Solving Global Payments in Travel with Airwallex with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager

Send us Fan Mail Money movement is the hidden engine powering travel and too often the root cause of stalled bookings, compressed margins, and delayed supplier payouts. In this episode, we sit down with Erich Ko, Senior GTM Partnerships Manager at Airwallex, to break down the full financial journey from traveler checkout to final supplier settlement and outline practical ways travel brands can replace slow wire transfers, hidden FX costs, and manual reconciliation with a unified, programmable global platform. We unpack the real challenges tour operators face when pricing trips months in advance while paying suppliers in appreciating currencies. Erich explains how local payment rails, multi currency wallets, and like for like settlement reduce spreads and eliminate unnecessary fees at every stage. We also explore transparent FX with real time fee visibility, automated rules that lock in conversions at target rates, and programmatic execution that removes human delay from critical transactions. The conversation explores how virtual card issuing increases control and speed for supplier payments, why embedded payment acceptance boosts conversion through wallets like Apple Pay and Alipay, and how flexible options like deposits and BNPL better align with traveler cash flow in today’s higher rate environment. Canada stands out as a proving ground for globally ambitious travel brands that have outgrown domestic first banking tools. With local licensing, on the ground teams, and purpose built products, Airwallex enables seamless movement of funds across US, Europe, and Asia corridors with same day reliability and end to end visibility. Looking ahead, speed and reliability are no longer differentiators. They are expectations. The competitive advantage lies in programmability through APIs, wallets, and flexible payout infrastructure that can adapt to AI agents, emerging distribution channels, and increasingly dynamic travel products. The practical playbook is clear. Map your entire funds flow. Quantify the true cost including headcount and delays. Consolidate onto a single multi currency platform. Design your payments stack to be AI ready from day one. Learn more at airwallex.com. The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/