{"id":274731,"date":"2026-10-12T06:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T23:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ttrweekly.com\/site\/?p=274731"},"modified":"2026-10-12T00:00:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T17:00:34","slug":"global-payments-partners-with-centara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ttrweekly.com\/site\/2026\/10\/global-payments-partners-with-centara\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Payments partners with Centara"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SINGAPORE, 12 October 2026: Global Payments Inc.<\/a> (NYSE: GPN) has expanded its cross-border payment capabilities in Thailand through a landmark partnership with Centara Hotels & Resorts<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Thailand\u2019s leading hotel operator and one of Asia\u2019s most recognised hospitality brands, Centara Hotels & Resorts offers more than 93 properties across 12 countries. The partnership will see Global Payments\u00ae power cross-border payment capabilities to support national and international visitation across Centara\u2019s Thailand property estate.<\/p>\n\n\n

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From left:\u00a0Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Phil Pomford, Executive Lead, Enterprise APAC at Global Payments, mark their partnership to enhance cross-border payment capabilities across Centara\u2019s properties in Thailand.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Centara partnership mirrors Global Payments\u2019 broader Asia strategy to identify high-volume travel verticals where cross-border payment complexity hinders customer attraction and retention. This addition to Global Payments\u2019 Thailand partner portfolio effectively completes a payments infrastructure that now spans the full international traveller journey, offering a seamless customer experience from flight booking to hotel check-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new payment standard<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025 alone, Thailand welcomed 32.97 million international visitors, each arriving with different currencies and payment expectations shaped by their home markets. However, currency friction at checkout, limited support for international payment methods, and the complexity of settling funds across borders cost travel merchants in Thailand real revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While online travel agencies (OTAs) account for 69% of hotel bookings in ASEAN, industry research shows nearly 35% of hotel bookings in Southeast Asia now come directly through hotel websites, indicating a preference for direct bookings. As travellers bypass OTAs for better prices, flexible policies, and loyalty benefits, a seamless payment experience becomes a key differentiator. As cross-border spending demand continues to grow, foreign exchange volatility and unexpected conversion rates create speed bumps that lead to buyer hesitation at checkout. These factors are driving greater demand for a localised customer journey that rewards loyalty. Global Payments\u2019 payments infrastructure enables Centara to own the checkout experience and provide a direct booking relationship with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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