HBX Group and Mastercard launch new virtual payment program to power travel intermediaries
Thursday, 18 Dec, 2025
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HBX Group (HBX.SM), an independent B2B travel technology marketplace, and Mastercard have announced the launch of a new virtual payment program designed to bring greater efficiency, flexibility and security to travel payments worldwide.
The initiative leverages the Mastercard Wholesale Programme, a purpose-built virtual card solution that has been simplifying B2B payments across the travel ecosystem for over 10 years. By combining Mastercard’s global payment innovation and technology expertise with HBX Group’s deep understanding of travel operations, the two companies have created a smarter way for travel intermediaries to pay and get paid.
Using virtual cards built for high transaction-volume, multiple currencies and distributed operations, HBX Group’s partners across the EU, UK and US can now process supplier payouts instantly, track and reconcile transactions automatically, and benefit from enhanced cash-flow visibility and fraud protection. Virtual cards also offer flexible financing and payment guarantee options, helping partners improve liquidity and reduce operational complexity.
“Managing payments in travel remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges,” said Daniel Nordholm, chief information officer at HBX Group. “Intermediaries often deal with multiple currencies, fragmented supplier networks and manual reconciliation processes that create inefficiencies and risk. By combining Mastercard’s global payment expertise with our deep understanding of the travel industry, we are creating payment solutions that are not only efficient and secure, but truly designed around the operational needs of our partners. This new program replaces traditional methods with automated, secure virtual card payments that provide a unique, traceable link between bookings and associated transactions.”
By integrating Mastercard’s virtual card technology into HBX Group’s global travel network, which connects over 54,000 travel distributors and 330,000 travel products across 170 countries — the partnership scales innovation across one of the largest B2B ecosystems in the travel sector.
“At Mastercard, we’re committed to making payments smarter, businesses stronger – keeping customers at the core of all we do,” says Chiara Quaia, senior vice president, B2B Travel at Mastercard. “The launch of this new virtual card program with HBX Group is a major step towards digitizing the B2B travel industry and providing travel intermediaries with the speed, simplicity and security they have come to enjoy throughout much of their consumer lives.”
The virtual payment program is a key part of HBX Group’s ecosystem strategy, extending its offering beyond accommodation and mobility by bringing world-class fintech solutions to the travel industry. Expansion to APAC is planned for the first half of 2026, followed by LATAM at a later stage.
Related News Stories: HBX Group boosts travel connectivity with Telefónica's eSimFLAG
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