allows you to securely accept payments from guests for their bookings. This streamlines the booking process and provides a convenient payment experience for guests, leading to faster payments and reduced paperwork for your tourism business.
Accessing this feature
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How to use it
Now that you're in the Online Payments section, let's get you connected! This is where you'll link your Tourism Accelerator account with a payment provider, like a bank account or a dedicated online payment service.
Choose Your Payment Partner: On the Online Payments screen, you'll see an option to Connect Payment Provider. Click this button. Here, you'll typically see a list of popular payment partners that integrate seamlessly with Tourism Accelerator. Take a moment to see if your preferred provider is listed. If you don't have one yet, this is a great chance to explore options!
Start the Connection Process: Once you've chosen your payment partner (for example, let's say you pick 'SecurePay' for this example), click on its name or the Connect button next to it.
Follow Their Instructions: You'll either be redirected to your payment partner's website, or a window will pop up asking for some details. Don't worry if this looks a little different for each provider – they all want to make sure your connection is safe and secure.
If you already have an account with them: You'll likely be asked to log in to your existing account. This authorises them to connect with Tourism Accelerator.
If you don't have an account yet: You'll be guided through creating one. This usually involves entering your business details, bank account information (where you want your payments to go!), and agreeing to their terms. Our tip: Keep your business registration details and bank account information handy, as you'll often need these during the setup process.
Authorise the Connection: After you've logged in or created your account with your payment partner, you'll usually be asked to "Authorise" or "Grant Access" for Tourism Accelerator to communicate with them. This is a crucial step that allows us to send booking information to them for payment processing. Go ahead and confirm this.
Return to Tourism Accelerator: Once the authorisation is complete, you'll be brought back to your Tourism Accelerator Online Payments settings. Here, you should see a confirmation that your payment provider is now "Connected" or "Active."
Review and Save Your Settings: Before you finish up, take a quick look at any additional settings on this page. You might be able to set your default currency, decide if you want to pass on transaction fees (or absorb them yourself), or configure how payment options appear to your guests. Make any adjustments you like, then click the Save button.
That's it! You've successfully connected your online payment system. Now your guests can pay for their bookings with ease!
Tips
You've got the tools; now let's make sure you're using them to their full potential!
Keep Your Pricing Clear: Make sure your pricing, inclusions, and exclusions are super clear on your website and booking pages. Guests feel more confident paying when they know exactly what they're getting.
Test, Test, Test! Before you go live, do a "dummy" booking and payment yourself. Go through the whole process as if you were a guest. This helps you spot any hiccups and ensures a smooth experience for everyone.
Communicate Payment Policies: Clearly state your cancellation policy, refund policy, and any specific payment terms (like when final payments are due) on your website. This builds trust and avoids misunderstandings.
Reconcile Regularly: Get into the habit of reconciling your payments. Compare the payments received in your bank account with the records in Tourism Accelerator. This helps ensure everything matches up perfectly.
Security is Key: Never share your login details for your payment provider or Tourism Accelerator with anyone. Always use strong, unique passwords to keep your accounts safe.
Review Transaction Fees: Understand the transaction fees charged by your payment provider. Factor these into your pricing strategy, or simply be aware of them when reviewing your profits.
Consider Deposit Options: For higher-priced experiences, offering a deposit option can make it easier for guests to commit to a booking, with the balance due closer to the experience date.
Need help?
For further assistance, contact us at [email protected]