Omnio Group, a banking and payment services provider formed by the merger of Payment Cloud Technologies (PCT) and Tuxedo Money Solutions, has partnered with student travel specialist, STA Travel, to launch its innovative STA Travel Mastercard and digital account in the Austrian market.
The combination of an eWallet with the traditional card is unique among existing travel payment solutions available in the country, and means that account holders can store the bulk of their funds in a secure digital space, only downloading cash to their card when and where they need it.
This is crucial for Austrian gap-year travellers. Many have saved considerable sums to pay their way on their tour, so having a secure digital space to store the majority of their money until they need it ensures that, if they lose their card, they can be confident their money is safe and secure. Thanks to Omnio’s global presence, a replacement can be sent to STA Travel’s customers quickly no matter where in the world they are staying.
In addition, as a Mastercard® the product can be used at any of the 35 million locations and two million ATMs across the globe where the card scheme is accepted.
Speaking about the launch of the card and digital account into Austria, Anneli Buehrle, Ancillary Product & Contracting Manager at STA Travel explained: “Our launch into Austria is just the latest step for our travel payment offering – is the card and account already available to customers in the UK, Germany and Australia and is used by travellers in more than 181 countries around the world every year.
“Omnio has played a key role in helping us create this unique product and achieving the international coverage we offer. The company’s global presence and local knowledge means we are able to deliver a travel payment solution that our customers can be confident about using in even the most exotic places around the world.”
Rob Darby, Director of Partnerships at Omnio, added: “We’ve been collaborating with STA Travel on developing its payment solutions for a decade now, and are proud to have supported it in achieving its global growth ambitions. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the company to create even more new products to meet its customers’ needs well into the future.”
Ian Clowes, CEO at Omnio, concluded: “It’s fantastic to see how this card and digital account has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Travellers are constantly on the lookout for ways to pay for treats on their holiday without having to worry about losing their money. Innovative solutions like this, which provide the perfect balance between security and convenience for travellers can go a long way towards helping travel brands thrive in the long term in a competitive global market.”