Hotels, motels, vacation rentals, hostels, and bed and breakfasts are very popular businesses for credit card users. This is largely because travelers often book flights and lodging at the same time, and they usually accrue airline miles (and future travel plans) as part of their credit card rewards programs. Simply put, most lodging merchants will need to accept credit card payments in order to serve their customers. But in order to accept card payments, hotel operators need to navigate a tricky minefield of reservations, deposits, refunds, and credit card security, all while keeping costs as low as possible.
To assist you in your search for a provider, we’ve created the following list of the best merchant account providers for lodging. These credit card processors offer secure payment solutions that enable merchants to accept card payments online, over the phone, and in person and can be integrated into most major online reservation systems. They also have received positive reviews from merchants and third-party reviewers alike. It is important to note that these providers are not all-in-one booking and payment solutions, so it is important to find an online booking or reservation system that can partner with a third-party payment processor to accept payment. As always, the best way to secure the lowest rates for your lodging business is to contact multiple providers from the list below to compare pricing and services.
Best Merchant Accounts for Hotels
Host Merchant Services
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Fast approval for most industries
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No contract or cancellation fees
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Highly rated customer support
Host Merchant Services is a Newark, Delaware-based merchant account provider that is well-suited for most general business types including hotels. The company’s products and services include point-of-sale solutions, online marketing tools, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, mobile credit card processing, and merchant cash advance. Host Merchant Services is able to provide specialized e-commerce solutions for merchants who wish to maintain a strong web presence.
Host Merchant Services has received only positive feedback on public forums, with most reviewers singling out the company’s customer service for praise. Host offers interchange-plus pricing with no early termination fees to all of its merchants, meaning that users will enjoy the most transparent pricing model and can cancel service without penalty. The BBB gives Host an “A+” rating, and CPO also gives the company an “A+.”
For more information, visit the Host Merchant Services website or call (888) 727-4538.
PaymentCloud
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Fast approval for numerous "high-risk" industries
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Broad product and service offering
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Highly praised customer support
Based in Woodland Hills, California, PaymentCloud is a merchant account provider that specializes in serving standard to high-risk business types. The company’s products and services include point-of-sale solutions, mobile phone swipers, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, EMV-compatible terminals, and merchant cash advances. The Authorize.Net backed virtual terminal that PaymentCloud utilizes allows hotels to keep confidential payment information from its guests secure. Furthermore, PaymentCloud’s comprehensive POS solutions allow hotels to keep track of bookings, vacancies, charges accumulated during a stay, as well as to serve restaurants, spas, and other services offered on their property. For those reasons, PaymentCloud is a good option for hotels.
PaymentCloud provides a dedicated account rep to all new merchants for the life of the account. The company has not received any negative complaints on consumer forums, and it customizes its pricing according to each merchant’s business type and processing history. The BBB does not maintain a profile for PaymentCloud at this time, but CPO gives the company an “A.”
For more information, visit the PaymentCloud website or call (888) 506-7859.
National Processing
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Top-rated choice for businesses that want Clover POS
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Fast approval and next day deposits
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Quick equipment deliver and 24/7 support
National Processing offers several small business processing options and can assist hotels and other lodging providers with identifying the right POS system or virtual terminal for their needs. The company offers two pricing options: one an interchange-plus program or a “zero-fee” program, both of which offer competitively priced rates.
National Processing has a clean reputation with just one complaint filed in the last three years, which is not concerning in nature. Our independent review finds National Processing to be a solid option for most hotels, motels, inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and more.
For more information, see the National Processing website or call (385) 777-1235.
Additional Options
CDG Commerce
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Specialized services for most industries
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Simple and transparent rates
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350+ technology integrations, including Quickbooks
CDG Commerce is a Chesapeake, Virginia-based merchant account provider that offers retail, mobile, and e-commerce solutions for hotels. The company’s products include an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, recurring billing, fraud protection, a chargeback dispute resolution system, tokenized payments, Authorize.Net emulation, QuickBooks integration, and ACH processing.
CDG Commerce was founded in 1998 and has consistently maintained a positive reputation among merchants and third-party reviewers since then. It typically offers month-to-month agreements with no early termination fees to its merchants, but pricing and terms will vary depending on each business’s time in business and processing history. CDG currently has an “A+” rating from CardPaymentOptions.com and an “A+” from the BBB.
For more information, see the CDG Commerce Website or call (888) 393-1079.
eMerchant Broker
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Maintains numerous banking partners
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Can get approvals for international businesses
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Top-rated in "high-risk" industry satisfaction
eMerchantBroker.com is a Los Angeles, California-based company that offers high-risk e-commerce processing solutions, meaning just about any business is eligible for their services. The company’s products include ACH processing, an online payment gateway, merchant cash advance, and a chargeback management system to help merchants dispute and resolve chargeback claims. These services can be especially helpful for smaller lodging businesses, as they can free up your time and funds.
eMerchantBroker.com offers custom pricing for each merchant and maintains a low complaint rate relative to its size and merchant portfolio. Our review of eMerchantBroker gives the company an “A” rating overall and the BBB assigns the company a rating of “A+.”
For more information, see the eMerchantBroker website or call (877) 301-3442.
