The HRS Partnership Marks UATP’s First Venture into Wide-Scale Hotel Payment Acceptance and Corporate Lodging
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — UATP, the global network that enables organizations to simplify payment processes and expand their payment capabilities, announced that HRS, the leading global corporate lodging and payment technology platform, is a new UATP Merchant. By joining the UATP network, HRS will be able to accept UATP payments for individual business travelers, meeting attendees, and crews, expanding their growth opportunities across UATP’s vast portfolio of corporate issuers and airline clients.
UATP is a global payment solution owned and operated by the world’s airlines and accepted by thousands of merchants for air, rail and travel agency payments. UATP connects airlines to Alternative Forms of Payment which can expand reach and generate incremental sales globally. UATP offers easy-to-use data tools, DataStream(SM) and DataMine(SM), which provide comprehensive account details to Issuers and Corporate Subscribers for accurate travel management. UATP is accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies and Amtrak; UATP accounts are issued by: Aeromexico, APG Airlines, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Etihad Airways, Frontier Airlines, GOL Linhas aereas inteligentes S.A., Hahn Air; Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Shandong Airlines, Transavia Airlines, TUIfly GmbH, Turkish Airline, United Airlines, and WestJet. AirPlus International issues the UATP-based Company Account for: British Airways and Lufthansa German Airlines. (PRNewsFoto/Universal Air Travel Plan, Inc.)
For UATP, the partnership with HRS represents its first foray into wide-scale hotel acceptance, UATP travel merchants and corporate account holders will have direct access to HRS’ unmatched array of business-travel ready hotels, many available with compelling corporate rates via HRS’ AI-infused platform. Perhaps more importantly, the partnership offers newfound synergies for UATP clients and merchants, as the integration of HRS provides them with invoice automation, billing and reconciliation from a singular provider. For typical corporate programs, this accounts for the vast majority of their total travel expenditures.
“We see a lot of synergies in our partnership with UATP,” says Alexander Olsen, Vice President Spend Management & Payment Consulting, HRS. “By joining forces, we’re creating a truly complete ecosystem for business travel, bridging the complexity of procurement and booking quality hotels with seamless payment and financial reporting. Our combination of innovative automation and hotel expertise also provides a new option for travel suppliers as they seek more cost-effective, streamlined lodging options for their global workforces.”
The companies announced the partnership one day before UATP’s Airline Distribution® 2025, beginning on Tuesday in Budapest. UATP Chairman, President & CEO Ralph Kaiser will host HRS CEO Tobias Ragge on stage on Wednesday March 19 to further discuss the new partnership.
As a member of the UATP Network, HRS can optimize a dynamic ecosystem of corporate account holders, Issuers and Merchants. For many businesses and corporate travel managers – HRS’ core market – UATP accounts are their preferred method of payment. With payment efficiency identified as a key component in driving program compliance and use of preferred hotel suppliers, the partnership enables UATP to be used for those payments and expand their footprint at a time of surging corporate travel demand.
“In their commitment to creating efficient, digital and positive experiences for corporate travelers and their embrace of technological innovation, HRS shares many of the same core values of UATP,” said Zach Ornelas, SVP Commercial, UATP. “HRS’ expertise, particularly when it comes to the automated payment processes that govern expedient payment to hotels from corporate enterprises, makes them the perfect partner for our expansion in the hotel and meeting sector. We expect a long relationship marked by extensive mutual benefit.”
Captains of Corporate Travel Come Together
HRS is a leading name in corporate travel. The company’s AI-powered platform technology covers procurement, booking and payment, giving corporate hotel program leaders complete worldwide visibility across every element of a hotel booking. The company’s automation enables real-time tracking of local and regional hotel trends, exposing savings and performance opportunities for transient, meetings and longstay segments. HRS lodging content offers the broadest inventory of GDS and non-GDS properties, and a broad collection of chain-direct and independent hotels.
These capabilities are complemented by UATP’s payment, transaction data, and settlement expertise. Both UATP and HRS provide corporate travel managers with access to customized and detailed reports, including Level III data, expense integration, automated billing and reconciliation, as well as improved cost controls.
For more information about the UATP and the partnership with HRS or to speak with a UATP company executive, please contact Wendy Ward at [email protected]. Those seeking more information about HRS can contact Michael Brophy at [email protected].
ABOUT UATP UATP is the global network simplifying payments in complex industries. We make it easy for businesses to make or accept any type of payment; open new markets, drive growth, and reduce costs for Issuers, Merchants, vendors, agents, aggregators, and more. UATP is continually innovating to connect companies to new forms of payment (AFPs), and our easy-to-use data tools, DataStream® and DataMine®, provide comprehensive account details to Issuers and Corporate Account Holders. Our team has decades of experience with the ever-changing payments landscape, and our reliable and proven technology ensures our global customers get more from every payment experience. Learn more at uatp.com.
Accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies and Amtrak®; UATP accounts are issued by Aeromexico; Air Canada (TSE: AC); Air China; Air New Zealand (ANZFF.PK); Air Niugini; AirPlus International a wholly owned subsidiary of SEB Kort; American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL); APG Airlines; Austrian Airlines; Avianca Airlines; BCD Travel; China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA); Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL); EL AL Israel Airlines; Etihad Airways; Fareportal; Frontier Airlines; GOL Linhas Aereas inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4); Hahn Air; High Point Travel; Japan Airlines (9201:JP); JetBlue Airways; LATAM Airlines; Link Airways; Qantas Airways (QUBSF.PK); Shandong Airlines; Sichuan Airlines; Southwest Airlines; Sun Country Airlines; TUIfly GmbH; Turkish Airlines (ISE: THYAO); United Airlines (NASDQAQ: UAL) and WestJet.
ABOUT HRS HRS is a global technology company focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create fully digital lodging experiences for corporations and their travelers. The company’s platform-based solutions are reinventing end-to-end travel management and the traveler experience for transient, meetings and workforce segments for Fortune 500 companies worldwide. HRS’ award-winning Green Stay Initiative enables hotels to showcase their sustainable attributes while helping companies on their quest towards NetZero travel. HRS has an unsurpassed network of ecosystem relationships, with secure API integrations to hotel suppliers, digital payment facilitators and booking solutions. More information at www.hrs.com and on LinkedIn.
