The year of 2025 was both exciting and challenging for the travel sector. Geopolitical uncertainty and upcoming regulatory changes regarding payments, e-invoicing and communication with the tax authorities in several countries have created big expectations for what can come in 2026 for travel and hospitality businesses. On the bright side, travelers are eager to use new technologies, and travel companies are more open to digitalizing their processes.

Discover the tech travel trends for 2026 and find out what travel professionals are expecting for the industry.

Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a standing trend for several years in many different business sectors. In travel, this technology has still not reached a general adoption rate, but 2026 may be the year that AI is finally adapted to the needs of the travel sector. That’s where several professionals from leading businesses in the industry have placed their bets. 

Charles Tandonnet, from Travelsoft, and Luisa Camara, from Travelgate, told Voxel at the World Travel Market London 2025 that they believe AI will be used to add more value upon content and help with integrations with partners. In 2026, AI also will probably have a bigger impact on website assistance. According to Joseph Boadella from Juniper Travel Technology, the technology can be implemented in the booking journey and help generate dynamic packages.

Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool not only for the companies themselves but also for travelers. According to Amadeus, Generative AI will be one of the biggest travel tech trends for 2026 for savvy travelers. The ¨Travel Mixology¨ is the result of the combination of AI tools and other tech apps to craft journeys. Finally, Amadeus has also mentioned the influence of social media in ¨Innovation tourism¨ for next year, turning futuristic technology into viral trends. 

Automation, centralization and distribution

Isabel Carranza, from Voxel, an Amadeus company, and Olga Borucu from Bedsopia, placed their bets that travel tech in 2026 will be all about automating processes and repetitive tasks. The digitalization of the back-office processes of travel and tourism companies is a long-awaited movement that will transform the industry.  

Digitalization can create more efficiency in administrative tasks such as payments, invoicing and integration with partners. Moreover, it can also help in the centralization of client data in single platforms, as mentioned by Joao Freitas, from Host Hotel Systems. In the end, travel selling is all about distribution, so becoming more digital will also be the key for a more prosperous 2026, said Nicola Rizzardini, from Netstorming.  

Check out the complete ¨Tech Travel trends for 2026¨ video here: 

La entrada Tech travel trends 2026: what to expect for the tourism sector se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

In the travel industry, the lack of technology can slow down the payments between travel agencies and hotels: operations can take up to 90 days, through bank transfers, and multiple email approvals. Reducing this friction is essential to improve efficiency and deliver a better customer experience. 

This contrast was the starting point of the Bavel Travel Summit session moderated by Marta Cid, Head of Sales, Travel Sellers EMEA at Outpayce from Amadeus, alongside two expert voices: Gisella Molla, Managing Director at Business Travel Centre, and Xavier Croix, Head of Payment and Collection Strategy at Grupo Piñero. 

The travel agency perspective: security and automation 

Business Travel Centre, led by Gisella Molla, generates 90% of its revenue from business travel and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), and the remaining 10% from leisure trips for employees of its corporate clients. 

Gisella explained how their processes have evolved. Previously, they made payments using various corporate cards but faced fraud issues and tedious procedures. After several incidents, they decided to try Outpayce’s B2B Wallet, and the change was significant. Today, most of their payments to hotels and airlines are managed through this solution, which provides automation, security, and profitability thanks to cashback. 

“The team is delighted with Outpayce’s B2B Wallet. We pay hotels and airlines more securely and efficiently,” said Gisella. 

The hotel perspective: volume and costs 

Xavier Croix, from Grupo Piñero, explained the complexity of managing payments and collections in a group that includes several hotel brands, such as Bahía Principe Hotels & Resorts, and the tour operator Soltour. 

Xavier described the group’s two scenarios: 

• In the hotel segment, which handles large volumes, virtual cards and transfers are used for collections. 
• In the tour operation, corporate cards and transfers dominate payments. 

The main friction point in the hotel segment is the commissions on virtual cards, which reduce already tight margins. However, as a tour operator, these cards are attractive because of the rebate (refund of part of the commission) they provide, helping recover some of what is lost on the hotel side. This creates a constant dilemma. 

“In hotels, when we collect with a virtual card, it hurts. The commission reduces margins that are already tight,” Xavier commented. 

How to bridge the gap? A shared vision 

Xavier noted: “The goal should be to offer a service where rebate is not the only argument for working with one client or another, but where the service itself is good. And here we need technology and everyone’s support.” 

