iTesso Enhances Data Security With Merchant Link Interface

The revolutionary iTesso Enterprise Lodging System partners with Merchant Link for enhanced data security through point-to-point encryption and tokenization.

iTesso, the global innovator in Cloud-native hospitality technology, announces a new interface between the iTesso Enterprise Lodging System and Merchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions. By teaming with Merchant Link, the iTesso solution is now equipped to be used in an environment that complies with the requirements of Payment Card Industry standards.

With the new interface, Merchant Link's secure Payment Gateway, TransactionVault and TransactionShield products deliver robust point-to-point encryption and strong tokenization. By deploying encrypting devices on premise, credit card information is first sent to Merchant link for tokenization. The token is then sent to iTesso, where it is saved on the reservation. This way, hotels using the iTesso Enterprise Lodging System never see sensitive credit card data in their user interface or database.

"Merchant Link is an ideal payment data security partner for the iTesso solution because the company's experience with cloud-based transactions was an excellent match for our needs," says Erik Weller, paradigm executive for iTesso. “We aim to provide our customers with the best yet simplest solutions, and the Merchant Link offerings fit that strategy.”

“Merchant Link's TransactionVault works at the point of sale, so the POS and PMS never see or store sensitive credit card information,” said Laura Meck, executive vice president for sales and marketing for Merchant Link. “The solution integrates easily with iTesso's cloud-native Enterprise Lodging System and is competitively priced, making it a win-win for iTesso's customers.”

The iTesso Enterprise Lodging System (ELS) is uniquely suitable for hotel groups and branded chains looking for technology to power their brand. Built from the ground up to take full advantage of what the cloud has to offer, iTesso ELS provides High Availability High Performance (HA HP) and virtually unlimited scalability to the hospitality industry.

Although it offers PMS and CRS functionality, iTesso ELS goes beyond the conventional hotel management software with

•  guest and staff facing mobile applications
•  native channel management
•  a proactive helpdesk
•  fast browser-based software supporting BYOD
•  all-inclusive pricing in a SaaS model
•  eLearning modules accessible to all users from anywhere
•  intuitive and user-friendly software
•  a revolutionary open design

About iTesso
iTesso (formerly known as Hotel Concepts-Brilliant) is a leading global provider of advanced software solutions to the global hospitality industry. The company’s premier product is the iTesso Enterprise Lodging System, the world’s first true Cloud-native Property Management (PMS) and Central Reservation System (CRS), operating on the Microsoft Windows Azure platform. This revolutionary new concept in hospitality software helps hotels to improve operational efficiency and significantly reduce the total cost of IT system ownership. Founded in 1994 and based in The Netherlands, iTesso maintains four main offices on three continents in order to provide local support to their hotel clients around the world. For more information, visit www.itesso.com.

About Merchant Link
Merchant Link is a leading provider of cloud-based payment gateway and data security solutions. Removing the risk and hassle of payments for more than 300,000 hotel, restaurant and retail locations, Merchant Link delivers secure payment solutions that are flexible and meet merchants’ changing needs. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, Merchant Link enables more than 4 billion transactions annually for some of the world's best-known merchants, providing connectivity to the major U.S. payment card processors. For more information, visit www.merchantlink.com.