Visa Expands Travel Role with Global Launch of Visa Destinations Platform
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, launched Visa Destinations, a travel platform that connects Visa cardholders with curated experiences and exclusive access in 10 major cities worldwide. The platform aims to transform the way travelers discover and enjoy destinations by focusing on their passions, such as food, fashion, sports, and culture.
Visa Destinations is available in Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, and Thailand, with plans to add more locations later this year. The mobile-first platform offers tastemaker recommendations, city guides, and curated experiences designed to help travelers find memorable moments beyond traditional geographic considerations.
Visa’s research reveals that many travelers now choose destinations based on specific interests. For example, in 2025, 40% of American travelers took trips to attend music, sports, or art festivals. To meet this shift, Visa is expanding its role beyond payment processing to become a travel companion that supports travelers throughout their journey.
Katya Petelina, Head of Global Cross-Border and Global Sales & Commercial Operations at Visa, said travel is expected to grow by 10% annually and remains a priority for consumers who sometimes cut back on daily spending to fund trips. She emphasized that Visa Destinations gives travelers access to unique experiences while helping Visa’s issuer and merchant partners benefit from travel’s economic growth.
Visa Destinations offers cardholders access to curated dining, entertainment, culture, hospitality, wellness, shopping, and transport options. Some exclusive benefits include priority access to iconic sites like New York’s Rockefeller Center and the Louvre in Paris. Premium cardholders with Visa Infinite and Visa Signature receive enhanced benefits and tailored experiences.
The platform also brings strong partnerships from across the financial and travel industries. Santander Group supports Visa Destinations by promoting it across key markets, while travel partners include Global Blue, Star Alliance, and Trip.com Group. These partners enhance the platform by offering increased purchasing power, seamless tax refund processes, expanded airline reach, and simplified journey planning.
Matías Sánchez, Global Head of Cards and Digital Solutions at Santander, explained that the partnership aims to provide customers with exclusive opportunities related to music, sports, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. Virginie Alem, Chief Marketing Officer at Global Blue, highlighted improvements to the shopping experience for international travelers. Renato Ramos, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Star Alliance, noted how the partnership adds value with unique travel experiences. Sun Bo, Chief Marketing Officer at Trip.com Group, praised the collaboration for combining secure payments with curated travel offerings.
Visa Destinations also reinforces Visa’s broader strategy to deepen digital commerce, streamline cross-border payments, and help travel businesses fully realize the value from global tourism.
Visa operates across more than 200 countries and territories, facilitating transactions among consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments. The company’s mission is to connect the world with reliable and secure payment networks that support economic growth everywhere.
For media inquiries, contact Erandi Valdez, Global Cross-Border Communications at evaldez@visa.com.
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