ATS Travel, a leading travel management company based in Dubai, has announced a strategic collaboration with Payhound, a fully regulated crypto payment solutions provider, to enable the acceptance of cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its services. This groundbreaking move positions ATS Travel as the first large-scale travel management company in the Middle East to embrace digital currencies for both corporate and leisure travel transactions. The announcement was made by Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director of ATS Travel, during the Private Luxury Barcelona event, hosted by Private Luxury Events, a key gathering for stakeholders in the global luxury travel industry.
With this new development, ATS Travel’s clientele including many high-net-worth individuals across the Middle East will now be able to pay for a variety of services such as airline tickets, luxury travel packages, holiday bookings, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) services using prominent cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. According to Sharif, the partnership reflects the increasing demand among clients for digital payment options and the rising adoption of blockchain technology in the region. He noted that this transition is expected to revolutionize the travel experience by offering seamless, secure, and immediate payment solutions, unlike traditional banking systems which often involve delays and additional costs.
The collaboration with Payhound is particularly significant given ATS Travel’s prominence in the Middle Eastern market. Established nearly five decades ago, the company operates across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India, offering a wide array of travel solutions through both corporate and leisure verticals. The decision to integrate cryptocurrency payments underscores ATS Travel’s commitment to innovation and its readiness to cater to a tech-savvy clientele that seeks efficiency and flexibility. Sharif emphasized that the arrangement is not only a response to customer demand but also a strategic move to future-proof the business in a fast-evolving digital economy.
Payhound, headquartered in Malta, is known for providing secure and efficient crypto payment services across various industries including iGaming, financial services, and e-commerce. Melissa Lamb, Director of Sales, Luxury at Payhound, expressed excitement over the collaboration, noting that Payhound is eager to support ATS Travel in its journey toward digital transformation. Lamb highlighted that Payhound’s platform, regulated under the Virtual Financial Assets Service Provider license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority in 2021, ensures rapid payment processing and eliminates the inefficiencies often associated with conventional banking methods.
Khaled Ghubash, Managing Director of ATS Travel, remarked that the partnership with Payhound aligns with the company’s broader vision of providing cutting-edge services tailored to the evolving needs of its customers. He expressed confidence that this new payment option will open up new avenues for growth, particularly as digital currencies gain momentum in the Middle East. Ghubash also noted that offering cryptocurrency payments will not only attract a broader clientele but also reinforce ATS Travel’s status as a forward-thinking leader in the region’s travel industry.
This development marks a significant shift in how travel services are offered and paid for in the Middle East. By embracing digital payments, ATS Travel is setting a precedent for other companies in the region to follow. The collaboration with Payhound is poised to pave the way for more technological innovations in the travel sector and may well inspire other players in the industry to consider similar initiatives in the near future. Both companies expressed optimism about the potential expansion of their partnership and the possibility of introducing further advancements in crypto-based travel services.
