Hotels & hospitality
Credit Card Processing for Hotels and Motels
A hotel or motel may take a reservation deposit, authorize a card at check-in and settle the guest's final bill at departure. Room charges and incidental purchases need to be reconciled against the stay.
Credit card processing for hotels and motels starts with what you already pay. Send one recent statement and a person reads your merchant account for hotels and motels line by line. Free, with no obligation.
Short answer
Can a hotel get a merchant account?
Yes, most hotels can. The processor bases approval on the business, owner and processing history, so nobody can promise approval. Reservation deposits, arrival authorizations and departure charges should reconcile to each guest's stay. Send one recent statement and we will review it free.
What businesses like yours need
What hotels and motels need from processing
- Reservation deposits and remote bookings
- Pre-authorization at check-in
- Final folio settlement
- Incidental charges during a stay
- Multiple payment points
Products that fit
Setup that tends to fit
A lodging setup should distinguish reservation payments, check-in authorizations and final folio charges. Make sure front desk and other payment points can reconcile to the same guest account where needed.
Not sure what you have now? Your statement shows it. Compare common systems on our POS system comparison.
What to check on your statement
We check these and every other line during a merchant statement analysis. New to statements? Read how to read a merchant statement.
- Card-not-present pricing can apply to remote reservations
- Deposit or settlement timing affects reconciliation
- Chargeback or retrieval fees matter for disputed stays
Send one hotel statement. We read every line and tell you what each fee is.
Send your statement for a free reviewHotels and motels: common questions
Can a hotel qualify for a merchant account?
Most do. The processor decides approval based on the business, the owner and processing history. We help find a fit, but we cannot promise approval.
What should I send for the free statement review?
Send one recent monthly statement, every page, as a PDF or clear photos. Upload it on our contact page.
Why authorize a card before the final bill?
An authorization can help confirm available funds before the guest checks out. The final charge is based on the completed folio and the setup in use.
Are reservation payments treated like front desk payments?
Remote reservation payments may be card-not-present, unlike a card presented at the desk. Their statement lines can differ.
Send one statement. We read every line, free.
Upload one recent statement from your hotel. A person reads every fee and explains it in plain English. Free, no obligation.