Welcome Travel and Afone Participations launch the online payment system WEP@y

The Italian network of travel agencies Welcome Travel (jointly controlled by Alpitour and Costa Crociere) and the French telecommunications and electronic payment operator Euronext Afone Participations have launched the online collection and payment system WEP@y.

If you want to find more details about the new online payment system implemented by the network of travel agencies Welcome Travel and to read the latest business news, download the Born2Invest mobile app.

A secure digital payment method

The new fintech payment solution will enable agencies in the Welcome Travel network to offer their customers a secure and reliable digital payment method from smartphones or PCs, paying by credit cards in a single solution or by choosing installment payment. Thanks to WEP@y Welcome Travel agencies will be able to manage sales through social networks. They will also be able to create payment links and send them directly from the control panel via email and SMS to govern the collections remotely.

“With WeP@y we want to accelerate the use of digital tools by current and potential customers. From the website of a Welcome Travel agency or thanks to the newly released app, you can consult prices and availability, buy Costa cruises or Alpitour holidays. All this, relying on the consulting support and professional knowledge of travel agents,” explained Massimo Segato, indirect network manager of the We Travel network.

Roberto Galati, country manager of Afone Italia and Spain, added: “The extraordinary and effective collaboration with the Welcome Travel group has allowed us to anticipate the changes in the purchasing habits of its customers, to whom it becomes essential to offer simple, convenient and usable payment methods from every channel. The implementation of the WeP@y platform will guarantee Welcome Travel travellers a smooth and secure shopping experience and the group’s agencies an effective collection process with simplified reconciliation.”

A successful collaboration between two incumbent companies

Afone Participations is a telecommunications and electronic payments operator, based in Angers (France) with a portfolio of more than 600,000 customers including small, medium and large businesses. Afone Paiement, a subsidiary of the group, obtained accreditation as a payment institution from the French central bank in 2011 and from the Spanish central bank in 2019. Since 2017 it has also been operational in Italy.

Welcome Travel Group operates in the tourist distribution and boasts the participation of Alpitour World and Costa Crociere, both of which have a 50% stake in the capital. Welcome Travel, based in Turin, has over 1,300 points of sale in all Italian provinces. Alpitour is in turn controlled by Alpiholding, a vehicle 49.9% owned by Asset Italia 1 Srl (in turn controlled by Asset Italia the club deal promoted by Tamburi Investment Partners, which already owned 32.67% of Alpitour), 0.2% by Chairman and CEO Gabriele Burgio and the remaining 49.9% by other investors.

In May 2018, Alpiholding had taken over their 38.8% stake in the tour operator from Wise sgr and J.Hirsch&Co. On that occasion, the Turin-based entrepreneur Levi, Alpitour’s historic shareholder, had remained in the capital with a view to long-term investment, as had Fabio Landini, a former Presstour partner. Wise sgr had also acquired a direct stake in Alpitour of about 3.5%, while J.Hirsch&Co had left the capital for good. In April 2018, Alpitour had taken over the Eden Viaggi group from the Filippetti family.  Alpitour closed 2019 with $2.15 billion (€1.99 billion) in revenues (+18.5% from 2018) and an Ebitda of $76.2 million (€70.5 million) (from $60.4 million (€55.9 million)).

__

(Featured image by Julius Silver via Pixabay)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in BeBeez, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Born2Invest assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Born2Invest is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.