UATP, the global payment network, announced that HRS, the global corporate lodging and payment technology platform, is a new UATP merchant. By joining the UATP network, HRS will be able to accept UATP payments for individual business travelers, meeting attendees and crews, expanding their growth opportunities across UATP’s portfolio of corporate issuers and airline clients.

For UATP, said the announcement, the partnership with HRS represents its “first foray into wide-scale hotel acceptance.” UATP travel merchants and corporate account holders will have direct access to HRS’ array of business travel-ready hotels, many available with corporate rates via HRS’ AI-infused platform.

Perhaps more importantly, said the announcement, the partnership offers newfound synergies for UATP clients and merchants, as the integration of HRS provides them with invoice automation, billing and reconciliation from a singular provider. For typical corporate programs, this accounts for the vast majority of their total travel expenditures.

Alexander Olsen, vice president, spend management and payment consulting for HRS, said that by joining forces, “we’re creating a truly complete ecosystem for business travel, bridging the complexity of procurement and booking quality hotels with seamless payment and financial reporting.” The combination of innovative automation and hotel expertise, he said, “also provides a new option for travel suppliers as they seek more cost-effective, streamlined lodging options for their global workforces.”

Zach Ornelas, senior vice president, commercial for UATP, said HRS’ expertise, particularly when it comes to the automated payment processes that govern expedient payment to hotels from corporate enterprises, “makes them the perfect partner for our expansion in the hotel and meeting sector.” He added, “We expect a long relationship marked by extensive mutual benefit.”