Gisella agreed on the need to find more balanced formulas that benefit all parties. She emphasized: “Although there are innovative solutions, there are still major challenges in costs and conditions that require cooperation and creativity.” 

Marta concluded: “Ultimately, the main friction point is costs, but the goals are shared: security, transparency, efficiency, and delivering the best possible experience to the traveler.”  

Fortunately, technology is already paving the way. Solutions such as automated B2B payments, virtual wallets, and reconciliation tools help reduce processing times, minimize risks, and improve profitability. The future of the industry lies in collaboration and innovation, and every step toward digitalization brings us closer to a more agile and balanced ecosystem for all. 

La entrada Two sides of the same coin: payments between travel agencies and hotels se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

Hotels focused on leisure tourism operate in an environment marked by demand seasonality, rising costs (energy, salaries), and long payment terms. In this context, having immediate liquidity becomes a strategic element to invest in improvements, cover operating expenses, and respond quickly to market changes. Factoring can be key to achieving this.

Factoring is a financial tool that allows hotel properties to turn outstanding invoices into immediate liquidity. Instead of waiting for the B2B client to pay (typically a travel agency or tour operator), the hotel assigns its invoices to a financial entity, the factor, which advances the amount and assumes the risk of non-payment. 

This financial mechanism is consolidating as a strategic alternative to traditional banking. The global factoring volume reached €3.78 trillion in 2023, with Europe accounting for 66% of the global market (Business Money). And the upward trend continues: it is expected to reach €6.5 trillion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. 

Immediate liquidity for operations 

The main benefit of factoring for hotels is cash flow optimization. In a sector where payment terms can exceed 60 or even 90 days, having early liquidity makes a big difference. With factoring, hotels can cover high operating expenses, pay suppliers, and handle demand peaks without relying on deferred payments. This is especially relevant during high seasons and in international markets where payments are often delayed.  

Reducing financial risk 

Outsourcing accounts receivable management through factoring minimizes the impact of defaults or delays, strengthening the financial stability of hotels. With this tool, the risk of non-payment is transferred to the factor: if the B2B client does not pay, the hotel does not have to return the advanced funds. This protects financial health against defaults and ensures greater security in operations. 

Flexibility and scalability 

Factoring offers greater flexibility, enabling hotels to grow, expand, or invest without being limited by long payment cycles. This early liquidity facilitates strategic decision-making at key moments, such as renovations, marketing campaigns, or opening new hotels. 

Due to their size and solvency, large hotel chains can negotiate more competitive rates and personalized services with financial entities. Additionally, factoring adapts to billing volume and operational structure, making it a scalable solution for groups with multiple hotels and presence in different markets. 

Focus on guest experience 

By outsourcing invoice collection through factoring, teams free themselves from administrative tasks and can dedicate more time to optimizing the guest experience and ensuring high satisfaction levels. This redistribution of efforts boosts service quality and improves operational efficiency. 

Automation and administrative efficiency 

To continue improving our solutions and adding value to the hotel sector, Voxel has integrated factoring with Bavel Billing, our e-invoicing solution. This functionality acts as an additional layer of value, responding to the global trend toward integrated financial solutions in technological environments. Through this module, hotels using Bavel Billing not only automate accounting processes and reduce administrative workload but also enhance efficiency in financial management. 

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La entrada How factoring helps hotels obtain immediate liquidity and reduce financial risks se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

Business travel has evolved into a strategic tool: companies now travel with a clear and high-value purpose. After overcoming the recovery phase following the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector shows solid growth: global spending is expected to reach $1.57 trillion in 2025, a 7% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). 

Additionally, GBTA projects a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% between 2026 and 2029. Nevertheless, these forecasts will depend on factors such as international trade negotiations.

Meanwhile, companies are betting on business travel. Client and partner loyalty, along with training and conference attendance, drive growth for large and small organizations, respectively (2025 Deloitte Corporate Travel Study).

In this context, understanding the trends and challenges of business travel is key to staying ahead. From hotel CFOs to corporate travel managers, every player in the travel industry must be prepared to face these changes. 

Generative AI: A game-changer for the Industry 

The travel industry has been transformed over the years by technology, and generative AI marks the next big leap: it doesn’t just advise, it acts, makes decisions, and solves problems autonomously, enabling companies to harness full technological potential with minimal oversight. 

