Payment Processing in Hotels UK 2026: Best Systems, Fees, PMS Integrations & Guest Experience Quick answer
Hotel payment processing is the system hotels use to accept, authorise, store, refund and reconcile guest payments across online bookings, reception, restaurants, bars, spas, deposits, no-shows and room charges.
The best hotel payment systems in 2026 support card machines, contactless payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, online booking payments, payment links, virtual terminals, pre-authorisations, deposits, PCI compliance, fraud checks and integration with hotel PMS software.
For UK hotels, the best providers to compare include Worldpay, Elavon, Stripe, Adyen, Planet, Dojo, Barclaycard, Tyl by NatWest, TakePayments, Clover and specialist hospitality payment platforms. The right choice depends on hotel size, booking channels, PMS integration, international guests, chargeback risk, settlement speed and whether you need card machines only or a full hotel payment platform.
Typical hotel payment processing costs vary by provider and card type. In-person card machine rates may be around 1.5% to 1.75% with some providers, while online booking payments often include a percentage plus fixed fee. Custom pricing may be available for larger hotels or groups.
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Contents
Our Favourite Hotel Payment Processors
Types of Payment Methods For Payment Processing in Hotels
Technologies in Payment Processing
Security and Compliance
Our Thoughts on Payment Processing in Hotels
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: July 2026
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Hotel payment processing at a glance
Category
Best for
Hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, serviced apartments, aparthotels and hospitality venues
Core payment types
Card machines, contactless, online payments, payment links, virtual terminals and mobile wallets
Key hotel features
PMS integration, deposits, pre-authorisation, no-show charges, refunds and reconciliation
Important security needs
PCI DSS, tokenisation, encryption, fraud checks and secure card storage
Common providers
Worldpay, Elavon, Stripe, Adyen, Planet, Dojo, Barclaycard, Tyl, TakePayments and Clover
Typical costs
Transaction fees, terminal rental, gateway fees, PCI fees, chargebacks and integration costs
Main benefit
Faster check-in, smoother check-out and simpler payment reconciliation
Main risk
Poor integration can cause admin errors, chargebacks and guest frustration
Key Takeaways
Hotel payment processing is more complex than standard card machine payments.
Hotels need to handle online bookings, deposits, pre-authorisations, room charges, refunds, no-shows and in-person payments.
The best hotel payment systems integrate with PMS software to reduce admin and reconciliation errors.
Contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay are now guest expectations at reception, bars, restaurants and spas.
Payment links and virtual terminals are useful for deposits, group bookings, late payments and phone bookings.
PCI compliance, tokenisation and secure card storage are essential for hotels.
Hotels with international guests should compare foreign card fees, DCC, multi-currency payments and chargeback support.
Worldpay, Elavon, Stripe, Adyen, Planet, Dojo, Barclaycard, Tyl, TakePayments and Clover are all worth comparing.
The cheapest provider is not always best if it does not integrate with your PMS or booking flow.
Hotels should compare total monthly cost, including card machine fees, online payment fees, gateway costs, chargebacks and integration charges.
Compare hotel payment processing providers before choosing a card machine or merchant account.
What is hotel payment processing? Hotel payment processing is the system used to take and manage guest payments, and can include:
online booking payments
deposits
pre-authorisations
cancellation charges
no-show fees
reception payments
room upgrades
restaurant payments
bar payments
spa payments
event payments
group booking payments
corporate account payments
refunds
chargebacks
payment reconciliation
A hotel payment processor connects your guest payment methods to your merchant account, payment gateway, PMS, booking engine or business bank account.
For small hotels, payment processing may be as simple as a card machine at reception and online payment links.
For larger hotels, it may involve integrated PMS payments, tokenised guest cards, multi-terminal card machines, online booking deposits and detailed reconciliation.
Why hotel payments are different from normal card payments Hotels have payment needs that many standard retailers do not, as Hotels often need to manage:
advance bookings
deposits
card-on-file payments
pre-authorised security deposits
cancellation terms
no-show charges
room service charges
bar and restaurant tabs
multi-night stays
corporate accounts
group bookings
split payments
foreign cards
guest refunds
disputed payments
OTA bookings
PMS reconciliation
Our Favourite Hotel Payment Processors Below are the main providers and platforms worth comparing.
Worldpay for hotels Worldpay is a major UK payment provider offering card machines, online payments, merchant services and payment tools.
Worldpay lists a 1.50% Mastercard and Visa transaction fee on its UK countertop card machine page, with published monthly terminal hire pricing.
