As corporate travel rebounds and the industry races toward $1.5 trillion in global business travel spend this year, the need for modern, scalable payment infrastructure has never been clearer. Enter Conferma Connect Direct – a powerful API solution that delivers virtual cards directly into hotel systems, eliminating outdated processes and powering frictionless travel experiences.
The End of Manual Workarounds
Despite the widespread adoption of virtual cards for corporate hotel stays, many hotel payments still rely on manual methods like fax and email. The result? Operational inefficiencies, delayed check-ins, and inconsistent reconciliation – all in stark contrast to what today’s digital-first travelers expect.
Conferma Connect Direct addresses this gap head-on. It integrates virtual card delivery directly into hotel property management systems (PMS) and central reservation systems (CRS), enabling:
Real-time card delivery
No manual entry
Automated invoice reconciliation
“This isn’t just about replacing the fax machine,” said Jason Lalor, CEO of Conferma. “It’s about building infrastructure that makes virtual card acceptance seamless, secure, and scalable. Our partners aren’t experimenting, they’re scaling, because this works.”
Built for the Digital Traveler
According to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report, travelers increasingly expect connected, tech-enabled journeys. Yet, many back-end hotel operations remain tethered to outdated workflows. Connect Direct changes that. By delivering virtual cards in real-time, hotels can reduce fraud, eliminate check-in delays, and streamline reconciliation; all while enhancing the guest experience and cutting costs.
Global Momentum and Industry-Wide Adoption
Leading hotel groups such as Omni Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Strawberry, and Thon Hotels are already working with Conferma to expand Connect Direct across their portfolios. Property management systems like Mews and SynXis Property Hub, along with global TMCs including BCD Travel, CWT, and Flight Centre Travel Group, are also scaling adoption.
“Integrating virtual card technology strengthens our ability to innovate and collaborate,” said Kjetil Smette, Managing Director, Thon Hotels, “creating smoother operations and added value throughout the travel chain.”
“This is a critical step forward,” added Neil Fyfe, Head of Payment Solutions at BCD Travel. “It reduces front-desk friction, streamlines reconciliation, and helps our clients reclaim tax more efficiently.”
“This improves the guest experience above all,” noted Michael Wirth, Senior Director, Global Payments at CWT, “while supporting a more consistent, end-to-end payment journey.”
Melissa Elf, Global COO at Flight Centre Corporate, added: “With Conferma integrating directly into hotel systems, we’re delivering faster payments, fewer errors, and greater control to our clients.”
A Future Without Fax: GBTA Denver Announcement
At the upcoming GBTA Convention in Denver, Conferma will announce its plan to phase out fax-based payment delivery by 2026; a definitive move toward fully digital, real-time travel payments.
“This is about more than technology,” said Lalor. “It’s about building trust, driving collaboration, and delivering the infrastructure the travel industry needs.”
An Open Call to the Industry
While Connect Direct solves a major delivery challenge, Conferma emphasizes that industry-wide transformation requires collaboration across the entire travel ecosystem — hotels, TMCs, aggregators, banks, and PMS providers.
“We’re inviting partners to help build a frictionless, connected future,” added Lalor. “It’s time for the travel industry to say goodbye to fax, permanently.”
