Image Technology Systems and Merchant Link Join Forces

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Image Technology Systems (Visual Matrix), a provider of scalable property management software solutions to the hospitality industry, has partnered with Merchant Link, the leading provider of cloud-based payment gateway and data security solutions, to help minimize security risk across their customers' properties and ease PCI compliance.

The integration of Merchant Link's leading tokenization solution, TransactionVault™, along with the Merchant Link Payment Gateway™, into the Image Technology Systems' Visual Matrix property management solution will benefit over 2,000 lodging customers including major brands such as Best Western. Currently, over 50 percent of Best Westerns use Visual Matrix in North America.

"Our hospitality customers have a desire to increase the security of sensitive customer data and a need to keep the process inexpensive and simple," said David Awad, President of Image Technology Systems. "Merchant Link's tokenization solution is competitively priced, easy to implement and significantly reduces the burden of attaining PCI compliance for the hotelier."

Merchant Link's TransactionVault solution, which was recently validated by a leading PCI QSA, is hosted in the cloud and utilizes format-preserving tokens that easily fit into existing reporting, receipts and databases. The tokens can be utilized by staff for problem resolution or research, chargebacks and incremental or recurring transactions. In addition, the tokens are also card-based, meaning a unique token is created per credit card (not per transaction) so they can be used for folio consolidation, customer tracking and analytics and marketing purposes.

"Hoteliers are struggling with ever-shifting PCI compliance guidelines, ever-evolving security threats, and the growing cost of insurance," said Dan Lane, President and CEO of Merchant Link. "By offering TransactionVault to their hotel customers, Image Technology Systems is helping hoteliers protect their customer data and simplify compliance, while providing the high-touch support hoteliers' need as the payments landscape grows more and more complex."

About Image Technology Systems

Image Technology Systems, the developer of the Visual Matrix property management system, has been serving the hospitality industry since 1986. In 2002, the company unveiled Visual Matrix PMS, a Windows-based property management system that provides an affordable solution that empowers hotels with the tools they need to efficiently manage day-to-day operations and forecast effectively. Visual Matrix offers a robust yield management system, connectivity to all major distribution channels, and commission-free online booking through a hotel's own Web page.

About Merchant Link

Merchant Link is a leading provider of cloud-based payment gateway and data security solutions, removing the risk and hassle from credit card acceptance for more than 150,000 hotel, restaurant and retailers. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., Merchant Link currently enables more than 3 billion transactions annually for some of the world's best-known merchants, providing connectivity to the major U.S. payment card processors. TransactionVault™, our tokenization solution, and TransactionShield™, our point-to-point encryption solution, mitigate the risk of a data compromise while lowering the cost and effort of PCI compliance. Further information is available at www.merchantlink.com. For our expert opinion on encryption, tokenization and PCI compliance, visit the Merchant Link blog at www.merchantlinksecuritycents.com.

Media Contact:
Shany Seawright, 240-485-1081
[email protected]

SOURCE Merchant Link