Specialist Holidays Group, owned by U.K.-based TUI Travel, said it has become the first tour operator to offer mobile payments to its customers via Barclays Pingit.

Pingit is operated by Barclays, one of the U.K.'s largest banks, and provides a mobile payments app that can be used by anyone with a U.K. mobile number and a U.K. bank account. Customers pre-register for Pingit and do not need to enter their details every time they make a payment.

SHG said the move signals the start of its journey with Barclays Pingit, as the group explores ways to offer innovative mobile payment solutions to customers. The group's brands include Sovereign Luxury Travel, Meon Villas, Hayes & Jarvis, Crystal Ski Holidays, Austravel, Citalia, American Holidays and Sunsail.

"We recognize that our customers want choice when it comes to their payment options, and Barclays Pingit provides a quick, easy and convenient way for them to pay for their holiday bookings," Colin Parselle SHG's finance director, said in a news release. "The ease and speed of the service makes it ideal for both our customers and us, particularly as funds are cleared immediately, which improves the overall booking experience for our customers."

"Consumer behavior when it comes to making payments is changing, as convenience and ease become top priorities," Mike Walters, Barclays' head of U.K. corporate payments, said in the release. "SHG is at the forefront in recognizing the importance of providing its customers with new and innovative mobile payment solutions that are both quick and secure to use."

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