Integrated payments for accommodation bring together the collection of bookings, deposits and extras inside the PMS itself, doing away with external gateways and manual reconciliation. With this integration, hoteliers get paid faster, reduce failed payments and avoid card errors, whatever type of accommodation they run. The key is that payment forms part of the booking flow, rather than running as a separate process.
What integrated payments for accommodation are and why they matter to your day-to-day operation
An integrated payment is more than just another gateway. It's a direct connection between your booking engine, your channel manager and your PMS. When a guest books, the system can capture the card, validate funds, take a deposit or apply the cancellation policy without any manual intervention. For a city hotel with high turnover, that means shorter waits at reception. For a seasonal campsite, it means less risk of no-shows in peak season.
What sets it apart from a virtual POS or an external gateway is automation. Without integration, someone has to copy the amount, chase the payment, check whether it came through and then reconcile it in the PMS. With integrated payments, the system records the payment and updates the booking in one go. Fewer steps, fewer mistakes, more control.
Direct benefits for each type of accommodation
- Independent hotels: automatic payment of the first night or the full stay depending on the rate, with no friction at check-in.
- Holiday apartments: management of deposits and staged payments without chasing bank transfers.
- Campsites and glamping sites: payment of advance bookings and stay extras with the card stored securely.
- Country cottages and boutique accommodation: flexible cancellation policies with automatic payment on the deadline date.
How to apply integrated payments to each type of accommodation
Not every business takes payments the same way. A holiday apartment usually asks for a percentage up front; a glamping site, 100% before arrival; a hotel, a guarantee with payment at checkout. An integrated payments system for accommodation has to adapt to that reality without the manager having to set up complex rules every day.
Comparison table of use by type of accommodation
| Type of accommodation | Usual payment timing | What the integrated payment automates |
|---|---|---|
| Independent hotel | Guarantee at booking, payment during stay | Card capture, pre-authorisation, payment at check-out |
| Holiday apartment | 20-50% deposit, balance on arrival | Staged payment, automatic reminder, security deposit |
| Campsite / glamping | 100% in advance in peak season | Full payment at booking, automatic cancellation policy |
| Country cottage / boutique | Deposit + balance depending on policy | Scheduled payment by date, with no friction for the guest |
With Avirato, the integrated payments module lets you set these rules within the PMS and the booking engine. The hotelier decides when to charge, how much and under what conditions. The system executes and records every transaction, with no external gateways to break reconciliation. What's more, because it's connected to the channel manager, payments for bookings that come in through OTAs are also recorded correctly in the dashboard.
Common mistakes when you don't have integrated payments, and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is using a gateway that doesn't talk to the PMS. The guest pays, but no one at reception can see the real status. Another frequent slip is not capturing the card at the time of booking and then having to ask for it by phone or email afterwards. That creates friction and cancellations. There are also accommodation providers that don't automate their cancellation policies: they lose revenue by not charging the penalty on time.
With an integrated payments solution for accommodation such as Avirato's, the card is captured in the booking flow, the payment is taken according to the rule you've set and the status is reflected in the booking. No extra steps, no chasing payments. For the revenue manager, that means predictable cash flow; for reception, fewer admin tasks.
How to get started with integrated payments at your accommodation
- Define your payment policy by rate type and sales channel.
- Enable card capture in the booking engine and at online check-in.
- Automate recurring payments (deposits, balances, penalties) according to a schedule.
- Check reconciliation from the dashboard to match revenue against bookings.
- Train your team to use integrated payments at reception and not fall back on a manual POS.
If your accommodation already uses a PMS but payments are still handled outside the system, switching to Avirato is quick and straightforward: you bring your payment operation and booking management together, without changing tools. And if you're still working with spreadsheets or standalone gateways, the gain in time and control is even greater.
Do I need a physical POS if I have integrated payments? It's not essential. Integrated payments cover most online and reception payments. If you want to accept physical cards, you can add a POS, but your core operation stays automated.
Can I automatically charge cancellation penalties? Yes. With Avirato you set the rule once and the system takes the payment on the deadline date, recording it against the booking. You don't have to rely on reception remembering.
Does it work with bookings that come from OTAs such as Booking or Expedia? Yes. Avirato's channel manager also integrates OTA payments and reconciles each booking with its payment status, preventing discrepancies.
What about stored cards? Is it secure? Avirato complies with PCI DSS standards and tokenises card information, so neither the hotelier nor the staff have access to the full details. They're only used for authorised payments.
Can I use integrated payments if I manage several different types of accommodation? Yes. You can create different rules for each property or group of properties, while keeping a single view of your cash position and reconciliation.
Take the next step with Avirato
If you want to stop chasing payments, reduce failed payments and have every payment reflected in your booking without manual tasks, Avirato makes it easy. Our platform includes integrated payments, a commission-free booking engine, channel manager and PMS all in one. Request a free demo and see how it works for your type of accommodation, whether that's a hotel, apartments, a campsite or a country cottage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a physical POS if I have integrated payments?
It's not essential. Integrated payments cover most online and reception payments. If you want to accept physical cards, you can add a POS, but your core operation stays automated.
Can I automatically charge cancellation penalties?
Yes. With Avirato you set the rule once and the system takes the payment on the deadline date, recording it against the booking. You don't have to rely on reception remembering.
Does it work with bookings that come from OTAs such as Booking or Expedia?
Yes. Avirato's channel manager also integrates OTA payments and reconciles each booking with its payment status, preventing discrepancies.
What about stored cards? Is it secure?
Avirato complies with PCI DSS standards and tokenises card information, so neither the hotelier nor the staff have access to the full details. They're only used for authorised payments.
Can I use integrated payments if I manage several different types of accommodation?
Yes. You can create different rules for each property or group of properties, while keeping a single view of your cash position and reconciliation.