RMS has announced a new integration with global bank payment provider GoCardless, aimed at helping hospitality operators reduce payment processing costs and manage growing margin pressures.
The integration comes as card processing fees, typically ranging from 1.5% to 3%, continue to represent a significant expense for hospitality businesses.
For a mid-sized hotel processing $500,000 in annual card transactions, these fees can total between $7,500 and $15,000 per year, a cost that is becoming more difficult to offset amid increasing “regulatory scrutiny” on surcharges across multiple markets.
Through the partnership, RMS will enable operators to accept direct bank payments, including direct debit and real-time payments, alongside traditional card options within a single platform.
The combined system is designed to provide greater flexibility in payment collection while improving reliability for transactions such as deposits, installment plans, and extended stays.
According to a press release, Adam Seskis, CEO of RMS, said the role of payments in hospitality operations is shifting.
“For a long time, payments have been treated as a back-office function in hospitality, but that’s changing quickly,” Seskis said.
“As costs rise and guest expectations evolve, the way businesses collect payments is becoming a strategic decision. This integration gives hospitality teams more control, helping them lower costs and create a more reliable, scalable approach to revenue collection,” Seskis added.
The move reflects a broader shift in payment preferences within the sector, as operators evaluate alternatives to card-based systems. Ian Boyd, general manager for Australia and New Zealand at GoCardless, said many existing payment methods are not aligned with operational needs.
“Too many hospitality businesses are still relying on payment methods that weren’t designed for how they actually operate,” Boyd said.
“Cards work well for one-off transactions, but they’re not always the best fit for deposits, instalments, or longer stays. We’re seeing a clear shift toward bank payments as operators look for more predictable, lower-cost ways to get paid,” Boyd added.
Featured image by RMS