industry

Merchant Account for Travel Agency Businesses (Instant Approval)

Merchant Account for Travel Agency Businesses (Instant Approval)
Travel agencies face unique payment challenges. You sell trips months in advance, handle high-value bookings, and manage cancellations. A standard payment account can hinder your sales or slow you down.  With 2Accept, you get an instant-approval merchant account built for travel. Start processing payments in under 48 hours with flexible options and expert support.

Secure a Dedicated Payment Solution for Your Travel Agency

Why Standard Payment Gateways Label Travel Agencies as High-Risk

Most gateways treat your bookings like any other sale. That means you face unnecessary holds and higher fees. Travel agencies deal in future-date payments, significant transactions, and frequent cancellations.  Without specialized underwriting and fraud controls, you risk declines and chargeback fines.

Future-Date Booking Holds

Payments for trips often land weeks before departure. Generic processors place holds until travel is complete. That delays your cash flow and limits your ability to reinvest in marketing.

Large Ticket Transaction Flags

High-value sales trigger risk limits. Standard thresholds often reject large bookings or apply steep surcharges. Your clients see payment errors and move on.

Cancellation and Refund Volatility

Travel bookings are canceled at unpredictable rates. Without automated chargeback prevention, you face high dispute fees. Generic systems lack the workflows to remind customers or validate refunds.

Inflexible Currency Support

International travelers want to pay in their local currency. Many gateways force U.S. dollars only. That creates confusion and hidden conversion fees for your clients.

Limited Integration Options

Custom booking engines and travel platforms need flexible APIs. Off-the-shelf gateways may not integrate seamlessly, resulting in additional development work and ongoing maintenance costs.

Power Your Travel Agency with 2Accept’s Specialized Features

2Accept builds features around the travel model. You get tools that work with your booking timelines and ticket values. Each feature serves dual purposes, reducing risk and expediting payments.

Tailored Underwriting for Travel Models

Our team evaluates your agency’s history and booking patterns to determine its suitability for our services. We work with partner banks to establish approval terms that align with your sales cycle. You can expect a decision within 24 to 48 hours.

Automated Fraud Prevention

Real-time monitoring flags unusual transactions. Custom rules match booking dates with travel dates. Suspicious payments trigger verification steps before settlement.

Chargeback Reduction Workflows

Automated email reminders alert clients before their card is charged. Dunning notices guide missed payments and confirm refunds. Our chargeback specialists handle disputes from start to finish.

Interchange Optimization and Routing

We analyze each transaction and route it through the lowest-cost path. That keeps your processing fees predictable and your margins healthy.

Global Currency Conversion

Accept payments in over 30 currencies. Clients pay in their local currency, while you settle in U.S. dollars. Real-time exchange rates and reporting give you complete visibility.

Types of Travel Agency Businesses We Serve

From booking desks to adventure tour operators, we tailor our service to match your niche. Here are some of the travel businesses we power:
  • Corporate travel management firms
  • Luxury vacation planners
  • Adventure and eco-tour operators
  • Cruise booking agencies
  • Student and group travel organizers
  • Destination wedding coordinators
  • Airport shuttle and transfer services
  • Business event and conference planners
  • Specialty tour companies (wine, culinary, cultural)
  • Online travel portals and aggregators
Each agency receives focused underwriting, integration support, and fraud controls tailored to its sales model.

We Offer Multiple Payment Solutions

Give your clients a choice at checkout. With 2Accept, you can enable:
  • Credit and debit card processing
  • B2B ACH and eCheck for corporate clients
  • Mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Bank transfers for high-volume bookings
  • Recurring billing for travel subscriptions
Our gateway unifies all methods into one dashboard. Track settlements and fees in real-time and download statements for your accounting team.

What Do You Need to Apply for a Travel Merchant Account?

Gather these details to speed through our application:
  • Business legal name and address
  • Federal Tax ID or Social Security Number (for sole proprietors)
  • Details on your travel services and average ticket size
  • Recent bank statements showing deposit history
  • Government-issued ID for the principal owner
  • Website or booking platform URL
  • Proof of travel licenses or certifications (if applicable)
Upload documents securely through our portal. Your payment strategist reviews everything and guides you on the next steps.

Get Your Travel Agency Merchant Account Approved Instantly

Follow these six simple steps and start taking payments fast:

1. Complete the Application Form

Enter basic business details and describe your travel services.

2. Schedule a Call with Your Payments Strategist

Review your booking model and expected volumes.

3. Submit Required Documents

Upload IDs, bank statements, and any travel licenses.

4. Underwriting Review

We work with banks to verify your profile and set pricing.

5. Integrate and Test Your Gateway

Connect via API or plugin to test transactions in our sandbox.

6. Go Live and Accept Bookings

Flip the switch and start processing real payments in under 48 hours.

Why 2Accept Is the Smart Choice for Travel Agencies

We built our service from the ground up to support travel businesses. Our team knows your challenges and delivers proven solutions.

Deep Travel-Industry Expertise

We understand booking timelines, cancellation risks, and high-value transactions. That knowledge shapes our underwriting and risk controls.

Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing

See your rates upfront. There are no hidden fees, no surprise surcharges. Our optimization tools work to keep costs low on every transaction.

Dedicated Support Around the Clock

Access 24/7 technical help and compliance advice. Whether you’re in New York or New Jersey, someone is ready to assist with setup, chargebacks, or integration questions.

Fast, Reliable Settlements

Get funds in your account in as little as one business day. Transparent reporting shows you where every dollar comes from and what fees apply.

Secure and Compliant

Our gateway is PCI Level 1 certified. We encrypt data end-to-end and follow strict protocols for chargeback handling and dispute resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the business category for a travel agent?

Travel agents fall under the travel and tourism category. Merchant accounts for this category account for future-date transactions and high-value bookings.

What are the requirements for a merchant account?

You need business registration, owner identification, bank statements, and details on your booking platform. Additional travel licenses may apply.

Should my travel agency be an LLC?

An LLC shields your assets and can simplify the underwriting process. We support all legal structures, but having an LLC can help mitigate risk.

How long does approval take?

Most travel agencies receive underwriting decisions in 24 to 48 hours after document submission.

Can I accept payments in multiple currencies?

Yes. Our gateway supports over 30 currencies. Clients pay in their local currency, and you settle in U.S. dollars.

What happens if a client cancels a booking?

Our chargeback prevention tools and refund workflows help you manage cancellations. You can capture or void transactions based on your policy.

Let Us Handle Your Travel Payments, While You Focus on Customers – Apply Now!

Partner with 2Accept for a payment solution that understands your travel business. Click the button below to start your instant-approval application. Your dedicated strategist is standing by to guide you through every step.

Testimonials

Stripe froze our funds due to future travel dates. 2Accept approved us in 48 hours and helped us accept payments without holdbacks—even for international group bookings." — Samantha B., Owner, Global Horizons Travel Co.

We needed multi-currency support and chargeback protection. 2Accept gave us real-time fraud tools and helped us streamline refund workflows for canceled trips." — Ali K., Founder, LuxeVoyage Planners

Our cruise packages triggered red flags with other processors. 2Accept understood our model and got us live quickly with ACH and card support for high-ticket bookings." — Brian J., Co-Founder, OceanGate Travel

With 2Accept, we finally have a stable gateway that integrates with our booking engine. No coding, fast support, and funds hit our account the next day!" — Lisa R., CEO, WanderNest Adventures