Selfbook releases new hub for hotel booking and payment management

Selfbook , a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2023 , has created a new platform for hotel booking and payment orchestration that is intended to help hoteliers save time while having more control over their revenue.

Known as Station, the platform works in sync with Selfbook’s Direct booking layer and new Express secure payment enablement system.

The company describes Station as the “arrivals hub” for all aspects of hotel bookings management and payment processing. Selfbook says the system automatically captures and processes all booking and payment data processed through its Direct checkout interface and Express payment rails, so all information is securely handled in one environment.

“Hotel arrival experiences are so often interrupted by immediate requests for the guest’s credit card,” says Khalid Meniri, co-founder and CEO of Selfbook.

“Our purpose in creating Station is to ensure that all payment orchestration happens securely behind the scenes to facilitate a truly hospitable and transaction-free check-in experience for guests every time they arrive at their destination.”

The company says Station can automatically schedule and process payments based on custom and dynamic rate plans, boost fraud prevention capabilities and send payment links to recapture failed payments.

“If time is wasted, your organization is losing money. For those of us who manage companies that may not be affiliated with global enterprises to support payment automation needs, Station is the answer,” says Sean Murphy, managing director at Hotel Esencia.

“The immense value of data being stored in one place to enhance analytics, the ability to extend a seamless experience for guests, and reducing the tiresome chore of using multiple platforms to process one transaction is unmatched.”

In December, Amex Ventures – the venture capital arm of American Express – made an investment in Selfbook of an undisclosed amount . The company raised $25 million in Series A funding in 2021 and then a $15 million extension in early 2022 .