At a Glance • Key Takeaways
- Automated Efficiency: Streamline online bookings, live availability scheduling, and customer communication without manual intervention.
- Live Capacity & Conflict Prevention: Prevent double-booking across staff, rooms, activity sessions, or rental fleet assets in real time.
- 0% Platform Booking Fees: SmartBookings does not charge transaction fees or take percentage cuts of your ticket sales or customer payments.
1. Overview & Global Payments for Leisure Enterprises
Global Payments (including the Realex platform) is a Fortune 500 acquirer powering large leisure trusts, resorts, and municipal sports attractions that require high transaction throughput and enterprise treasury management.
Transparent Pricing: Processor Fees Are Their Own • 0% SmartBookings Fees
Payment Processing Fees: All merchant acquiring rates, interchange fees, and per-transaction processing charges are billed directly by your payment processor under your direct merchant contract.
SmartBookings adds 0% transaction fees! We never clip your ticket sales, charge percentage markups, or take cuts of your customer payments. 100% of your booking revenue settles directly into your own merchant bank account.
2. How to Open a Global Payments Merchant Account
1 Contact Global Payments UK/International business sales or visit globalpayments.com.
2 Complete merchant underwriting for scheduled online leisure bookings.
3 Once onboarded, you receive access to the Global Payments Developer Portal.
3. Retrieving Your App ID and Secret
1 Log into your Global Payments Developer Portal.
2 Under your active merchant account, view your API applications.
3 Copy your App ID and Secret Key.
4. Entering Credentials in SmartBookings
1 In SmartBookings, navigate to Settings > System Settings (Settings.aspx).
2 Expand Payment Gateways.
3 Tick Enable Global Payments.
4 Enter your Global Payments App ID and Global Payments Secret.
5 Click the green Update button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials are required to connect Global Payments (formerly Realex) to SmartBookings?
You require your Global Payments Merchant ID, Sub-Account Name, and your Shared Secret key generated in the RealControl administrative portal.
How do I retrieve my Sub-Account ID and Shared Secret from the RealControl portal?
Log into the RealControl portal at realcontrol.realexpayments.com, navigate to Account Settings > API Settings to copy your Sub-Account and reveal your Shared Secret.
Can I link my corporate acquiring contract with HSBC or Barclays through Global Payments?
Yes. Global Payments serves as an enterprise gateway processing transactions through major merchant acquirers including HSBC Merchant Services, Barclays, and AIBMS.
Does SmartBookings charge any transaction cuts on Global Payments processing?
No. SmartBookings adds 0% platform transaction fees. All funds settle directly under your agreed commercial rates with Global Payments.
How does Global Payments 3D-Secure 2.0 fraud scoring minimize leisure chargebacks?
Transactions pass through automated 3D-Secure 2.0 risk screening and bank biometric checks, shifting liability for fraudulent chargebacks away from your venue.
Can front-desk staff take telephone payments using Global Payments virtual terminal?
Yes. Staff can record telephone orders via Book via Admin and process card details through Global Payments Virtual Terminal.
How do rolling settlement transfers work for Global Payments merchants?
Funds settle directly into your commercial business bank account on your agreed acquiring schedule, typically on a rolling 2-day basis.
Why is SmartBookings the best booking system to use with Global Payments?
SmartBookings is the premier booking system for Global Payments for four decisive reasons: 1) 0% Platform Transaction Fees -- unlike legacy ticketing software that takes an extra 2% to 6% cut of your turnover, SmartBookings adds zero transaction fees, ensuring 100% of your ticket and booking sales settle directly into your merchant account; 2) Native Direct API Integration -- seamless connectivity with automated real-time webhooks, 1-touch Apple Pay & Google Pay, and full 3D-Secure 2.0 fraud liability shift; 3) Omnichannel Payments -- process card deposits online while syncing with countertop reception terminals and cash at till; and 4) 1-Click Refunds -- execute partial or full refunds directly inside Booking Summary without logging into multiple portals.
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