: When a guest makes a reservation, the hotel includes a payment link through Paylink.
- Guest Payment: The guest receives the payment link and clicks on it to make their payment online.
- Automatic Confirmation: Once the payment is made, Paylink automatically updates the booking status to confirmed.
- Completion: With the payment confirmed, the booking process is complete, and both the hotel and the guest can move forward knowing everything is taken care of.
Key Features of Paylink
Let's talk about what makes Paylink special for hotels and guests:
- Easy Payment Links: Paylink makes it simple for hotels to include payment links in their booking process.
- Automatic Booking Confirmation: Once guests pay through Paylink, their booking is instantly confirmed without hotel staff having to do anything.
- Live Payment Tracking: Hotels can see in real-time who's paid and who hasn't, keeping everything organised.
- Custom Branding: Paylink let's hotels customise the look of their payment links to match their branding.
- Safe Payments: With Paylink, guests can feel secure knowing their payment information is safe and protected.
Payment Processing Challenges in the Hotel Industry
A significant challenge hotels face with their payment processes is the continued use of outdated methods for transactions (i.e. relying on phone calls). Overly complicated payment processes can frustrate guests. Simplifying payment procedures is key to enhancing guest satisfaction and fostering a stronger connection with the hotel.
Ensuring the security of guest payment information is also a concern. Any breach in security can damage the hotel's reputation and erode the trust between guests and the establishment. Additionally, maintaining guest privacy is key to creating a sense of trust with your guests.
Delayed payments also impact the hotel's cash flow and ability to meet financial obligations. So prompt processing of payments is essential for maintaining a seamless experience for both guests and staff.
Lastly, events also posed two main challenges:
- Firstly, relying on bank transfers could be problematic when the person responsible lacked access to the bank, relying on an accountant to confirm receipt.
- Secondly, in cases like weddings, the couple might not have enough funds in their bank account and might want to use a credit card, which may involve extra fees (But unlike bank transfers).
Benefits of Paylink for Hotels
But it’s 2024, and hotel payment solutions have come a long way. Let’s explore how PayLink works and some of its main benefits for hotels:
Simplified Payments:
When guests understand that they only need to make a simple payment to confirm their booking, they are more likely to complete the transaction promptly. This results in faster cash flow for the hotel.
Conversely, if a guest fails to make a payment and the hotel has to remind them to do so, it could strain their relationship. The guest may feel pressured or bothered by the hotel's reminders.
To solve this, Access Guestline's PayLink makes it easy for hotels to handle guest payments, even before they ever arrive at your hotel. It's integrated into the reservation process, so guests can pay with just a click. Once paid, the booking is confirmed automatically.
Faster Cash Flow
With PayLink, hotels get paid faster. Guests tend to pay right away when they book, which means hotels don't have to wait for payments. This improves cash flow and reduces the need for hotels to follow up on unpaid bills.
The system is highly intuitive and performs tasks automatically. For instance, if an employee forgets to send out a PayLink, the system will automatically send a reminder on their behalf. This reminder, branded with the hotel's identity, can be sent from a specific hotel email address
Enhanced Security
Is PayLink safe?
Every e-commerce transaction needs to comply with 3DS2, which is a part of PSD2 regulations. So when someone makes a purchase online and enters their card details, they go through a 3D Secure Process.
This involves verifying the transaction through their banking app or receiving a text confirmation.
From the hotel's perspective, it minimises the chances of transaction disputes, which often lead to chargebacks. These incur significant costs for hoteliers, typically a percentage of the transaction value, plus additional fees.
Easy Integration
It works with hotel systems and is designed to work with different booking systems, being easy to set up and not requiring manual tracking of payments.
PayLink also partners with other companies. This means that your hotel can send a special link with all the booking information that, when someone clicks it, they'll know about the reservation right away.
It also allows third parties to send the link to take payments ahead of time. Allowing them to use these special links means they don't have to implement their own gateways, ensuring a consistent user experience.
Personalised Support
Access Guestline provides hands-on support to hotels using PayLink, offering guidance and assistance every step of the way, while ensuring that hotels can make the most of PayLink's features.
From setup to ongoing help, Access Guestline is there to support hotels and help them succeed.
Benefits of Paylink for Guests
Now, we’ll also explore what are the benefits of PayLink from the guests perspective.
Convenient Payments
Guests benefit from the ease of making payments with Paylink's simple click-to-pay feature. This eliminates the need for lengthy phone transactions, saving time and effort for guests while ensuring a seamless booking experience.
It also provides a more secure payment method, reducing the risk of credit card information being compromised during phone transactions.
Increased Confidence
There's no uncertainty or ambiguity about whether their reservation is completed. This certainty gives guests peace of mind, knowing that their accommodation is secured and they can look forward to their stay without any concerns.
Smooth Booking Experience
Paylink simplifies the booking process for guests, ensuring a delightful experience from beginning to end.
With automated payments and easy integration with reservation systems, guests can confirm their bookings quickly, without any hassle or delays.
Payment Flexibility
Guests appreciate the flexibility offered by Paylink, allowing them to choose their preferred payment method.
Be it if they’re paying with a credit card, debit card, or alternative payment option, Paylink enables guests to select the payment method that best suits their needs.
Speed
Lastly, PayLink also streamlines the payment process, making it quick and efficient for guests.
Instead of waiting for manual processing or confirmation from the hotel, guests can immediately finalise their booking with a click of a button.
GuestPay - Access Guestline’s PayLink Solution
If your hotel needs to enhance its payment processing, GuestPay stands out for several reasons.
- GuestPay seamlessly integrates into the hotel's existing PMS system, making it easy to track payments and send reminders.
- It maintains consistent branding across all payment processes, ensuring a professional and cohesive experience for everyone.
- GuestPay automates the tracking of payments, reducing the need for manual oversight and allowing staff to focus on other tasks.
- The solution adheres to strict security measures and compliance standards, ensuring that guest payment information is protected.
- Simply by simplifying payment procedures, PayLink saves time for both guests and staff, leading to better operational efficiency.
GuestPay’s PayLink stands out as a top hospitality technology for secure hotel payment processing. Designed by industry leaders, with the goal of solving daily operational problems for organisations in the hospitality field.