Qashio and Visa to invest AED100m to travel payments solution

By Gloria Methri

Qashio, a Dubai-based provider of spend management solutions, has partnered with Visa to launch the Visa Commercial Choice Travel program in the region. Visa and Qashio will support the travel industry in the UAE, MENA, Europe and the UK with global issuance capabilities by allocating over AED 100 million to the program in the coming years.

The solution will allow travel companies to obtain Qashio cards and transact in different currencies, including AED, SAR, USD, EUR and GBP issued from UAE, enabling payments and settlements in multiple currencies.

Qashio and Visa’s specialised solution will enable travel companies to digitise and automate their payments within the travel sector, optimising their reconciliation and enhancing liquidity. The solution is seamlessly integrated with global travel management companies and their booking tools including Global Distribution Systems (GDS), making travel booking and payments seamless and secure.

Utilising the Visa Commercial Choice Travel program, Qashio Corporate Travel’s offering aims to streamline operational complexities, reduce expenses, and support companies of all sizes to manage their travel payments. Leveraging Visa’s secure payment infrastructure, this partnership ensures high standards of protection for all B2B travel-related transactions.

Beyond payment security and control, Qashio’s Visa Commercial Choice Travel solution will provide real-time data insights and analytics to make cash flow tracking and budgeting more precise. With an unlimited pool of customisable Qashio cards, companies will gain complete control and visibility over payments. Qashio’s direct-to-ERP integrations will enable travel companies to reconcile their booking transactions efficiently, reducing costs and maximising revenue.

“We are committed to continuing our joint growth with Visa, a global leader in payments innovation, to management,” said Armin Moradi, CEO and Co-Founder of Qashio. “We recognise that the Travel & Tourism industry is key in the region; however, the travel companies are underserved with strong technical payment solutions that work in their favour, we are creating a one-stop platform that simplifies the corporate travel experience for our clients, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – growing their businesses.”

Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP and Country Manager for UAE, “Travel and tourism are key sectors driving growth and diversification of UAE and the region’s economies. Visa is delighted to partner with Qashio in bringing this innovative solution that leverages Visa’s technology, extensive network, and data analytics. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing secure and seamless payment solutions that enable the digital transformation and improve efficiencies of travel and tourism companies.”