Best for
independent hotels
larger hotels
hotel groups
guest houses with regular turnover
venues needing card machines and online payments
hotels wanting merchant services
hotels comparing in-person and online payment options
Useful features
card machines
countertop terminals
portable terminals
online payments
virtual payments
dashboard reporting
settlements
merchant services
payment gateway options
Verdict
Worldpay is worth comparing for hotels that need a recognised provider with card machines, online payments and merchant services.
Elavon for hotels Elavon provides hospitality payment solutions for hotels, accommodation and hospitality venues. Elavon promotes secure card payments, online payments, currency conversion, Pay by Link, fraud protection, PCI compliance and virtual terminal options.
Best for
hotels
guest houses
accommodation providers
restaurants with rooms
hospitality venues
businesses needing online and in-person payments
venues wanting virtual terminals and Pay by Link
Useful features
card payments
online payments
payment gateway
Pay by Link
virtual terminal
currency conversion
fraud protection
PCI compliance support
hospitality payment solutions
Verdict
Elavon is a strong provider to compare if your hotel needs secure hospitality payments, online payment tools and virtual terminal support.
Stripe for hotels Stripe is a strong online payment provider for hotels that take direct website bookings, deposits and card-not-present payments.
Stripe lists UK standard card processing at 1.5% + 20p, with other rates for premium, EU and international cards.
Best for
hotels with direct online bookings
boutique hotels
serviced apartments
aparthotels
accommodation providers using modern booking engines
businesses needing online checkout
businesses with developer support
platforms and booking software
Useful features
online card payments
payment links
subscriptions
saved payment methods
fraud tools
checkout
international cards
developer integrations
reporting
Verdict
Stripe is worth considering for hotels with online booking needs, but many hotels will still need a separate or integrated in-person card payment setup.
Adyen for hotels
Adyen is a global payments platform often used by larger businesses and hospitality groups that need unified online, in-person and international payments.
Best for
hotel groups
larger hotels
international hospitality businesses
multi-location operators
businesses needing unified payments
hotels with international guests
businesses wanting advanced reporting
Useful features
online payments
in-person payments
international cards
multi-currency payment flows
unified commerce
fraud risk tools
reporting
platform integrations
Verdict
Adyen is worth comparing for larger hotels or hospitality groups that need a sophisticated payment platform.
Planet for hotels Planet is a payments and software provider with a strong focus on hospitality, retail and international guest payments.
Best for
hotels
hospitality groups
accommodation providers
venues with international guests
businesses needing hospitality-focused payment tools
hotels wanting integrated payment and guest solutions
Useful features
Planet may support:
hotel payments
card machines
online payments
hospitality integrations
tax-free shopping, where relevant
multi-currency features
reporting
guest-focused payment flows
Verdict
Planet is worth comparing if your hotel needs a hospitality-focused payment provider, especially for international guest payments or larger operations.
Dojo for hotels Dojo offers card machines, Tap to Pay, payment links and payment tools that may suit smaller hotels, guest houses and hospitality venues.
Best for
boutique hotels
B&Bs
guest houses
restaurants with rooms
small hotels
hospitality businesses
venues needing portable terminals
businesses wanting fast payouts
Useful features
card machines
portable terminals
payment links
Tap to Pay
phone payments
reporting
fast settlement options
hospitality-friendly card payments
Verdict
Dojo is worth comparing for smaller hotels and hospitality venues that want modern card machines and flexible payment tools.
Barclaycard for hotels Barclaycard Payments offers merchant services and card payment solutions that may suit established hotels and hospitality businesses.
Best for
established hotels
larger guest houses
hospitality businesses
businesses already banking with Barclays
hotels needing merchant services
businesses comparing bank-backed providers
Useful features
card machines
merchant services
in-person payments
online payment options
acquiring services
reporting
payment support
Verdict Barclaycard is worth comparing if your hotel wants a bank-backed merchant services provider.
Tyl by NatWest for hotels Tyl by NatWest offers card machines, Tap to Pay and payment services for SMEs.
Best for
small hotels
B&Bs
guest houses
serviced accommodation
hospitality SMEs
NatWest customers
businesses wanting card machines and Tap to Pay
venues wanting next business day settlement
Useful features
card machines
Tap to Pay
portable terminals
countertop terminals
online payments
next business day settlement
reporting
Verdict Tyl may suit small hotels and guest houses that need reliable card machines rather than a full hotel payment platform.
