Travel management company Corporate Traveller is enabling customers to pay in Bitcoin following a partnership with blockchain payment provider BitPay.
The U.K.-based TMC says the move is sparked by increasing demand from clients for the option to pay for business travel bookings using Bitcoin.
BitPay manages the process for Corporate Traveller in terms of securing the Bitcoin funds from the customer and depositing them into its account.
Corporate Traveller, which is part of Flight Centre Travel Group, requests an invoice in pounds with BitPay then invoices the customer in Bitcoin at the market rate plus a 1% levy.
Andy Hegley, Corporate Traveller U.K. general manager, says it is companies in the fintech industry, which already have cryptocurrency reserves, that are requesting the payment option.
He adds that the requests are not specific to any particular elements of travel, with customers looking to use Bitcoin for their entire trip spend.
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Corporate Traveller specializes in arranging travel for small- to medium-size businesses with business travel spend of between £50,000 and £2 million.
Sonny Singh, chief commercial officer of BitPay, claims the company is seeing big growth from airlines and travel agents seeking to tap into the blockchain market.
Almost a year ago, Expedia stopped accepting Bitcoin payments after announcing in 2014 that it would provide the option.
Other TMCs that PhocusWire asked for comment say they have not seen any demand for cryptocurrency payments.