SecureTrading and GVS provide a lucrative revenue opportunity in hospitality

To assist the growth of the hospitality industry, Gift Voucher Solutions and SecureTrading, the UK’s leading independent payment processor, have launched a bespoke service that enables restaurants and hospitality businesses to sell gift vouchers online.

The UK Gift Card and Voucher Association (UKGCVA) quotes the gift voucher & gift card market in the UK as being worth £4.6 billion with predictions of 14% growth in 2012. Sales to employers now make up about 45%, £1.6 billion. Vouchers purchased online by the corporate sector increased by a staggering 231 per cent during 2011, which reflects the popularity of online purchasing.

The web solution using SecureTrading’s reliable secure payment gateway and Gift Voucher Solutions’ software system provides a web shop which is Level 1 PCI DSS compliant, integrated online payments system, personalised eVoucher mail tool & automated luxury printing service.

Dawn Anderson, Managing Director of Gift Voucher Solutions, said: “Some hospitality businesses still use third parties to generate online sales, gifting their cash flow and spending tens of thousands of pounds a year on commission. Gift Voucher Solutions charge a fixed annual fee for its Software as a Service (SaaS) and combined with SecureTrading’s industry leading rates, provides hotels & restaurants with an extremely effective and affordable way of embracing technology.”

As with everything else, the gift voucher industry is moving towards the digital era. eVouchers, once deemed the latest innovation, are now giving way to virtual gifts, distributed in various forms such as emails, social media via Facebook or text message and such changes should be embraced to keep up with the customers’ needs”.

Tim Allitt, Head of Sales and Marketing at SecureTrading, comments: “Many UK hotels & restaurants sell gift vouchers by phone, in some cases breaching the terms of their merchant agreement & PCI compliance. Merchants require additional authorisation from their acquiring bank to process ‘cardholder not present’ transactions for gift vouchers, because of the high risk of fraud & chargebacks. By working with Gift Voucher Solutions, we can remove that headache for merchants.”

Roger Erskine-Hill, Marketing Director at Hillbrooke Hotels, said: “The combination of Gift Voucher Solutions and SecureTrading allowed us to exchange several very basic gift voucher pages on our hotel websites with highly professional, well designed, online alternatives. The resulting increase in voucher sales has more than justified this move.”

ENDS
About Gift Voucher Solutions
Gift Voucher Solutions provide the very best online SaaS gift voucher solutions for the luxury hotel & restaurant sectors. The online system maximises direct sales opportunities and integrates easily into existing websites, providing an effective way for businesses to sell gifts & vouchers online.

For more information visit www.giftvouchersolutions.com
Dawn Anderson
Managing Director
Gift Voucher Solutions
0845 833 5592
[email protected]

About SecureTrading
SecureTrading is the UK's leading independent Payment Services Group, each year processing billions of pounds worth of transactions across multiple currencies and territories. Leading retail, telecommunications, gaming, education and social companies trust SecureTrading to handle their payments every day.

SecureTrading’s independence means it works with a range of global acquirers and helps merchants open new markets and revenue streams. SecureTrading’s patented business process supports Dynamic Currency Conversion (‘DCC’), as well as dozens of alternative payment methods such as a virtual terminal and other fund transfer solutions.

SecureTrading also has the most comprehensive suite of counter-fraud services which significantly reduce the threat of online fraud to businesses. Building on its core services of 3-D Secure, CVV2 and AVS, SecureTrading also provides ST ReD, a managed service delivered through an expert team of experienced risk analysts, SecureTrading Fraud Score enabling IP checking, and SecureTrading Identity Check which enables full KYC checks.

SecureTrading’s unrivalled standing in the payments industry enables it to work with governments to help them define online payment regulation both in Europe and the US.

For more information please visit: www.securetrading.com

Zara Camble
Account Manager
Fieldworks Marketing
Tel: + 44 (0) 845 034 5602
[email protected]

Michael Gwynne
Marketing Executive
SecureTrading
Tel: + 44 (0) 1248 672 078
[email protected]