In an ever-changing world, the hospitality industry must adapt to all new policies as well as technologies. Hotels need to ensure that they guarantee their guests convenient and secure payment processing.
With more and more transactions being done through credit cards, hotels need to follow different practices to protect themselves and their guests.
In this article, we will discuss five practices for credit card processing in the hotel industry.
Rising Issues with Scams and Chargebacks
In recent years, there’s been a rise in fraudulent activities in hotels which cut across scams and chargebacks.
Scams are when a guest uses a stolen credit card to pay for their stay, and chargebacks are when a guest disputes a charge with their credit card company.
These issues can be costly for hotels, not only in terms of the loss of revenue but also the damage to their reputation.
Safeguarding Hotels against Scams and Chargebacks
Hotels should safeguard themselves against scams and chargebacks by ensuring they have a secure payment system setup.
This includes using a payment gateway that encrypts all sensitive data while also ensuring that the official website is secure.
Being vigilant when verifying the identity of guests adds an extra layer of security. This can include implementing a policy where guests must present a government-issued ID at check-in while verifying that the name on the credit card matches the name on the ID.
Security Best Practices
A common misconception during security checks is that taking a customer’s signature following a transaction reduces fraud. However, this is not the case, as it takes a long time to compare signatures with what is stored in the records.
Hotels should also be aware of the risks involved in storing credit card information, and should only do so if it is necessary.
If they do store credit card information, it should be encrypted and stored securely.
Applying for Credit Cards
When applying for a credit card, the hotel’s main focus should be on those that offer ease of implementation and a secure payment gateway.
It’s also important to consider the fees associated when using the payment gateway, as well as any other feature that may be beneficial for the hotel, such as fraud detection.
In addition, hotels should also ensure that they are following the standards set by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council.
This helps ensure the safety of all data and information of the guests while also securing the payment processing system.
Maintaining Trust with Guests
Hotels should be transparent about the processing system for payments and any fees that may be associated with it.
Hotels should also make provisions for alternative payment methods like mobile payments or digital wallets, as this can provide guests with a more secure and convenient option for paying for their stay.
Hotels should be responsive when it comes to addressing any issues that guests may have with their credit cards. This can be solved by providing a dedicated customer service line for any credit card-related issues while promptly addressing all chargebacks or dispute issues.
By maintaining trust with their guests, hotels protect themselves from fraudulent activity while also building a strong reputation among their clients.
Training Staff on Credit Card Processing
Hotels should take on the task of training their staff on ways to detect and prevent fraud, how to handle chargebacks, and how to ensure the safety of all credit card information.
By educating the staff, hotels provide their guests with top-notch security while also making interactions with their staff more seamless and understanding as they can easily identify problems and provide solutions.