If you’ve ever been the point person when a traveler calls from a hotel saying, “They don’t see my virtual card,” you know the ripple effect it creates. Delayed check-in. Traveler frustration. Extra calls to the hotel. And, eventually, reconciliation issues landing back on your desk.
Now imagine knowing before a booking which hotels reliably process virtual cards – and which ones are likely to create avoidable work for you and your team.
That visibility is now a reality. BCD Travel, in partnership with global payment leader Conferma, has launched the industry’s first Virtual Card Acceptance (VCA) Rating. This new capability helps travel arrangers and program stakeholders make smarter decisions, reduce friction and gain confidence that hotel payments will work as intended.
With corporate virtual card adoption expected to triple by 2030 (Vantage Market Research), the timing couldn’t be better.
What the VCA Rating does
The VCA Rating scores hotels from one to ten, based on their real-world track record of processing virtual cards. The score reflects actual transaction data from Conferma Connect, giving you a reliable, single source of truth for payment performance across currencies, banks and chains.
Integrated directly into BCD’s platforms, the VCA Rating allows:
- Travelers and agents to filter search results by virtual card acceptance for a frictionless experience.
- Travel buyers to benchmark suppliers and make data-driven negotiation decisions aligned with program goals.
This means fewer surprises at the front desk for travelers and fewer after-the-fact issues for your team to troubleshoot.
Why it matters for travel programs right now
Virtual cards offer stronger security, automated reconciliation and better control, but only if hotels handle them correctly. Historically, arrangers haven’t had visibility into which properties consistently process virtual cards. The VCA Rating removes that blind spot by making payment acceptance measurable and comparable.
Hotels participating in Conferma Connect receive a score based on live payload data. Properties using API integrations via Conferma Connect Direct generally score highest due to their higher level of automation and accuracy.
Turning insight into program value
The VCA Rating helps travel teams streamline operations and strengthen their program through:
- Fewer traveler disruptions, thanks to more reliable hotel payment acceptance
- Reduced administrative burden, with fewer exceptions to chase and faster reconciliation
- Stronger supplier strategy, driven by objective performance data rather than anecdotal feedback
“True transformation requires more than technology – it requires transparency, trust, and collaboration across the payments ecosystem,” said Neil Fyfe, Head of Payment Solutions at BCD. “Our VCA Rating is a pivotal step, giving customers actionable insight to streamline operations and build traveler confidence.”
“Our partnership with BCD reflects a shared commitment to modernizing business travel,” added Stuart Davenport, Chief Product Officer at Conferma. “By making virtual card acceptance transparent, we’re moving the industry toward an intelligent, interoperable ecosystem – one that benefits buyers, travelers, and suppliers alike.”
Conferma’s VCA rating is available now for BCD customers
The VCA Rating is available globally for BCD customers currently using virtual cards.