In the corporate space, 84% of business travelers find it useful to have an AI-based assistant, placing Spain among the most receptive markets for this technology (Connected Journeys, Opinium for Amadeus). 

From a hotel perspective, this trend means integrating tools like chatbots to answer FAQs, assistants that help staff make informed decisions (e.g., about occupancy or room allocation), and predictive systems to anticipate demand. AI not only enhances the guest experience but also optimizes operational management and revenue strategies. 

Invoice and payment management: A shared challenge for hotels and travel companies 

The growth of business travel directly impacts all industry players: analysts expect the Travel Management Company (TMC) market to grow 16.2% annually, from $23.4 billion in 2023 to $47.8 billion in 2030 (For Insights Consultancy). 

Despite this growth, a common challenge persists among hotels, online travel agencies (OTAs), TMCs, and companies with traveling employees: managing invoices and payments. 

• Hotels spend countless hours emailing invoices, and if any are missing or contain errors, payments can be delayed for weeks—affecting cash flow, internal operations, and team morale. 

• On the other hand, companies often don’t receive all hotel invoices or encounter errors and documents that fail to meet local legal requirements. This complicates international VAT recovery, increases the risk of tax penalties, and makes reconciliation harder—plus extra time chasing invoices. 

As a result, leading OTAs, companies, and corporate guests are now implementing pre-payment invoicing procedures. Hotels that adopt technology to streamline and secure invoice issuance will not only get paid faster and free up staff for higher-value tasks but also strengthen relationships with corporate clients and improve market positioning.

The traveler at the hotel: The need for a smooth and secure experience  

Companies prioritize high-value trips designed to achieve multiple objectives. This quest for efficiency also shapes traveler expectations: 71% want options like self-service or online check-in (Travel Dreams, Amadeus). 

Yet check-in and check-out aren’t always smooth: credit card requests, long lines at reception, or confusion about pre-paid charges are common issues that cause frustration and waste time. 

Why does this happen? Traditionally, hotels ask for a credit card upon arrival to cover incidental expenses or hold a deposit. While this makes sense for the property, it can create distrust for travelers, especially when the booking is already paid. Add to that manual check-out processes, which sometimes require using a personal card and waiting for reimbursement (a tedious task for travelers with tight schedules). 

The impact is clear: 3 in 10 business travelers struggle to comply with reimbursement policies, mainly due to upfront expenses, lack of local cash, and fraud risk. In fact, 17% have experienced credit card fraud during a business trip (BCD Travel survey). 

Faced with this scenario, the industry must embrace solutions that eliminate friction and guarantee maximum traveler security. 

From Business to Experience: How Hotels Adapt to Bleisure 

The concept of “bleisure” (combining business and leisure in one trip) is reshaping how we travel for work. Today’s business travelers seek more than comfort—they value time and meaningful experiences. 

For hotels, this trend is a clear opportunity: stand out by offering hybrid services that blend productivity and leisure. That’s why the sector is adapting spaces with extended-stay rooms, apartment-style amenities, advanced connectivity, and quiet work zones. Practical touches like extra outlets, ergonomic furniture, and natural light are paired with personalized local experiences.

Sustainability gains ground in business travel 

Environmental concerns are increasingly driving companies to review their corporate travel policies in detail. According to GBTA’s Sustainability Barometer (2023), 92% of respondents consider sustainability a priority, mainly driven by reputation management (84%) and genuine commitment to the planet (82%). 

In response, some hotels are adopting measures such as eco-friendly cleaning products, water-saving systems, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable energy sources. These actions not only reduce their footprint but also attract corporate travelers and organizations that value sustainability. 

Conclusion 

Ultimately, business travel is evolving toward a more efficient, experiential, and responsible model. Adapting is key to creating value in every interaction. Companies that anticipate with efficient processes and memorable experiences will be better positioned to build strong, lasting relationships. 

La entrada Business Travel: trends, challenges and opportunities se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

Procurement processes and supply chain management are the backbone of food and hospitality companies. While procurement is the process of acquiring goods and services, the supply chain is the end-to-end process that includes procurement, production, storage, logistics, distribution, and support.  

Any company in the food and hospitality business aims for efficient supply chain management to make sure inventory is well managed, and nothing is ever missing for the final client. All of the supply chain components are managed in the back office, such as inventory, orders, delivery notes, data analysis, regulatory compliance, and communication with suppliers and logistics providers.  

