CWT Enables Clients To Maximize UATP Card Use

Carlson Wagonlit Travel today announced it is accepting centrally billed payment processor Universal Air Travel Plan as a form of payment in the United States, making the agency the second mega, following TQ3Navigant, to enable transaction fee processing through the payment provider. Today's announcement follows a pilot with an unnamed joint CWT/UATP client that began this spring.

UATP corporate account holders can process airfare payment regardless of travel management company, but UATP's agreement with CWT gives joint customers the ability to pay for and track agency transaction fees as well as access to reconciled data.

UATP, which traditionally has been used a form of payment for airfares, in late 2002 launched an agency pilot program with Ottawa-based Algonquin Travel, enabling TMCs to accept the centrally billed payment model for transaction fees. Following the pilot, UATP landed a handful of small and midsize agency merchants, then last year gained an acceptance agreement with mega agency TQ3Navigant.

"It is important that we are continually enabling corporations to maximize their travel budgets, while offering quality services for travelers," Carlson Wagonlit Travel vice president of Industry Relations Matt Beatty said in a statement. "By accepting UATP and the AirPlus Company Account, we will offer corporations a full range of service options, while delivering great customer service."