Sohar International has launched Visa Commercial Choice Travel (VCCT) to support business-to-business (B2B) supplier payments for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and travel agents in Oman.
The launch event was attended by executive leadership from Sohar International and Visa, along with senior representatives from leading travel agencies in Oman.
Visa Commercial Choice Travel has been developed to support travel intermediaries that manage high volumes of cross-border payments to airlines, hotels, and international suppliers.
The solution provides travel agencies with additional payment flexibility, enhanced controls and digital payment capabilities aimed at improving operational efficiency.
Khalil Salim Al Hedaifi, Acting Chief Wholesale Banking Officer of Sohar International, said that, “As pioneers in the Sultanate’s banking sector, launching Visa Commercial Choice Travel reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class corporate innovation. By introducing this specialized corporate credit card to Oman, Sohar International provides OTAs and travel agents with the financial flexibility, robust controls, and global infrastructure needed to optimize operational costs and enhance profitability.”
Nasser Bdeir Visa – Oman General Manager
“Sohar International’s launch of the Visa Commercial Choice Travel Card Program demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the growth of Oman’s travel industry. As this sector continues to grow and connect globally, this unique program addresses common operational challenges facing travel agencies, such as payment delays to suppliers and financial control.”
The solution enables travel agencies to issue virtual card credentials that can be configured as single-use or multi-use cards depending on booking and payment requirements. This functionality is intended to simplify supplier payments while providing greater flexibility in managing travel-related transactions.
The platform also incorporates more than 45 customizable payment controls that allow businesses to define where, when, and how payments can be processed.
These controls are designed to strengthen transaction oversight, improve expenditure management, and support internal compliance requirements.
In addition, the solution facilitates faster digital payments to global suppliers, helping travel agencies reduce manual invoicing processes and improve cash flow management. By enabling more efficient payment processing, the platform supports day-to-day operational requirements across the travel ecosystem.
The new launch reflects the bank’s ongoing efforts to respond to the evolving payment requirements of corporate clients through a broad portfolio of payment and card-based solutions. These include Corporate Purchasing Cards, Virtual Cards and Preloaded Cards, designed to support different business needs across sectors.
The bank has also integrated key card management and control functions into its Corporate Internet Banking platform. Through these capabilities, corporate clients can monitor transactions, manage spending controls, and gain greater visibility over organizational expenditures, contributing to improved transparency and operational efficiency.