The back-office digitization offers several benefits for the procurement process and supply chain management. This means implementing technological partners such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, electronic invoicing platforms, inventory management softwares and many more.

Read more to find out the advantages of digitizing the supply chain back-office and how real food and hospitality companies are going through this digital transformation.

What is back-office digitization? 

The back-office digitization starts when companies decide to use digital tools and softwares to manage supplier catalogs, inventory, issue orders, process payments, approve delivery notes, and send electronic invoices to all suppliers in their network.

A big challenge for food and hospitality companies that are starting their back-office digital transformation is the integration of platforms, such as their ERP, with the other tech systems used in other parts of the business, like a Point of Sale (POS) in restaurants. 

Moreover, when it comes to supplier communication, the integration to the supplier ERP system is the key to automating several steps of the procurement process, for example. These integrations reduce manual labor and speed up the completion of tasks, such as sending orders, updating delivery notes and issuing, reconciling, approving, and receiving invoices. 

Benefits 

Managing paper documents can be costly, inefficient, and lead to several delays. Especially when dealing with suppliers, the exchange of paper documents can cause disputes over delivery notes, lack of inventory control, long payment and collection cycles, discrepancies, and invoice rejections that affect cash flow and damage supplier relationships.

Therefore, back-office digitization enables buyers and suppliers to automate daily tasks that would take hours, or even days, before the implementation of technology systems. This transformation provides real-time information, promoting more efficient management of prices, product references, stock, received goods, and much more.

In an interview to Voxel, an Amadeus company, during the eProcurement Tech Summit, Raquel Oriol, Project Manager at Baker & Baker, discussed how her operation benefited from the digitalization of orders and delivery notes through the Bavel Procurement solution.

“We started by digitalizing our orders. Then, we evolved to delivery notes because we saw that the amount of information we received in advance was much better for our clients and for our financial team. This way we could invoice our clients faster, as we were also having problems with billing delays”, said Raquel.

In summary, companies with digitized back-offices and automated supply chain management benefit from:

– Real-time traceability of orders, invoices and delivery notes
– Faster collection cycles
– Increased profits
– Reduced manual work
– Minimized errors and discrepancies 

The future of supply chain management 

While back-office digitization offers several benefits to the procurement process and supply chain management, many businesses are still not taking advantage of the digital transformation.

“I think the food and hospitality industry is increasing its investment in back-office digitization. However, there’s still a lot of work to do. There’s a part of our clients that are more organized in that sense, such as restaurant groups, but when it comes to independent clients, we still have a long way to go”, said Soledad García, Director at Garcimar, in an interview with Voxel.

However, that scenario is bound to change due to the upcoming regulatory changes in terms of electronic invoicing. Many countries in Latin America already require the exchange of e-invoices for business-to-government (B2G) and/or business-to-business (B2B) transactions. In Europe, countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Spain, have already enforced the demand or have released dates for implementation.  

This need for regulatory compliance will boost the back-office digitization in food and hospitality companies. Businesses will have to find technology partners to support the issuing and receiving of e-invoices and the integration with their supplier network. Solutions such as Voxel’s Bavel Procurement offer a complete automation model for supply chain management, communications with tax administrations and ensured regulatory compliance.

Finally, other tech solutions in the market can speed up the digitization process for companies in the food and hospitality sectors. Artificial Intelligence, for example, is a powerful tool for data analysis and spotting inefficiencies in the supply chain process.

¨All our product improvements are already being made with Artificial Intelligence. If AI eliminates repetitive tasks, prevents errors, and gives me information about my business, we use it. I would say that in less than two years from now, working with AI in all areas of our company will be the norm¨, explained Mónica Rubio, CMO at Navex.

La entrada Procurement and supply chain management: the benefits of the back-office digitalization se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

The way hotels market their rooms has evolved significantly in recent years. Today, there are two major distribution channels: direct distribution, where the hotel manages the relationship with the customer directly (for example, through its own website, app, social media, or phone); and indirect distribution, which involves intermediaries such as Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), traditional travel agencies, or wholesalers.

Direct and indirect distribution are two key approaches in hotel room marketing, and each has distinct advantages depending on the type of hotel, its strategy, and its target market. Each method comes with its own opportunities and challenges, and their effectiveness depends on several factors: the type of hotel, market positioning, sales strategy, and guest profile.

