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BirchStreet's New Survey Uncovers 2025 Hospitality Accounts Payable Trends and Challenges

BirchStreet's New Survey Report: Top Hospitality Accounts Payable Challenges for 2025

BirchStreet Systems, recognized for its innovative hospitality operations platform, recently published a pivotal survey report that sheds light on the pressing priorities and obstacles within the accounts payable (AP) landscape for the hospitality sector as we move into 2025. Developed in collaboration with Hotel Management magazine, this comprehensive study titled "Hotel AP in 2025" compiles feedback directly from key decision-makers in the hotel finance industry.

The findings reveal a sector at a significant crossroads, pressured by escalating operational costs, vulnerabilities to fraud, and mounting deadlines. In this environment, many hoteliers are reassessing their traditional financial systems and methods. The report points towards a strategic shift focused on solutions that enhance real-time data accuracy and minimize costs through automation, while also facilitating actionable insights that can drive both productivity and profitability.

Key Trends Identified

The survey illuminated several critical trends impacting the hospitality industry:

- Control and Oversight: A significant 64.5% of AP leaders expressed a preference for managing payments in-house, primarily to maintain control. However, many are slow to recognize that embedded payment solutions can enhance visibility and foster better vendor relationships.
- Cost Efficiency: Many hoteliers ranked capturing rebates and decreasing processing costs as high priorities for 2025, with an increasing number looking for solutions that provide measurable returns on investment (ROI).
- Need for Automation: Approximately 37.5% of respondents cited the absence of automation as a major hurdle in their current systems. This statistic underscores the urgency for sophisticated, digitized processes to support scalability and operational growth.
- Emphasizing Security: With 65% of business-to-business (B2B) fraud stemming from check payments, hotels are pivoting towards digital payment solutions to safeguard sensitive financial and guest information.

BirchStreet's General Manager of Payments, Phil Beck, emphasized the necessity for modernization in the hospitality industry's payment strategies. He stated, "The traditional methods of managing accounts payable are proving to be unsustainable in an era where efficiency, robust cost management, and security are paramount. Our report serves as a guide for hotels aiming to refine their payment processes and achieve the visibility required to enhance guest experiences while maximizing profitability."

The Future of Hospitality AP

The report further elaborates on how embedded payment systems are transforming financial operations in hospitality. By integrating seamlessly into the procurement-to-payment workflow, these solutions eliminate manual inefficiencies and offer hoteliers enhanced fiscal management through data-driven insights.

As the hospitality sector navigates these challenges, the focus on adopting tailored technological advancements becomes critical. BirchStreet Systems stands at the forefront, providing essential tools designed to bolster financial and operational performance across the industry.

For those interested in delving deeper, BirchStreet offers a downloadable copy of their latest survey report, which can be accessed here.

For further details on BirchStreet Systems and their comprehensive suite of procurement solutions, visit their website at www.birchstreetsystems.com.

About BirchStreet Systems

Founded in 2002, BirchStreet provides a fully integrated hospitality operations platform tailored for the unique needs of the industry. With its innovative procure-to-pay technology and extensive supplier network, BirchStreet is trusted by some of the world’s leading hotels, gaming organizations, and food service management companies to enhance operational efficiency and improve their financial outlook. Their solutions encompass a wide range of applications from eProcurement and accounts payable automation to inventory and recipe management.