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As many merchants, especially those in hospitality, are challenged by slumping consumer demand amid the Covid-19 outbreak, payments companies are developing new resources and designating millions in aid.
Restaurants, in particular, are experiencing steep drops in demand as consumers abide by shelter-at-home directives. They’re closing their dine-in spaces and, if possible, offering takeout and delivery. Impact PaySystem LLC, a Cordova, Tenn.-based independent sales organization, is among payments providers taking action to help them.
It launched an online ordering service for restaurants at www.Bites.Menu. There is no cost for merchants to enroll on the site. They can post their menus and customers can order online. A phone app notifies employees of orders.
“This new site will allow restaurants to continue operation and accept orders online, eliminating the need for additional phone lines and possibly reallocating servers to deliver or help in the kitchen,” Dee Karawadra, Impact PaySystem’s chief executive, says in a statement. “We need to help support our businesses, especially in the rural areas, where they may not have the popular ordering/delivery platforms and the cost associated with that. We will continue to offer the no-cost service until things get back to the new normal.”
Hotels, too, are hard hit. But Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., and its franchise operators, and American Express Co. are putting the empty rooms to use with a program to donate up to 1 million room nights across the country at no charge to medical professionals. Access will be available through May and determined in conjunction with 10 medical-professionals associations.
Rooms will be available across multiple Hilton brands. The hotels will be staffed by specially trained employees cognizant of relevant health and safety measures, Hilton says.
On a broader level, Visa Inc.’s Visa Foundation will commit a total of $210 million through two programs aimed at Covid-19 relief. One of the programs pledges $200 million over five years to help small and micro businesses globally.
The other program, allocated at $10 million, will provide immediate relief to support charitable organizations responding to the pandemic in each of the five regions where Visa operates across the globe.