At the Bavel Travel Summit 2025, Mustafa Korkmaz, CEO at jumbOnline, and Jacobo Alvarez, Director at Barceló Hotels, joined Maud Christophe and Antonio Morales from Voxel, an Amadeus company, for an interesting debate about how both approaches offer unique benefits and complement each other for an effective hotel distribution strategy.

Unique benefits for every distribution channel

There are many advantages to choosing either indirect or direct distribution. While both bring sales and ultimately guest reservations, each model presents its own unique benefits that can clash or sometimes complement the other existing model. ¨Hotels and wholesalers share the same mentality, we all want to sell¨, said Jacobo Alvarez. It’s important to bear in mind that while these two distribution channels seem like rivals, they actually just use different means to reach the same end goal.

The big benefit of working with travel sellers and wholesalers is their big sales teams and their international and/or regional market knowledge. International hotel chains have a better chance to reach this level of global market comprehension. However, it’s still not feasible for hotels to have sales teams with hundreds of people, as highlighted by Mustafa Korkmaz.

While most hotels suffer during low season, wholesalers can actually use this knowledge of non-traditional markets to help. This makes them an important asset in terms of financial advantage when compared to direct distribution. However, during the conversation, Jacobo Alvarez pointed out a benefit that only direct distribution offers: the control of the complete guest experience, from booking to post-stay engagement.

Travel sellers may help hotels increase booking rates during lower seasons, but they take away the power of the hotelier to create a closer relationship with guests. Hoteliers do this through their direct channels by personalizing the guest’s stay and engaging with them even after they have left the property.

Direct distribution is carried out by the hotel through their website, email marketing, campaigns, or phone calls. It allows the hotel to build a brand story, personalize offers, and sell their experience from the first touchpoint. This model also offers a significant financial benefit for hotels: by cutting out the middleman the property ensures higher margins and more profit.

The key to success: the distribution mix 

Having a healthy mix of both indirect channels and direct distribution initiatives is definitely the key to success for most hotels. In the end, there are many touchpoints in which both of these models complement each other, ensuring higher booking rates and healthy margins. 
 
For example, Alvarez mentioned how AI can be extremely helpful to hotels when it comes to coming up with multi-variable pricing strategies. However, it still needs ongoing human supervision since it could become a liability to the business. Therefore, even though hotels have more ways to sell with the new technologies in the market, they are still struggling to fully put them to their best use.  
 
“Companies like wholesalers or OTAs can actually facilitate the adaptation of hotels to these emerging technologies”, said Korkmaz. This is thanks to the dedicated teams and infrastructure that these companies count on in order to provide a unique selling point for hotels.  
 
Moreover, when it comes to online marketing and ads, it is still a pain point for hotels due to their high cost and need for technical internal teams to handle them. With the help of wholesalers and OTAs, hotels can be easily featured in more online spaces and even benefit from ad features offered by these partners. 

The future of hotel distribution 

Understanding that the distribution mix is the key to a successful hotel distribution strategy is the first step towards a healthier future for the travel industry. However, there are still challenges that should be tackled to ensure complete synergy between hotels and travel sellers.  “Right now, it’s all very fragmented with hundreds of channel managers, hundreds of PMSs and suppliers with different APIs, which creates inefficiencies in the distribution”, noted Korkmaz.  
 
For a travel seller, an OTA or a wholesaler to offer a seamless distribution service to hotels, they need to offer an integration to all technology partners being used in each and every property. This not only takes a lot of time and effort but can also create discrepancies in information if the integration is not done correctly. For Korkmaz, a plug and play solution with a standard API would solve the lack of integration in the market and allow technology partners to work better on behalf of hotels.  

Finally, while many still think that indirect distribution is too costly due to fees and commissions, hotels are realizing that direct distribution also has a high cost entailed to tackling all the new technologies in the market. The key is to know your property and your guest personas to have a plan for when to use each model to earn more reservations and create a healthy hotel distribution strategy.

La entrada Hotel distribution strategy: direct reservations vs travel sellers se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

International hotel chains face several challenges when it comes to digitalization and integration of different providers and systems in the same network. Besides, when it comes to electronic invoicing, compliance with local regulations is a true necessity when operating in many different countries at the same time.

