Selfbook, a comprehensive hotel payment software platform and one
of
PhocusWire’s
Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2023
, has received a strategic investment from
Amex Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of American Express. The
amount of the investment is not being disclosed.
Founded in 2020, Selfbook provides booking and payment solutions
to hotels to boost direct conversion, revenue, cash flow control and security.
The company
raised $25 million in Series A funding
in 2021 and then a
$15
million extension in early 2022
.
“The American Express brand is synonymous with global travel and
payment security, and we are thrilled to have Amex Ventures be part of our
investor base,” says Khalid Meniri, co-founder and CEO of Selfbook.
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“As hotels around the world continue to use Selfbook to offer a
guest-first booking experience and secure payments, the investment from
American Express will help us deepen our global presence and provide even more
effective payment tools for our partners.”
Hotels use Selfbook’s technology to create a one-step checkout
experience on their websites, which can include grouped services such as spa
appointments, activities and restaurant reservations in a single payment flow. Its
system supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal along with traditional credit
and debit cards.
Along with the investment, Meniri says Selfbook and American
Express plan to work together.
“We are still exploring areas to work
with Amex, especially around streamlining payments and the ability to help our
hotel partners expand their guest offerings such as dining and other services,”
he says.
And says Margaret Lim, managing director of Amex Ventures, “We are
constantly on the lookout for innovative technologies that enhance and elevate
the travel and payments experience. We believe Selfbook is driving hotel
bookings and payments into the future with their elegant checkout experience,
intuitive user interface, and robust support for modern payment methods
preferred by guests through a unified platform that seamlessly integrates with
existing hospitality software.”