Visa is redefining its role in travel with the global expansion of Visa Destinations | News
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today announced the expansion of Visa Destinations, a passion-led travel platform operating in 10 major locations around the world, as the company redefines its role in the fast-growing experience-driven travel economy.
This move marks a strategic expansion of Visa’s role beyond payments, placing the company at the heart of how travelers discover, plan and experience travel. According to Visa research, travelers are increasingly choosing destinations based on passion, purpose and experiences, not just geography. A recent Visa survey shows that personal interests feature strongly in how Asia Pacific consumers plan to travel – 66% plan to travel for global concert tours, while 54% plan to travel for sporting events[1]. Major cultural moments and events are increasingly magnets for international visitors and catalysts for local economies.
Visa Destinations is available exclusively to Visa customers, through a mobile-first platform, and is designed around the reason why people travel, whether they are drawn to food, fashion, sports or simply wander the streets in search of hidden gems. It offers tastemaker recommendations, city guides and curated experiences to support Visa’s shift from the way to pay for travel to a travel companion.
“Demand for travel in Asia Pacific remains strong, but travelers are raising the bar for what they expect from every trip,” said TR Ramachandran, head of Products and Solutions, Asia Pacific at Visa. “Our Visa Global Travel Intentions research shows that travelers are more purposeful than ever, prioritizing destinations they trust while seeking flexibility and greater convenience in planning. Interest in distinctive local experiences continues to grow. Visa Destinations is expanding across key global locations, using our insights and network to redefine access to experiences that leave a lasting impression while creating new opportunities for our partners in the travel economy.”
Visa Destinations is available and curates experiences in 10 locations, including Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Thailand.
Once on board, cardholders can enhance their travels with a curated offering of dining, entertainment, culture, hospitality, wellness, shopping and transportation, such as exclusive viewing and priority access to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center in New York City and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as food experiences that recommend tastemakers.
Premium cardholders, including Visa Infinite and Visa Signature, can enjoy extensive benefits and customized travel experiences.
Strong partnerships behind Visa Destinations
Visa is partnering with global leaders in the travel ecosystem to amplify the platform’s value proposition. Global anchor partners Global Blue, Star Alliance and Trip.com Group offer Visa cardholders exclusive access, premium benefits and locally distinctive experiences that bring cardholders closer to the character of each destination.
“We are excited to partner with Visa to bring the value of the Tax Free Shopping experience to travelers using Visa Destinations. International travelers will benefit from greater purchasing power, a seamless and guaranteed refund process and an enhanced shopping journey as they immerse themselves in the destination of their choice,” said Virginie Alem, Chief Marketing Officer of Global Blue.
“As the leading global airline alliance, Star Alliance is uniquely positioned to offer travelers access to unparalleled reach through our 26 member airlines, enabling seamless multi-airline travel. This partnership with Visa will deliver great value to travelers through exclusive experiences that will make every trip even more memorable. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring,” said Renato Ramos, Star Alliance Vice President of Corporate Strategy.
“Travel should always be inspiring, intuitive and rewarding. That’s why at Trip.com Group we continually reimagine how trips are planned and experienced – with simplicity at every touchpoint. Our partnership with Visa brings this vision to life, combining secure, seamless payments with curated travel offerings and comprehensive benefits, making every trip truly extraordinary,” said Sun Bo, Chief Marketing Officer at Trip.com Group.
In addition to serving travelers, Visa Destinations supports Visa’s broader strategy to deepen digital commerce, enable seamless cross-border payments and help travel-related businesses realize more value from global tourism.