For hotel chains with international footprints, choosing valuable technology partners can be the solution for a smooth journey to the digitalization of electronic invoicing. It’s the case of Accor, the French multinational hospitality group, who chose Voxel, an Amadeus company, as their e-invoicing partner for a significant part of their European operation.

The Accor story 

Accor is one of the world’s biggest hospitality groups, with over 5000 hotels in more than 100 countries and several different types of accommodations, from franchises to luxury resorts. Due to its international scale, the hotel group issues and receives thousands of invoices per month, not only for reservations but also for their extensive network of suppliers.

In a case like Accor’s, an ideal e-invoicing technology partner should meet the following requirements:
– Seamless integration to the PMS
– A dedicated legal team to ensure compliance
– Supply chain expertise
– Extensive archive capacity
– A robust and scalable platform

In 2013, the Accor Group chose Voxel as its electronic invoicing partner for 450 hotels of their operation in seven countries in Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands). This partnership allowed the hotel group to automate their supplier orders and invoice issuance and collection.

The importance of PMS integration 

A Property Management System (PMS) is the heart of a hotel, centralizing all the core functions of the operation. PMS data such as guest information, check-ins/check-outs, rates, charges during the stay, and others, are crucial for the issuance of invoices. Therefore, in the absence of an e-invoicing partner that integrates with the chosen PMS, hotels need a dedicated team to manually fill in the information for every invoice issued.

In the case of Accor, they operate with two PMS systems: Opera and FOLS, their proprietary iPMS (integrated property management system) solution. With Voxel’s platform, all invoice data is extracted from FOLS and Opera automatically to fill in and issue invoices with no need for manual labor. This includes the ongoing migration to Opera Cloud.

Invoice digitization: scalability and compliance 

With less time dedicated to invoice completion, more time invested in value-added tasks and access to Voxel’s Bavel network, the 450 Accor hotels were able to increase the volume and the speed of invoice issuing. “The direct connectivity with over 1,000 tourism companies worldwide enables instant B2B exchanges on the billing process”, said Karine Picard, Product Director at Accor.

Also according to Karine Picard, a hotel with 100 rooms issues around 10 000 invoices a year, which stands for one hour and a half per day spent on manual tasks related to invoice submission. In 2023, 6 000 000 Accor invoices were processed through Voxel’s platform, escalating to approximately 8 000 000 in 2024. Without Voxel, this would entail hundreds of hours spent daily on invoice processing every year.

These figures prove how seamless connections with other technological providers and partners such as travel sellers are the key to scaling the volume of electronic invoices issued by a hotel chain. Voxel’s solution not only allowed hotels to increase their efficiency, but also to ensure international e-invoicing compliance.

Finally, invoices to final clients are integrated into their Accor Live Limitless (ALL) accounts, allowing them to access them through the ALL app or the ALL website. This project enhances customer experience and operational efficiency.

Watch the full interview with Karine Picard and learn more about the benefits of e-invoicing for the Accor Group now.

Procurement solution  

Managing an international hotel chain means having a supply chain network making sure inventory is working efficiently. Due to its global operation, the Accor Group counts on its own procurement organization, Astore. Dedicated to hospitality, Astore sources food, furniture, equipment, products and services for thousands of hotels worldwide.

With over 4 500 suppliers, Astore manages € 3 billion per year, which incurs in the exchange of thousands of orders, delivery notes and invoices collected. Voxel’s Procurement solution was integrated into Astore to facilitate the electronic receipt and processing of orders from major suppliers.

In terms of volume, 7 000 orders were processed by Voxel from Astore in 2023, reaching over 10 000 orders sent in 2024. The digitalization of the procurement process allows Accor to benefit from faster payment cycles and improve the relationship with their suppliers.

Undoubtedly, the journey of 450 Accor hotels to e-invoicing digitalization has been smooth and seamless. This is due to Voxel’s ability integrate with Accor’s existing platforms, provide robust and scalable connections that enhance operational efficiency and ensure global compliance. In addition to digitizing the invoices from its hotels, Accor has selected Voxel as its certified Plateforme Agréée provider for the invoices issued and received from its headquarters in Paris. 

La entrada Electronic invoicing for international hotel chains: the Accor Group journey to digitalization se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

The travel industry is inherently global, with businesses often operating across multiple currency zones. Even businesses that focus on a single region often have to manage inbound and outbound payments in different currencies, highlighting the complexity of financial operations in this sector.

