Korea-based credit card company creates travel booking portal

Lotte Card, a Korea-based credit card issuer, is the latest financial institution to create a travel booking portal for its cardholders.

The solution on the “Digi-LOCA” app will offer flights, accommodations and car rentals and be powered by Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS).

“The partnership between HTS and Lotte Card is perfectly suited to create a curated and highly personalized travel offering for their millions of cardholders,” HTS CEO Dakota Smith said. “HTS’ leading travel technology will enable Lotte Card to create synergies with its existing verticals and offerings.”

HTS is the B2B division of the global travel platform, Hopper. HTS now accounts for two-thirds of the Hopper business and reaches millions of travelers around the world. In February it partnered with AirAsia MOVE to offer a “cancel for any reason” ancillary to its travelers. Additional HTS partners include Air Canada, Trip.com, Amadeus, NuBank and Uber.

Established in 2002, Lotte Card is the leading credit card company in Korea, with 9.35 million members and around 3.13 million affiliated merchants.

“I’m very excited to have a partnership with HTS which has experience in providing global travel services and various fintech base ancillary,” said James Cho, CEO of Lotte Card. “Through solid collaboration, we’re going to create a digital platform that gives customers optimal travel experience and maximize the enjoyment of travel.”

In the last several years, there has been a flurry of activity from financial institutions including banks and credit card companies to add travel booking services for their customers.