January 11. Earlier today, Booking.com, the Dutch world leading digital travel company and Crypto.com, the Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency and payments platform have unveiled a strategic partnership to offer exclusive discounts to users of Crypto.com’s app.
With this agreement, both companies will provide offers of up to 25% off on accommodation and up to 8% in return on expenses related to bookings paid with Crypto.com Visa Card.
Other benefits include free and unlimited LoungeKey™, airport lounge access, free ATM withdrawals worldwide, and no foreign transaction fees, according to the Crypto.com’s press release.
The alliance followed a skyrocketing rise in bitcoin prices in 2020 and its subsequent fall of 26% value over Sunday and Monday, what has some observers concerned according to international economic media.
Crypto.com is a fast-growing company that started operations in 2017. Initially, it would offer VISA-powered payment cards and since then, it has expanded its financial services to multiple areas.
The company claims to bring the crypto-world to the general public by making it unchallenging for anyone interested in trading, borrowing, earning and paying in crypto currency.
The partnership comes right after the worst financial year Booking Holdings has seen since its creation.
Last year, it reported losses for 699 million in Q1, 2.1 billion in Q2, a period in which the company felt the “full impact of COVID-19” according to its CEO Glenn Fogel, and a small recovery in Q3 driven by domestic travel.
As a result of this alliance, Crypto.com clients will benefit from Booking.com’s 400,000 discounted properties and 28M+ accommodation listings and seasonal promotions.
For its part, Booking.com expects to bounce back and thrive after the massive economic setback it has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there is hope. A recent survey sponsored by the same company found that 65% percent of travelers are willing to book trips again in 2021, while saving as much money as they can.