The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has become the first international boutique hotel group to accept cryptocurrencies for stays, indicating a new direction for the future of secure online payments. Jenny Southan reports
As we predicted in one of our recent editions of VOLT (Globetrender’s new premium newsletter), “Crypto Trips” is an emerging trend set to disrupt the status quo as we see ever-greater numbers of crypto-owners looking for ways to spend (as opposed to just trade) their wealth.
Now, innovative Hong Kong-based hospitality group the Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has announced a partnership with global crypto-payment gateway Coindirect to enable hotel bookings in more than 40 digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
For now bookings must be made directly through each hotel’s reservations centres but crypto payments will be available on website booking engines “in the near future”.
The Pavilions Residences, which are available for sale at the group’s Phuket and Niseko resorts, will also accept cryptocurrencies for property sales.
Gordon Oldham, founder and owner of the Pavilions Hotels & Resorts, says: “Personalised experiences are at the core of our DNA; allowing this flexibility in payments combined with security and peace of mind for our guests is the next step in personalised and bespoke services.
“We are proud to lead the industry and enhance ourselves in the digital world with this exciting new crypto payment method available at all of our unique and distinct hotels and resorts across the globe.”
Jesse Hemson-Struthers, CEO and co-founder of Coindirect, says: “We pride ourselves on providing partners a platform for instant secure payments with over 40 cryptocurrencies; this was a critical factor for the Pavilions Hotels & Resorts to ensure the end-to-end payment service is safe, flexible and easy for guests, when booking their next experience at any of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts’ across the globe.
“Guests can take advantage of paying in the cryptocurrency of their choice, based on the currency and location they are situated in at the time of booking, offering more freedom and a contemporary, personalised service.”
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts recently announced several new hotels including the Pavilions Anana Krabi in Thailand, and the Pavilions El Nido, Palawan Island in the Philippines, expanding its portfolio to 14 worldwide locations including Bali, the Himalayas, Mongolia and Niseko in Japan, and Amsterdam, Madrid, Lisbon and Rome in Europe.
Headquartered in London, Coindirect is a global cryptocurrency services provider which serves fast-growth businesses and affluent individuals.