Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort is reportedly set to become the world’s first hotel to offer customers services through Bitcoin payments. Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, will be the first hotel in the Kingdom to adopt digital asset payments. The luxurious four-star hotel is of the opinion that payment flexibility is something that the guests would appreciate. The Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort will run payment systems through Binance App.

According to a published report, it was announced that the Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort has partnered with Eazy Financial Services to allow payment in cryptocurrency. As part of the arrangement, the hotel will be provided with specially designed terminals to help enhance business operations and offer its customers an improved experience. Moreover, Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort will have state-of-the-art terminals at its outlets to accept multiple payment methods. This includes standard debit and credit cards from Visa and MasterCard and the latest form of payment using crypto assets through the Binance App.

Entering the crypto sphere

The Central Bank of Bahrain is the one that regulates payments and has approved the move, making Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort the first Hotel in Bahrain and the district to accept premium payments in crypto assets in a secure, regulated, and swift manner. The General Manager of Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort said, “Keeping up with the development of technologies and our constant desire to provide our valued guests with the highest levels of service, we are thrilled to announce that we are the first hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region to use the latest digital payment technologies in partnership with Eazy Financial Services.”

Founder and CEO of Eazy Financial Services Nayef Tawfiq Al Alawi said, “We are very proud today to become the partners of Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort by providing a competitive and innovative payment service, which makes EazyPay the preferred and trusted point of sale and online payment gateway service provider in Bahrain.” Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort offers its guests a private sandy swimming pool, gym center, gym beach, and many more facilities. Insiders at Bitcoineer (https://www.coininsider.com/de/bitcoineer/) mentioned that Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort is amongst the ten best hotels in 2023.

Other hotels in the world of crypto

Manama’s pearl isn’t the only one in the Arab district that embraced digital assets. Some hotels on the Arabian Peninsula that adopted virtual assets during the past several months include W Dubai – The Palm, a five-star hotel. Marriott International owns the Palm hotel with 349 guest rooms. In November 2022, the hotel allowed its guests to pay for accommodation and settle their bills in Shiba Inu (SHIB).

On September 18 2022, Palazzo Versace Dubai announced that it has started accepting cryptocurrencies as payment for dining, staying, and spa services. Guests can pay for accommodation bills and settle their accounts using Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and BNB through the Binance payment gateway. Head of Business Development for Binance in the MENA region, Nadeem Ladki, said, “Palazzo Versace’s ability to now accept payments in virtual assets is a reflection of how the hospitality industry in Dubai is at the forefront of innovation as we move into a more digital world. Payments are just the beginning, and we look forward to building on this partnership together.”

On July 7, 2021, Pavilions Hotels & Resorts announced its partnership with Coindirect, a cryptocurrency trading platform, to provide its consumers with the option of digital asset payments. The hotel group guest could choose from more than 40 different digital currencies to book their accommodation, with BTC and ETH being two.

Co-founder and CEO of Coindirect Jesse Hemson-Struthers said, “We pride ourselves on providing partners with a platform for instant secure payments with over 40 cryptocurrencies. Guests can pay in the cryptocurrency of their choice, based on the currency and location they are situated in at the time of booking, offering more freedom and a contemporary, personalized service.” The hotel group stretches to several areas across the planet, with Phuket, Thailand, Palawan Islands, the Philippines, Bali, the Himalayas, Mongolia, Niseko, Rome, and Amsterdam being some of them.

The luxurious five-star Chedi Andermatt hotel also caught on the crypto wave on August 29, 2021. The Chedi Andermatt became the first Swiss hotel to accept virtual assets as a payment method and added the two most considerable digital assets by market capitalization, BTC and ETH. Guests can employ them as a payment method if their accommodation bill exceeds 200 CHF ($218). General Manager of Chedi Andermatt, Jean-Yves Blatt, said, “Due to the popularity of cryptocurrencies, we are proud to be the first Swiss hotel to accept cryptocurrency payments as a safe and secure way to pay for their stay.”

Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort accepting cryptocurrencies as means of payment shows that the crypto sphere does have its advantages, and several hotels that have embraced crypto over the past served as a guide map.

Byline: Hannah Parker

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