The main indicators that we have been following over the last year seem to indicate that the summer season may be the beginning of the recovery. But we have had this mirage before. Now, after more than 14 months of uncertainty, openings and closures and restrictions, we wanted to find out how hospitality and distribution companies have prepared and what they expect from the summer season.

To do so, we spoke to 5 professionals who have been at the forefront throughout this crisis. And who have prepared themselves to face these first months of green shoots.

Summer season: optimism, but tempered optimism

“We are optimistic about the opening of the hotels, but not so much about occupancy,” explains Tanausú Riera, New Projects Executive at AMResorts.

Something similar is the opinion of Quantum, as its Director of Administration, Xavier Pampin, says, “We believe that this season will be very similar to last year’s but with a little more movement in the coastal areas. We believe that urban tourism will be minimal”.

Josep Garriga, Purchasing Director at H10 Hotels, is a little more optimistic: “We believe that the 2021 summer season will be better than last year, but we are still waiting for the issuing markets to consider Spain as a safe country (…) At H10 Hotels we already have more than half of our portfolio of hotels operating with all the safety and hygiene measures and protocols dictated by our Safety Program by H10 Hotels”.

Along the same lines, Álvaro Garrido, Head of Purchasing at Hotusa, says, “It all depends on several factors (…) but we expect this season to be a little better than last year. Our idea is to have practically all the hotels open in June. Once the summer is over and depending on the vaccination calendar, we hope to be able to keep the hotels open in September, October, November and December”.

Processes digitisation is key for post-pandemic adaptation

The role of technology in the post-Covid-19 recovery is almost indisputable. The digital transformation of companies in any sector is here to stay and has been a key factor in speeding up openings and closings almost “on demand”.

Javier Marí, IT & Online Marketing at Insotel Group, explains, “The automation of processes in the back-office allows us to allocate our human resources to tasks that provide greater added value for the organisation, freeing them from routine tasks, which although necessary are not a differentiating element”.

Quantum explains that “the automation of processes has made the situation more bearable and the impact has been minimal”.

For Álvaro Garrido of Hotusa, the digitisation of back-office processes “is something that is fundamental at any time, whether in crisis or not. But when there is a crisis, it is a way of controlling and unifying processes (products, prices, suppliers…)”.

Reorganisation of internal processes

The countless last-minute changes have also served to analyse internal processes and optimise them in order to face the season more competitively. Many businesses have taken advantage of this to digitise processes that they did not pay attention to when activity was frenetic.

One example is H10 Hotels. “We have reorganised the departments, improved processes that we had somewhat forgotten, setting guidelines in the teams to be more efficient in our management and thus prioritise customer service“, explains Josep Garriga.

AMResorts also believes that “we have made a technological leap in quality, due to the current situation in which we are immersed, and the time we have been able to dedicate to this type of internal processes”.

Something similar is explained by Insotel Group “we have taken advantage of this time of less forced activity to analyse some of our management processes in order to detect shortcomings and opportunities for optimisation. In this sense, we have undertaken projects to review and optimise processes which, although limited in scope, we believe will contribute to the efficiency of different areas of the organisation”.

Technology also for the end customer

In addition to adopting all the health protocols established by the authorities, hospitality and distribution businesses wanted to go one step further to improve the user experience after the toughest months of the pandemic. And here technology has also played a leading role.

Thus, over the last few months we have seen the emergence of QR codes, mobile apps, take-away food services and contactless payment methods, among others, with the sole purpose of conveying a sense of security and convenience to all restaurant and hotel customers.

“We have made several technological improvements over the last year, both for the comfort of the client (before, during and after their visit) and to adapt to the current Covid situation“, explains Riera of AMResorts.

To which Marí of Insotel Group adds “technology has allowed us to digitalise certain processes, especially those that affect people’s health, thus helping to preserve the safety of our guests, employees and collaborators”.

We cannot say for sure whether the summer season will be the start of the recovery until it is over. What we can say, without fear of contradiction, is that the most astute companies have prepared themselves to become more competitive and optimised through technology and thus improve their business figures.

• Tanausú Riera, New Projects Executive at AMResorts.
• Josep Garriga, Purchasing Director at H10 Hotels.
• Javier Marí, IT & Online Marketing at Insotel Group.
• Xavier Pampín, Administration Director at Quantum.
• Álvaro Garrido, Purchasing Manager at Hotusa.

Due to the actual crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, many governments have decided to postpone the introduction of the electronic invoicing in different fields. These measures expect to extend the introduction of electronic invoices and facilitate its adoption. 

