Jan 14, 2025

Tuesday 14 January 2025 15:04 CET | News Zilch has announced the launch of Zilch Travel, a service designed to make booking and paying for holidays more convenient and rewarding. The service, powered by lastminute.com, a European provider of Dynamic Holiday Packages, allows users to search, book, and pay for holidays, hotels, and flights directly through the Zilch app. Customers can earn up to 3% cashback on travel bookings or choose to spread the cost of their trips with interest-free payment plans over six weeks or three months. All transactions are fully transparent, with no hidden fees. A strategic expansion for Zilch Zilch’s entry into the travel sector builds on the success of its Pay over 3 Months product, which has driven significant growth for the platform. With the introduction of Zilch Travel, the company aims to further expand its share of wallets and meet customer demand for convenient, cost-effective travel solutions. This collaboration between Zilch and lastminute.com highlights the ongoing shift towards integrating fintech solutions with everyday expenses, offering consumers greater flexibility, and control over their finances. Meeting the growing demand for flexible travel solutions As travel spending continues to rise, becoming one of the largest household expenses, Zilch Travel addresses a growing need for smarter, flexible payment options. In 2024, travel spending hit an all-time high, driving a 140% year-on-year increase in the category for Zilch. Nearly half of families now plan their trips 5 to 12 weeks before departure , underscoring the demand for flexible financial solutions. Zilch Travel offers a simpler booking experience, allowing users to manage payments and earn rewards through a single platform. The partnership with lastminute.com combines its booking technology with Zilch’s payment solutions, making travel planning more accessible and rewarding. The future of fintech in travel The fintech sector is poised to transform the travel industry by offering innovative payment solutions and improving customer experiences. Consumers are seeking more transparent and adaptable financial solutions to fund their travel plans, with nearly 60% of millennials prioritising payment flexibility when booking trips. Platforms like Zilch are well-positioned to capitalise on this trend by integrating interest-free instalment plans and cashback rewards, catering to a cost-conscious yet experience-driven audience. As economic uncertainty continues to shape spending habits, the ability to spread travel costs while earning rewards could become a standard expectation among travellers. Personalisation and emerging technologies are set to play a pivotal role in the future of travel fintech. AI-driven tools, such as predictive analytics and dynamic pricing algorithms, are increasingly being adopted to refine these personalised experiences. Companies like Zilch could integrate AI to analyse user preferences and offer customised travel packages, improving both engagement and conversion rates. Additionally, leveraging AI to predict booking trends and adjust rewards dynamically could strengthen customer loyalty. As fintech continues to converge with travel technology, the industry is moving toward a simple, hyper-personalised ecosystem where payment flexibility and AI-powered recommendations drive the next phase of growth. Free Headlines in your E-mail Every day we send out a free e-mail with the most important headlines of the last 24 hours.