Alipay rolls out mobile payment services through HMSHost partnership in North America
NORTH AMERICA. Alipay, the Chinese digital payment platform provider, is partnering with global travel restaurateur HMSHost to enable mobile payments at North American airports.
Chinese travellers can make payments using the Alipay app when making purchases at HMSHost-operated restaurants at selected airports in the USA and Canada. Alipay said that it is targeting late Q4 2018 for the first integration of the new payment service at HMSHost locations.
HMSHost-operated El Taco at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Concourse F, will be among the first North American airport restaurants to accept Alipay.
The USA and Canada are among the most popular travel destinations for Chinese nationals, with about four million visits and over half a million Chinese students heading to North America each year.
Alipay North America General Manager Yulei Wang said: “This is a key strategic partnership for Alipay as we grow our North American presence and help extend the Alipay experience to Chinese consumers visiting North America. We are thrilled to partner with HMSHost to provide Chinese consumers with a more familiar way to pay while dining at airports.”
HMSHost Treasurer Joy Butler said: “We are committed to providing service to make convenient and enjoyable experiences for all guests when they choose to dine with HMSHost. We are very excited about partnering with Alipay to expand the service we offer and to continue providing all consumers with their preferred payment options.”
According to research by Nielsen, the global measurement and data analytics company, 91% of Chinese tourists said that widespread availability of mobile payment systems such as Alipay would encourage them to spend more while travelling abroad.
Original Source