This article is a summary of the most significant legislative changes due to the crisis: 

Europe

• Spain 

The introduction of the invoicing system, Ticket BAI, in the Basque region, has been postponed to January 1st, 2022. The provincial government of Gipuzkoa, the first region which had to implement it, has decided to cancel the launch because of the crisis situation and to give more time to companies to adopt the system. 

Ticket BAI consists of a new invoice management and tickets system for companies and individuals of the region, which was planned for October this year. 

• Portugal 

The B2G electronic invoicing should have come into force last April 2020. However, due to the current situation and the complexity of the application at a public level, the Portuguese government has decided to extend the implementation period. 

Thereby, the new dates for the taxpayers are January 1st 2021 for big companies; July 1st 2021 for SMEs and January 1st 2022 for small businesses. 

• Poland 

The Polish government has postponed again the new version of SAF-T forms (Standard Audit File Tax), which replaces the VAT declaration for taxpayers. 

The SAF-T forms have been implemented for companies since 2018. The new version of SAF-T includes the VAT registration as well as the credit detail for VAT. 

This regulation has been postponed various times. The last one is scheduled for July 1 2020 (initially January 1st 2020 and delayed the first time on April 1 2020). 

The implementation dates for the new version of the SAF-T are as follows: 

• January 1st 2021 for big companies 
• July 1st 2021 for SMEs, and
• January 1st 2022 for small businesses

Furthermore, the implementation of online VAT registration cashiers has been delayed until January 1st 2021 (initially June 30th 2020). 

• Italy

The Italian Tax Authority, Agenzia della Entrate, has decided to delay the new 1.6 version of the technical specifications for the FatturaPA until October 1st 2020, which will be applied voluntarily.  

From January 1st 2021, the application will be compulsory for all taxpayers. At present, companies and individuals can use the current 1.5 version of the electronic invoice until December 31st 2020. 

• Greece

The IAPR, the greek tax authority, has decided to gradually implement the tax tracking system MyData to provide more time for companies to adapt their systems. 

Thereby, the implementation terms are as follows:

• From July 20th 2020, taxpayers willing to use the report using the electronic invoicing can start issuing electronic reports voluntarily
• From October 1st 2020, taxpayers using the ERP form are required to inform of issued invoices. Furthermore, they will also have to inform of issued purchase invoices (incoming) and of retail transactions. 
• From December 31st 2020, taxpayers are required to inform of issued sales invoices (outgoing) from January 1st 2020 to October 1st 2020. 
• From February 28th 2021, taxpayers are required to inform of issued purchase invoices (incoming) from January 1st 2020 to September 30th 2020. 

South America

• Bolivia 

Due to the current economic situation of the country aggravated for the coronavirus crisis, the Tax National Service (SIN in Spanish) has decided to delay the launch of the electronic invoicing system, which was planned for June 1st this year. 

For the moment, the Tax Authority hasn’t set a date to reactive the project. The delay was approved last May 18th with the resolution 102000000011. 

However, the resolution stated the continuity for the Electronic invoicing online, the online “computarizada” and the online web portal. These will be regulated separately from the invoicing system. 

The electronic invoicing system included the authorization, issuance, registration and transmission of legal documents, such as invoices and credit notes. 

• Uruguay 

The Tax Authority in Uruguay, DGI, has abrogated the implementation of the electronic invoice for businesses with a turnover of 305.000 UI (€6,000 approximately) until December 1st 2020. 

Initially, the implementation date was set for August 1st 2020. 

Asia 

• Vietnam 

Due to technical difficulties, such as the cross-border transactions, and the current situation, Vietnam has decided to postpone the implementation of the electronic invoicing. 

The new introduction date is set for July 1st 2022, instead of November 1st 2020. 

Have a look at the “Panorama of the Electronic Invoice in Europe” to know the legislative regulation of electronic invoicing in each European country:

Last Friday, May 29, Gina Lovatón, Vicepresident at Voxel Caribe, participated in the interviews series Tech Talks, an initiative of the magazine Revista Mercado about digital transformation, technology innovation and expectations after the coronavirus crisis. 

During the interview, Gina Lovatón talked about baVel’s role, the electronic invoicing platform of Voxel Group, in digital transformation and the trajectory of the company in the country. 

Opportunities in the new context 

When asked about how digital transformation is going to evolve in the country, Lovatón pointed out the importance of digitalization to make companies more efficient. “Most companies will start because of the crisis, but it has been an urgent and important matter to transform and digitize the processes of the companies”, assured Lovatón. 