TakePayments for hotels TakePayments offers card machine packages and support-led setup for UK SMEs.
Best for
small hotels
B&Bs
guest houses
cafés with rooms
restaurants with rooms
hospitality SMEs
businesses wanting help choosing a card machine
Useful features
card machines
portable terminals
countertop terminals
payment reporting
online payment options
support-led setup
quote-based packages
Verdict
TakePayments may suit smaller hotels that want support choosing a practical card machine setup.
Clover for hotels Clover offers POS hardware, payment tools and business management features, and is more relevant for hotels with bars, cafés, restaurants, retail areas or spa facilities than for room-booking payments alone.
Best for
hotels with restaurants
hotels with bars
cafés in hotels
spa hotels
boutique hotels with retail
hospitality venues needing POS tools
businesses needing staff and stock features
Useful features
card payments
POS hardware
inventory tools
staff management
reporting
customer tools
apps and integrations
restaurant or retail payment flows
Verdict
Clover is worth comparing if your hotel needs POS and payments for on-site hospitality areas such as bars, cafés, restaurants or spa retail.
Hotel payment methods Hotels should support more than one payment method.
Payment method Best use
Chip and PIN
Reception, check-out and higher-value payments
Contactless cards
Fast guest payments at reception, bars and cafés
Apple Pay and Google Pay
Fast mobile wallet payments
Online card payments
Direct bookings and deposits
Payment links
Deposits, balances, group bookings and remote payments
Virtual terminal
Phone bookings and manual payments
Card-on-file
Pre-authorisations, extras and no-show charges
Bank transfer
Corporate bookings and long-stay guests
Cash
Some guests still prefer it, but usage is declining
Multi-currency payments
Amex
Business travellers and premium guests, if accepted
PMS-integrated hotel payments
A PMS, or property management system, is the software hotels use to manage rooms, reservations, check-ins, rates and guest information.
Hotel payment processing is much easier when it integrates with your PMS, and common PMS systems include:
Opera
Mews
Cloudbeds
Guestline
RoomRaccoon
Little Hotelier
RMS Cloud
Clock PMS+
HotelPerfect
Protel
PMS-integrated payments can help with:
booking deposits
payment authorisation
card-on-file
check-in payments
room charges
automated reconciliation
refunds
chargeback evidence
no-show charges
payment status visibility
reduced manual entry
Before choosing a payment provider, check whether it integrates with your PMS and booking engine.
Hotel payment processing fees Hotel payment fees can include more than a simple card machine rate.
Fee type What it means
In-person card fee
Fee for Chip and PIN, contactless or mobile wallet payments
Online card fee
Fee for website or booking engine payments
Payment gateway fee
Fee for online payment infrastructure
Virtual terminal fee
Fee for manually keyed or phone payments
Payment link fee
Fee for remote payment links
Terminal rental
Monthly cost for card machine hardware
Authorisation fee
Small fee for approving transactions
PCI fee
Payment security compliance fee
Chargeback fee
Fee when a guest disputes a payment
Refund fee
Fee charged by some providers for refunds
International card fee
Higher fee for foreign-issued cards
Amex fee
Separate fee if you accept American Express
DCC fee
Linked to dynamic currency conversion where offered
PMS integration fee
Possible cost for connecting systems
Settlement fee
Fee or condition linked to payout timing
Security and Compliance Hotels handle sensitive guest payment data, so security is critical – key security features to compare include:
PCI DSS compliance support
tokenisation
encryption
secure card storage
fraud detection
3D Secure for online payments
audit trails
access controls
staff permissions
chargeback tools
secure payment links
no raw card data stored in emails or spreadsheets
Hotels should avoid writing down card details or storing them insecurely.
A good hotel payment processor should reduce the amount of sensitive card data your staff handles directly.
Hotel payment processing by property type
Property type
Small B&B
Card machine, Tap to Pay and payment links
Guest house
Reception terminal, online payments and virtual terminal
Boutique hotel
PMS-integrated payments, portable terminals and payment links
City hotel
PMS integration, card machines, online bookings and foreign card support
Luxury hotel
PMS integration, pre-authorisation, multi-currency and Amex support
Serviced apartments
Online payments, deposits, card-on-file and payment links
Aparthotel
Online booking payments, recurring/long-stay billing and PMS integration
Hotel with restaurant
PMS plus EPOS/card machines for restaurant and bar
Wedding/event hotel
Deposits, payment links, group payments and virtual terminal
Hotel group
Unified payments, reporting, multi-site settlement and custom pricing
What to check before choosing a hotel payment provider Before choosing a hotel payment processor, ask:
does it integrate with your PMS?
