8 Luxury Hotels Embracing Crypto Payments
In 2022, Expedia made waves by accepting bitcoin for hotel bookings. This trailblazing move follows a global trend among hotels embracing cryptocurrencies for guest convenience and security, partnering with payment providers to mitigate price volatility risks. As cryptocurrency payments gain traction among travelers worldwide, let’s explore 8 exceptional luxury hotels, spanning destinations from the Maldives to Dubai, Switzerland to the United States, where cryptocurrency is now accepted as a payment option.
Soneva
Locations: Maldives and Thailand
Guests can now conveniently use Bitcoin and Ethereum across Soneva’s esteemed five-star properties, including Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani, Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. This progressive approach extends beyond accommodations, as cryptocurrencies can also be utilized for Soneva Villa Ownership, allowing foreign buyers to engage in real estate transactions in the Maldives. Bruce Bromley, Soneva’s Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO, highlighted the brand’s commitment to innovation, stating, “At Soneva, we have always endeavored to be a pioneer in the hospitality industry, hence accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method is another example of enabling our international guests to easily make payments from anywhere in the world.”
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts
Locations: Thailand, Bali, Italy, Himalayas, Mongolia, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome
In a groundbreaking move last summer, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts became the world’s first global boutique hotel group to accept cryptocurrency payments for hotel bookings. This forward-thinking initiative allows guests to utilize Bitcoin, Ethereum, and an impressive selection of 40 other virtual currencies to settle their reservations at any Pavilions residence. With an extensive presence across Europe and Asia, guests have a wide range of luxurious options to choose from. To facilitate seamless crypto transactions, the hotel chain has partnered with Coindirect, a leading global crypto-payment gateway. Guests can make crypto-payments conveniently via a booking center through email, ensuring a secure and hassle-free process. Furthermore, many of The Pavilions resorts also offer investment opportunities that can be pursued using cryptocurrencies, providing guests with a unique avenue to leverage their digital assets in the world of hospitality.
Dolder Grand Hotel
Address: Kurhausstrasse 65, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland
The Dolder Grand hotel in Switzerland has been at the forefront of embracing cryptocurrency, setting an example for other luxury properties worldwide. As the first luxury hotel to accept digital assets in 2019, it demonstrated Switzerland’s position as a pioneer in adopting digital currencies. Building on this momentum, the renowned five-star Zurich hotel made history in 2021 by collaborating with BitLux private jets to create the world’s inaugural crypto-based luxury travel partnership. This innovative collaboration enables travelers to use digital currency for both their flights and accommodations. With its 122-year-old legacy, the Dolder Grand hotel offers breathtaking views of Lake Zurich, the majestic Alps, and the city skyline, complemented by exceptional two-Michelin-starred cuisine. To facilitate seamless transactions, the hotel has partnered with Swiss fintech Inacta AG, empowering guests to conveniently use Bitcoin for their payments.
The Kessler Collection
Locations: Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Minnesota, Colorado
The Kessler Collection, a renowned luxury hotel group in the United States, positioned itself as an early adopter of cryptocurrencies. In March 2022, the group made a significant announcement, enabling guests to utilize a range of digital currencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, Dogecoin, as well as stablecoins such as USDC, Binance USD, Gemini Dollar, and PAX, for their bookings. To streamline the payment process, Kessler Collection hotels send guests an email invoice, allowing them to conveniently settle their payment directly from their crypto wallet. This innovative approach not only saves guests valuable time that would otherwise be spent on local currency exchanges but also provides them with potential savings through favorable exchange rates.
Manor Hotel by JA
Address: Al Furjan – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This five-star establishment offers guests the convenience of booking rooms and settling their bills using these cryptocurrencies, with the hotel seamlessly converting any received crypto through a dedicated payment gateway managed by Binance. Hanif Al Qassim, the hotel’s Managing Partner, emphasized that embracing virtual assets aligns perfectly with the Manor Hotel’s vision for sustainability and digital transformation, further enhancing its commitment to providing a cutting-edge and forward-thinking experience for its esteemed guests.
Sri Panwa Phuket Luxury Pool Villa Hotel
Address: 88 Sakdidej Rd, Wichit, Muang Phuket 83000, Thailand
Located in the magnificent coastal destination of Thailand, Sri Panwa Phuket stands as a luxurious resort and residence that accepts multiple digital currencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and USDC, for seamless and convenient payments. Beyond its flagship location, Sri Panwa extends its crypto-friendly approach to other esteemed properties, including Baba Beach Club of Hua Hin and the Baba Beach Club of Natai. Situated majestically atop Cape Panwa, this luxury resort offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the captivating beauty of the Southeastern tip of Phuket, with its collection of luxurious villas that provide breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Chedi Andermatt
Address: Gotthardstrasse 4, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
This prestigious five-star luxury property nestled in the captivating Swiss Alps now accepts Bitcoin and Ethereum as a seamless form of payment. Collaborating with leading Swiss crypto service provider Bitcoin Suisse and renowned payment-service provider Worldline, The Chedi Andermatt ensures a smooth transaction process. Any payments made via cryptocurrency will be promptly converted into Swiss francs upon confirmation, ensuring a seamless and convenient experience for guests.
S Hotel & Resorts
Locations: Maldives
S Hotels & Resorts, a prominent hospitality group, made a significant move towards cryptocurrency integration in October 2021 introducing the option for customers to make crypto payments at two of its remarkable properties located in the Maldives: SAii Lagoon Maldives and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. According to a press release, guests can utilize USD Coins (USDC) and Tether tokens (USDT) for their transactions, with plans to incorporate additional cryptocurrencies in the future.
Benefits of Paying with Cryptocurrency
Paying with crypto is as seamless as using a credit card, eliminating the need for currency conversion and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By accepting cryptocurrencies, guests can conveniently bypass the process of converting their local fiat currency into the domestic fiat currency of the hotel’s location.
While there may be minor upfront costs for businesses involved in setting up the infrastructure for crypto payments, the ongoing costs of processing these transactions are generally lower than those associated with credit card payments.
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