The current crisis is accelerating the innovation and optimization of processes for many companies. “The digitalization solves inefficiencies and eliminates non-valuable tasks”, she added. 

The DGII and the electronic invoicing 

The project of electronic invoicing of the DGII is one of the greatest examples in digital transformation progress in the country. From January 2020, companies and private individuals can voluntarily adhere to the new electronic invoicing system of the public authority. 

On this matter, Lovatón pointed out the importance of electronic invoicing as part of the digitalization process. According to Lovatón, most companies are renovating their processes to face the current situation more efficiently and reducing administrative costs. 

baVel in The Dominican Republic 

baVel’s platform facilitates the exchange of transactional information between clients and providers, helping them digitize their supply chain and all their invoicing processes. “Our main objective is to digitize 100% the invoicing process of our clients. We provide value to the procurement, invoicing and payment cycle by optimizing the processes and fostering innovation”, explained Lovatón. 

During the interview, they also talked about baVelPay, which allows companies to send online payments to their providers. A tool that has become really important during this crisis as it eliminates the need to manage and physically cash checks. 

To date, baVel has become the reference network in the country to exchange data between clients and providers. The company provide its services to more than 300 Dominican companies and has processed more than 3 million transactions. 

Well-known companies such as Grupo Ramos, Distribuidora Corripio, Nestle or RIU, among others, are using baVel’s platform to exchange transactional information (orders, invoices, credit notes, etc.). 

The crisis as an opportunity

The technology sector will be key to reactive the economy of the country. Most companies are focusing on their internal processes, technology innovation and the digitalization to have a better response capacity in front of the crisis. 

In Lovatón’s words: “This crisis gave us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves”. 

You can watch the interview again here: 

The post-COVID19 scenario for the travel industry shows bookings are plummeting to almost nil, with increasingly lower margins, and a marked increase in risk, moving insurers to reduce the availability of credit for the sector. Trust between players who have traditionally collaborated has been badly hurt, and the rules of the game are changing.

In the face of this environment, the Open Payment Alliance (OPA) —the new B2B payment standard for the travel industry, led by HEDNA and HTNG with the collaboration of the Voxel Group— is more necessary than ever to help rebuild trust between OTAs, bedbanks and hotels. In addition to generating efficiencies by automating B2B payment processes and allowing a greater variety of payment methods, this new standard will also allow payment terms to be agreed between the parties, minimizing risk and making it unnecessary for insurers to participate in the process.

OPA’s launching

It is in this context that Voxel Group has now presented the first real applications under the new B2B payment standard, the technical specifications for which were released this week by HTNG, the association leading technological innovation in the industry. In the latest edition of the #baVelDigitalSummit, Voxel brought together representatives of Mastercard, Melià Hotels International, Logitravel, Apaleo, Xanderpay and Ingenico to present the benefits of the new solution for all the stakeholders involved.

During the talk, 75% of the industry players in attendance believed that the reduction of credit insurance caused by Covid-19 will seriously impact their business in the coming months.

As the president of Voxel Xavier Ginesta said, “although the OPA’s baseline was to correct the inefficiencies in the travel industry’s B2B payment channel, we now realize that what is really important about this new standard is the capacity it has to generate trust among the different players in the travel sector, by providing traceability, automation and optimization of all the payment related processes.”

Bedbanks and hotels have so far borne most of the risk of the operations and in the new post-COVID19 scenario the trend will be for prepayment of operations, together with reasonable refund conditions up to a few days prior to check-in, said the Logitravel and Melià representatives. “We are changing and developing other ways to invoicing the customer“, assured Jesús Pons, CFO at Logitravel Group. On this line, Gaspar Llabrés, Credit & Insurance Senior Director at Meliá added that “the important matter now is in the collection“.

The Payment Manager, the OPA’s tool

For this model to work, a technological tool is required to guarantee the execution of the different terms as agreed—dates, conditions, methods of payment, etc.—and this tool is the Payment Manager, the equivalent of the channel manager in the reservations channel, and the centrepiece of the Open Payment Alliance.

More than 90% of the audience thought that using the Payment Manager as a trusted third party, in combination with pre-paid rates and proper refund policies, is the key to foster trust amongst trading partners and mitigate B2B payment risks

The OPA today

In the last two years, Voxel Group has led the proof of concept process and pilots with firms in the sector that have already validated the model, and after the announcement of the technical standards by HTNG, is now launching the Early Adopters program to accelerate the deployment of the OPA. To do this, Voxel has reached an agreement with Mastercard whereby the financial services multinational will sponsor the integration costs of the first companies to join the program and use B2B payments with virtual cards.