does it integrate with your booking engine?
can it handle deposits?
can it handle pre-authorisations?
can it support no-show charges?
can it securely store card details?
does it support payment links?
does it offer a virtual terminal?
does it support Apple Pay and Google Pay?
does it support Amex?
what are online payment fees?
what are in-person card machine fees?
what are international card fees?
what are chargeback fees?
what are refund fees?
is there a payment gateway fee?
is terminal rental included?
are there PCI fees?
what is the contract length?
what is settlement speed?
does it support multi-currency payments?
what support is available?
can it support multiple departments?
does it integrate with restaurant or bar EPOS?
can it scale to multiple properties?
The right provider should reduce admin and improve the guest experience, not just process payments.
Our E xpert Verdict: Payment Processing in HotelsIn 2026, hotel payments are no longer just operational—they’re part of the guest experience. Hotels that prioritise speed, flexibility, and security see:
Higher guest satisfaction
Faster check-ins and check-outs
Reduced chargebacks and fraud
Improved operational efficiency
Our recommendations:
✔ Choose PMS-compatible providers
FAQs: Payment Processing in Hotels What is hotel payment processing?
Hotel payment processing is the system hotels use to accept and manage guest payments, including card machine payments, online bookings, deposits, pre-authorisations, refunds, no-show charges and payment reconciliation.
What is the best payment processor for hotels?
The best provider depends on your hotel size and systems. Worldpay, Elavon, Stripe, Adyen, Planet, Dojo, Barclaycard, Tyl, TakePayments and Clover are all worth comparing.
Do hotel payment systems integrate with PMS software?
Yes, many hotel payment systems can integrate with PMS software such as Opera, Mews, Cloudbeds, Guestline and RoomRaccoon. Always confirm integration before signing.
What are the typical payment processing fees for hotels?
Fees vary by provider and payment method. In-person fees may be around 1.5% to 1.75% with some providers, while online payments often use a percentage plus fixed fee. Custom pricing may be available for larger hotels.
Are contactless payments essential for hotels?
Yes, most hotels should accept contactless payments because guests expect fast, convenient payments at reception, bars, restaurants and other on-site facilities.
Is PCI compliance mandatory for hotels?
Yes. Any hotel processing card payments must handle card data securely and follow PCI DSS requirements.
Can hotels accept online payments securely?
Yes. Hotels can accept secure online payments through payment gateways, booking engine integrations, payment links and PMS-integrated payment tools.
What is a hotel pre-authorisation?
A pre-authorisation is a temporary hold on a guest’s card, often used for deposits, incidentals, minibar spend, damage cover or room service.
Can hotels charge no-show fees?
Yes, if the guest agreed to clear cancellation and no-show terms and the hotel handles card details securely. Terms should be visible during booking and confirmation.
What is a virtual terminal for hotels?
A virtual terminal lets hotel staff manually enter card details for phone bookings or remote payments. Payment links may be safer and easier in many cases.
Should hotels use payment links?
Payment links are useful for deposits, group bookings, event payments, balances, upgrades and remote guest payments.
What payment methods should hotels accept?
Hotels should usually accept debit cards, credit cards, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, online card payments, payment links and virtual terminal payments. Some hotels may also accept Amex and multi-currency payments.
Is Stripe good for hotels?
Stripe can be good for direct online bookings, deposits and modern booking flows, but hotels may also need card machines or PMS-integrated payment tools.
Is Worldpay good for hotels?
Worldpay can be a strong option for hotels needing card machines, online payments and merchant services, especially where in-person and online payments need to be compared together.
Is Elavon good for hotels?
Elavon is worth comparing for hotels and accommodation providers because it offers hospitality payment solutions, online payments, Pay by Link, fraud protection, PCI support and virtual terminal options.
What should hotels compare before choosing a payment provider?
Hotels should compare PMS integration, online payment fees, card machine fees, international card fees, pre-authorisation tools, payment links, virtual terminals, chargeback support, PCI compliance, settlement speed and contract length.
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James Ward is the CEO & Founder of Compare Your Business Costs — a UK-verified comparison platform helping SMEs save money on business broadband, leased lines, phone systems, mobile telecoms, managed services and IT support. With over 10 years of experience in telecoms and technology procurement, James is a trusted UK business expert featured in national media and verified on Companies House.
