ABTA Partner Event | ABSA COMMERCIAL TRAVEL PAYMENTS SUMMIT | Johannesburg, South Africa | 3 September 2026
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ABOUT THIS EVENT
ABSA COMMERCIAL TRAVEL PAYMENTS SUMMIT
From Friction to Flow: Building a smarter travel payments ecosystem
*BY INVITATION ONLY*
Join leading Corporate Travel stakeholders, Travel Buyers, TMC’s, financial institutions and supplier partners for a focused half-day session,
exploring the future of travel payments.
As payment technology evolves, organisations are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, reduce traveller and supplier friction,
and unlock greater visibility across the travel ecosystem.
This session brings together industry experts to examine the challenges that remain — and the practical solutions already making a difference.
| PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS BY INVITATION ONLY |
Thursday 3 September 2026
08.30 – 14.00
The Leonardo Hotel
Sandton, Johannesburg
EVENT OVERVIEW
The corporate travel payments landscape is evolving rapidly. From virtual cards and lodge accounts to automation, reconciliation and supplier acceptance, organisations have more payment options available than ever before. Yet many Travel Buyers, TMC’s and Suppliers continue to face operational challenges that create friction, increase costs and impact the traveller experience.
Over the past year, Absa and ABTA have worked closely with Travel Buyers, TMC’s, Hotels and Industry associations to better understand these challenges – and, more importantly, how they can be improved.
This year’s summit will move beyond identifying problems to exploring practical solutions. Join us as we examine emerging payment trends, share research findings, showcase industry best practices and discuss how greater collaboration between buyers, suppliers, banks and travel partners can help create a more efficient, secure and seamless payment ecosystem.
Whether your focus is traveller experience, supplier relationships, reconciliation, policy compliance, fraud prevention or payment automation, this event will provide valuable insights into the future of managed travel payments.
Topics & Sessions include:
- Updates on Guesthouse acceptance and Hotel payment hurdles
- Feedback: TMC Lodge cards and the IATA registration process
- The role of payments to support the evolving roles of Buyers and TMC’s
- Virtual payment evolution: Growth, challenges, acceptance and newest developments
- How AI is fast-tracking the digital evolution of payments
- Holistic Payment acceptance in Africa – will we ever get there?
- Data-driven decision making and payment intelligence
- CFO Discussion: Top Payment challenges keeping finance professionals awake at night
HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Attendance to this event is by invitation only, and is complimentary.
SUMMIT AGENDA
Draft Agenda
Check back in mid August for Agenda updates
| 08.15 – 09.00 | Welcome Desk Opens Delegate arrival and networking Tea, Coffee & Pastries served |
| 09.00 – 09.15 | Opening and Welcome |
| 09.15 – 10.00 | Panel Discussion |
| 10.00 – 10.45 | Interactive Discussion and Q&A |
| 10.45 – 11.15 | Tea Break |
| 11.15 – 12.15 | Round Table Session |
| 12.15 – 13.15 | Interactive Discussion and Q&A |
| 13.15 – 13.30 | Close and Thanks |
| 13.30 – 14.15 | Networking Lunch |
HOW TO BOOK YOUR SEAT
Enter the number of seats you would like to book in the white box at the top of the page and click ‘Next step’ to begin the booking process.
Complete your contact details, delegate details and payment information if required.
Once you have completed the booking process an automated email will be sent to confirm your booking.
Closer to the event, a personalised email with venue details and event reminders will be sent to the email address you provided. Please ensure you keep a look out for this mail, including in your spam folders.
Any trouble? Email carol-ann@abta.co.za
BECOME AN ABTA MEMBER
ABTA runs a Hosted Buyer membership program. This means that ALL Travel Buyers (those responsible for booking, managing or buying staff travel for their organisations) get to sign up at no charge.
In addition, they get to attend webinars and in-person events at no charge too. (Excluding ABTA’s Annual Conference).
Sound good? CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up easily on-line, clicking ‘Apply Now’ on the ‘Buyers Only’ membership category.
Event Details
Date: 3 September 2026
Start time: 08:30 SAST
End time: 14:00 SAST
Directions: The Leonardo Hotel, Sandton