Travel Platform HRS Launches Citi Partnership

Corporate hospitality platform HRS has launched a partnership with Citi that will integrate the bank’s virtual payment product with HRS’s booking process, Business Travel News reported Tuesday (Nov. 16).

The arrangement will see HRS embed Citi’s Virtual Card Account into its booking process in 46 markets, including China, India, Russia and Brazil, helping clients automate their travel payments.

From there, HRS can collect and audit hotel invoices for corporate clients with detailed data, with billing and data capabilities from Citi easing the integration with accounting.

Joint customers of the two companies can get detailed metrics on their travels, keeping an eye on things like the cost of parking, meals and resort fees.

“Ultimately, from a technology perspective being the enabler here, this is about ensuring there are minimal touchpoints which results in fewer issues and less chance for error and less pushback for users with the system,” said Kurt Knackstedt, payment solutions chief growth officer at HRS. “Our goal is to make the elements of the [payment] workflow as minimally invasive to the traveler as possible.

“But also from the finance department perspective, we want to reduce work for them and the quality of the information submitted through the travel process is increasing and it’s being done with less effort.”

The companies say the partnership builds their existing collaboration with their mutual clients around the world.

“Payment efficiencies drive an easier, more seamless experience for everyday business travelers while also advancing lodging program priorities that are vital to the C-suite,” HRS CEO Tobias Ragge said in a statement.

According to HRS, virtual payments have gained new priority for the hospitality industry since the COVID-19 pandemic, as hotels have tried to limit guest interactions.

With the U.S. travel ban lifted, it remains to be seen whether that priority will remain in place. As PYMNTS reported last week, Airbnb has seen a 44% increase in bookings after the ban was lifted. Other national hotel chains say they’ve seen reservations jump as much as 50%.

Read more: With US Travel Ban Lifted, Cities, Hotels, Homeshares Compete for Int’l Tourists