For Chiara Quaia, Vice President of Business Development of Travel Industries at Mastercard, “the simplest and most effective B2B payment method is to use existing virtual credit card products to manage the end-to-end process for all players involved in the ecosystem”.

Another essential player in the implementation of the new standard for B2B payments in the travel industry, the PMSs have received the Voxel Group’s proposal approvingly, as demonstrated by the representatives of the top ten international PMSs who attended the baVel Digital Summit dedicated to the OPA. “Because of the current situation, hotels need to streamline their processes and solve the inefficiencies at the hotels front desk“, highlighted Benjamin Schmidt, Co-founder of the PMS Apaleo. 

The event had more than 150 live followers. If you missed it, you can watch the session again here:

Last Wednesday, April 22, Voxel held the baVel Digital Summit, with the participation of Claudia Posada, CCO at MTS Globe; Àlex Gisbert, Founder and CEO at Fastpayhotels; Gaspar Llabrés, Credit & Insurance Senior Director at Melià Hotels International; and Héctor Martín, VP of Global Sales at Voxel Group, as a moderator. 

During the online talk, the speakers explained how their companies are facing the current situation and the planned scenarios to recover from the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic.

Professionals agree on a trust crisis in the industry, not only from a consumer side but also from the main actors of the value chain. As Gaspar Llabrés said, “flexibility is the first step to gain trust”; flexibility in prices and payment methods and in services, that will need to change. 

On this line, Àlex Gisbert assured that “companies that survive will be the ones that will adapt their prices to the new reality”, as the purchasing power of the clients will decrease and occupation will recover before the price, as it happened during the financial crisis in 2008. 

Procedures and habits of the Travel industry

Regarding the procedures of the industry, Claudia Posada assured that most of the companies management habits will change, “The advance of the Tour Operators will be highly reduced” in favour of the pre-paid in high volume transactions. 

As regards the administrative procedures, Llabrés said that the automation of processes, good management of the information and the reconciliation processes will be essential. On this matter, Gisbert assured that the industry will reinvent and new players will appear, especially technological ones. Llabrés added that the new technology partners will have to be standardized by the HTNG, in order to succeed in the Touristic Industry. 

The Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) is a non-profit organization responsible for the Technology standards for the travel industry. Currently, the HTNG is developing the communication standards to ease the interconnection between Voxel’s Payment Manager and its financial partners, such as PSPs, PMSs, CRSs, Channel Managers and booking engines. The aim is to introduce and normalize new low-cost payment methods to assist the industry players. 

Eventually, when asked about Spain’s capability to recover international tourists, Posada affirmed that “it won’t depend on the destiny, but on the clients’ experience lived in their origin countries” and assured that sun and beach destinations in Spain will still continue to be a solid offer. 

The first session of the baVel Digital Summit counted with more than a hundred live attendees. These series of online debates want to contribute and help recover companies of the tourism and hospitality industries from the current situation in both sectors. Next sessions are scheduled for the first week of May and will focus on the Hospitality sector and the HORECA channel in Spain and the Dominican Republic. 

The baVel Digital Summit is the online version of the consolidated baVel Summits (Travel and Procurement) that are held in Barcelona in Autumn. 

Last Tuesday, March 31st, the financial radiophonic program ‘Argentarium’ interviewed Gina Lovatón, the Vicepresident at Voxel Caribe, next to Germania Montás, the former member of the DGII (Dirección General de Impuestos Internos, the local tax authority), about B2B payments and electronic invoicing during the sanitary emergency of COVID-19 in the country. 

In the Dominican Republic, the government has declared the emergency state until April 13th and due to the strict security measures and social distancing, many companies find it hard to pay to their providers, as the check is still widely used. 

The transactions platform baVel 

In front of this situation, Gina Lovatón explained during the interview that the implementation of an electronic invoicing system, such as the baVel platform, helps companies to keep managing and cashing the invoices, as well as optimizing the administrative processes and complying with the current legislation system of the DGII. 

The baVel platform allows the exchange of transactional information between clients and providers. During the interview, Lovatón outlined that this solution is not only addressed to high volum providers, but also small and medium companies that want to cut administrative expenses, obtain a greater visibility and traceability of the transactions and reduce the average collection period. 

Secure electronic payments

This last aspect is one of the most important during this excepcional situation, be able to receive and issue payments to the providers. For this reason, Lovatón highlited the importance of an efficient treasury and how baVelPay, the online payment platform in association with Visa International, can help companies receive and make payments to their providers in a secure and electronic way. 

You can listen to the full interview here: