The best way for OTAs to manage multiple payment methods is to use payment orchestration, which allows them to connect, control, and optimize cards, wallets, local payment methods, and payouts from a single platform.
Simply adding more payment methods is not enough. As OTAs expand globally, managing them individually, across different PSPs, currencies, and regions, creates operational complexity, fragmented data, and inconsistent performance. This is where platforms like Primer can help: keep reading to learn more.
Why managing payment methods becomes complex for OTAs
Travel companies typically support:
- Cards (credit and debit)
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal)
- Local payment methods (iDEAL, Alipay, UPI, etc.)
- Bank transfers and alternative methods
- Refunds and supplier payouts
Each of these often comes through different PSPs, APIs, and reporting systems.
Without a unified layer, this leads to:
- Multiple integrations to maintain
- Inconsistent checkout experiences
- Limited visibility into performance
- Difficult reconciliation across providers
- Slower rollout of new payment methods
For global OTAs, this quickly becomes a bottleneck to growth.
Read more: Travel payment solutions: how to optimize payments and reduce costs
Why OTAs use Primer to manage payment methods
Primer solves this by acting as a central infrastructure layer for all payment methods.
Instead of integrating each method separately, OTAs can:
- Connect multiple PSPs and payment methods through one platform
- Add or remove payment methods without changing checkout
- Control how methods are presented and routed
- Manage fraud, authentication, and retries centrally
- Access unified reporting across all payment flows
This turns payment method management from an engineering challenge into a configurable system.
What “good” payment method management looks like
For OTAs using payment orchestration, managing multiple payment methods is about optimizing performance: not just adding as many methods as possible.
This includes:
Showing the right payment methods to the right users
Not every customer should see every payment option.
Payment methods can be dynamically displayed based on:
- Customer location
- Device (mobile vs desktop)
- Booking value
- Historical behavior
For example, showing iDEAL to Dutch users or wallets on mobile can significantly improve conversion.
Read more: Not every payment method belongs at checkout—here’s how to offer what matters
Routing payments to the best-performing provider
Even when the same payment method is used (e.g. cards), performance can vary depending on the PSP.
Tools like Primer allow OTAs to:
- Route card payments to different PSPs based on geography
- Optimize wallet transactions through specific providers
- Shift traffic based on real-time performance
This ensures each payment method performs as well as possible.
Learn more about how routing works: What are the benefits of smart routing?
Scaling into new markets faster
Launching in a new region often requires adding local payment methods.
With payment orchestration, OTAs can:
- Activate new methods without building new integrations
- Test and roll out payment options quickly
- Adapt checkout experiences for each market
This is particularly important in travel, where local payment preferences vary significantly.
Why multiple payment methods matter for conversion and revenue
In travel, payment method availability directly impacts conversion.
Customers are more likely to complete a booking if:
- Their preferred payment method is available
- The checkout is fast and familiar
- Payments succeed on the first attempt
Managing payment methods effectively helps OTAs:
- Increase checkout conversion rates
- Reduce failed payments
- Expand into new markets more easily
- Improve overall customer experience
Discover how Primer can help your business effortlessly manage payment methods with a no-obligation demo. Book a call to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Best way for OTAs to manage multiple payment methods
Why do OTAs need multiple payment methods?
Customers across different regions prefer different ways to pay. Supporting local and global payment methods improves conversion and expands market reach.
What’s the biggest challenge in managing payment methods?
The complexity of integrating, maintaining, and optimizing multiple providers and systems, especially at scale.
How does Primer help manage payment methods?
Primer provides a unified infrastructure that connects payment methods and PSPs, allowing OTAs to control routing, presentation, and performance from one platform.
Do more payment methods always improve conversion?
Not necessarily. Showing the right payment methods to the right users is more effective than offering every option.
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