At the Bavel Travel Summit 2024, Tiago Coimbra, Account Director Travel at Modulr; Severin Gerstenkorn, Strategy Manager at Pliant; Mike Carlo, CEO at XanderPay; Coco He, Global General Manager at Sunrate; and Alfredo Stefani, Director of Partnerships at Voxel; shared their insights into the complexities of cross-border B2B payments and the solutions shaping the future of the industry.

Cost, speed and transparency: key pain points 

When it comes to overseas expansion, “cost is probably the biggest pain point that travel companies experience”, noted Alfredo Stefani. In terms of travel agencies, for example, a European agency might benefit from cost-effective SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) transfers for regional transactions, but may face significantly higher fees when dealing with suppliers in countries like Turkey or the UK, shared Severin Gerstenkorn.

In this regard, Coco He pointed out that, for example, in the case of a company that makes a payment to Thailand from Europe, there are usually two costs. One is the bank transaction fee, and the other is the margin. This type of cost is not usually that transparent for the payer. “The markup can be especially significant for small and medium-sized businesses, if they pay a small amount but add costs frequently”.

Additionally, speed becomes a critical factor; while European transfers are often instant or same-day, international payments can take several days to process, said Severin.

Mike Carlo highlighted how misinformation in the hotel sector leads to inefficiencies. Many hotels operate in the local currency and USD, often having suppliers pay in USD and converting the funds at banks, incurring a 3-4% margin. “Companies frequently accept these high costs as normal, unaware of potential savings through optimised payment strategies”, he stated.

The role of technology in addressing Cross-Border B2B payments 

Modern payment solutions are transforming how travel businesses navigate these issues, and are helping to make the industry more efficient. In terms of costs, Severin Gerstenkorn explained that an important aspect to consider is the fixed rate. Unlike SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) transfers, whereby the amount sent must match the amount received, and often require specialist providers that are not available in every country, virtual credit cards are widely accepted globally. They also offer an instant payment method, ensuring timely payments to suppliers.

Tiago Coimbra shared an example of an online travel agency (OTA) that transitioned to virtual card payments. The switch streamlined their reconciliation process, reducing the workload for finance teams and unlocking valuable time for strategic tasks.

However, Mike Carlo emphasised that virtual cards are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Regional regulations, cultural differences, and varying levels of acceptance mean businesses must tailor their payment strategies to each market:  

“Another advantage for companies working with payment provider solutions is that they can ensure regulatory compliance”, commented Tiago Coimbra. 

The need for education and collaboration

An overarching theme of the debate was the importance of educating travel companies about their payment options. Smaller travel agencies, in particular, may lack awareness of cost-effective tools such as virtual cards or integrated platforms that simplify multi-currency transactions.

Panellists stressed the need for collaboration between payment providers and companies in the travel industry. By working closely with their partners, businesses can better understand their payment flows, reduce hidden costs and adopt a portfolio approach to B2B payments.

As the travel industry continues to expand into new markets, there’s no universal solution for managing cross-border payments. Instead, companies must develop a diversified strategy, leveraging a mix of providers and tools to meet regional needs. For example, Modulr, Pliant, XanderPay and Sunrate are part of the Bavel platform, the ecosystem that integrates the entire Voxel partner network to provide valuable services to tourism companies.

Whether it’s virtual cards, localised payment methods or integrated platforms, the key lies in choosing solutions that balance cost, speed, and flexibility. “Addressing the cost of doing business isn’t just about savings—it’s about unlocking growth potential in an increasingly connected world”, stated Mike Carlo.

La entrada Overcoming the Challenges of Cross-Border B2B Payments se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

In the food & hospitality industry, precision and efficiency in invoice management are crucial to maintaining financial control and ensuring the correct reconciliation of orders and delivery notes. However, many companies still face the challenge of manually processing invoices in PDF format that they receive via email from non-integrated suppliers. This is where our innovative solution, Voxel’s PDF Billing, comes into play.

Voxel’s PDF Billing is specifically designed for the food & hospitality industry and facilitates the digitization of invoices from suppliers who cannot be directly integrated into the ERP. Thanks to the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), we have revolutionized the invoice digitization and integration process, enabling the digitization of 100% of received invoices.

With this solution, we achieve automated and efficient invoice processing, allowing companies to digitize all the invoices they receive, regardless of their origin or format, and overcoming the limitations of traditional OCR systems.

The AI revolution in invoice processing

Our AI solution goes further than conventional OCR systems, which are limited to interpreting basic elements like headers and totals. Voxel’s PDF Billing is capable of understanding and interpreting the full context of the invoice, breaking down and processing crucial details such as product descriptions, quantities, unit prices, and transaction dates. This level of detail is essential for the correct reconciliation of orders and delivery notes, ensuring that each invoice is processed with precision and efficiency.

The key to our technology lies in machine learning algorithms that continuously adapt and improve with each processed invoice. This means that as a company processes more invoices through PDF Billing, the system becomes even more precise and effective, minimizing errors and reducing the need for manual intervention. Voxel’s PDF Billing is the only AI system specifically trained for the food & hospitality industry.

Flexibility and adaptability: keys to success

Another distinctive advantage of PDF Billing is its flexibility. Our solution is not limited by predefined parameters like traditional OCR systems, allowing it to adapt to a wide variety of invoice formats and structures, even when they vary from one supplier to another. Additionally, Voxel’s PDF Billing can process both structured PDFs and images (scanned PDFs), as long as they meet a minimum quality standard.

For the food & hospitality industry, this adaptability is crucial. We know that each supplier may have their own invoice format, and our system is prepared to handle this diversity without compromising processing accuracy or speed.

Receiving 100% of invoices digitally

At Voxel, we have been digitizing the supply chain processes of thousands of companies for over 25 years. We understand the unique needs of the food & hospitality industry and have enhanced PDF Billing to meet them with maximum efficiency. Thanks to this improved technology, it is now possible to digitally receive 100% of your invoices and fully harness the potential of process automation.

If your company is looking for a robust and flexible solution for invoice digitization and management, contact us! We will work to transform, digitize, and optimize your invoicing and purchasing process, saving time and resources.

La entrada Transforming invoice management in the food & hospitality industry. PDF Billing: the power of artificial intelligence se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.

Best Hotels is a hotel chain with 20 years of history that runs 38 hotels in Spain, Andorra and the Dominican Republic. Three years ago Best Hotels began working with Voxel on digitalizing their supply chain and the relationship with their suppliers.

The Best Hotels team began digitalizing the issuance of purchase orders and the reception of invoices with Voxel in 2021, convinced that this was going to help them in their daily operations. What they did not know is that in time, the digitalization of processes would help them discover a big discrepancy in one of their daily processes.

In today’s blog we present this case study where the Best Hotels chain was able to recover €30,000 thanks to having the reception of invoices digitalized.

The starting point

The management of returnable containers is one of the most complex processes found in hotel and restaurant businesses. Each supplier has their own terms and the governance and control of this procedure is often very tedious.

For this reason, upon completion of the integration between the Bavel Platform, Best Hotels and a beverage supplier, the hotel chain decided to conduct an analysis of the containers they were purchasing, the containers they were returning and the refunds they were getting.

During this analysis they discovered that the information in the invoices for the containers they were purchasing and the information about the returns they were receiving did not match. Based on the information, they had a large number of containers to be returned to the supplier. Containers that in reality were not at their warehouses.

“This analysis was possible because all invoices were digitalized. We were thus able to check each line and pull statistics of the containers we were managing”, explained head of systems at Best Hotels Jordi Moreno.

Control and governance of the business

The mismatch found between the containers received and containers that were not returned amounted to €30,000.

At this point and thanks to this thorough analysis, the Best Hotels team began working to find the origin of the mismatch and devise a solution together with the supplier.

“With our own control processes we would have never discovered this discrepancy. The automatic reception of digital invoices has made it possible to identify the mismatch and subsequently correct it”, says Moreno.

Currently, Best Hotels works with more than 40 suppliers through Bavel, Voxel’s electronic invoicing and payments platform. In the last year, Best Hotels placed 35,000 digital orders and received more than 40,000 invoices electronically.

Digitalization of the procurement process

For hotels and restaurants, digitalizing their supply chain with digital orders and invoices provides many benefits. From automating and optimizing processes, saving time and money, greater business governance and control and traceability, to environmental benefits, quicker resolution of discrepancies and a better relationship with suppliers.

If you want to explore how you can improve the procurement processes of your business, please contact us through our website or send us an email to info@voxelgoup.net and an expert from our team will contact you.

La entrada How to recover €30,000 thanks to the reception of digital invoices se publicó primero en Voxel - Blog.