Visa clinches accolade at HKB Greater Bay Area Enterprise Awards 2025

The global payments leader has been instrumental in advancing cross-border and cross-boundary commerce and travel for the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Visa Hong Kong took home the Payments category award at the HKB Greater Bay Area Enterprise Awards 2025. This recognition underscores the growing role of innovative payment solutions and cross-industry strategic partnerships in creating seamless payment experiences for businesses and consumers, driving connectivity and growth in the GBA region.

As the GBA continues to develop into a dynamic hub for cross-border and cross-boundary travel and commerce, this accolade underscores the region’s importance with VisaNet data highlighting that it boasts four of the top 15 largest cross-border travel corridors in the Asia-Pacific. With the surge in travel between Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, Hong Kong consumers also increasingly view tourism and hospitality as key drivers of GBA development, as revealed by Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes Study 4.0.

Recognising the region's strategic importance and immense growth potential, Visa has been driving tourism development and enhancing economic connectivity by collaborating with banks, merchants, and fintech partners, as part of a comprehensive strategy to create unique travel and retail experiences that cater to the evolving needs of modern travellers. This approach is anchored in three strategic pillars: enhancing consumer payment solutions, introducing unique door-to-door travel offers, and expanding payment acceptance to deliver globally consistent, seamless and secure payment experiences for travellers.

Through key partnerships, Visa is enhancing travel journeys by offering diverse experiences in rewards, retail, hospitality, entertainment and transit. For instance, Visa collaborated with multiple leading mainland China banks to introduce cashback rewards for southbound consumers, enhancing Hong Kong’s appeal as a shoppers’ paradise. Furthermore, a multi-year collaboration with New World Development and revamping of the K Dollar Program is driving merchant digital payment adoption and refining the consumer loyalty and rewards redemption process. Visa also worked with the MTR Corporation and enhanced payment acceptance across various transport types, ensuring seamless travel for residents and visitors.

Beyond commerce, Visa engaged key Asia-Pacific markets with interactive media events and local tours, demonstrating the power of partnership in uplifting smart mobility and tourism in Hong Kong. Furthermore, Visa is tapping into the rising trend of northbound travel by collaborating with Costco in Shenzhen to provide an exclusive card acceptance experience for Hong Kong consumers, thereby driving notable growth in transactions. In Macau, partnerships with leading integrated resort operators helped attract and retain mainland Chinese and Hong Kong travellers, solidifying the city’s status as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

Visa’s commitment extends to making a lasting social impact in the region. On its tenth anniversary, the Hong Kong Financial Literacy Championship, sponsored by Visa, engaged over 800 students across the GBA. The Championship invited industry veterans across various industries such as banking, finance, transit, and insurance, to mentor the shortlisted school teams, equipping the emerging talents with business planning and pitching skills whilst fostering cross-boundary collaboration and inspiring a smarter, more inclusive financial ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Visa aims to redefine both consumer and B2B payments in the GBA. This will involve collaborating with leading banks and merchants to create the best travel cards and experiences, as well as strengthening solutions for corporate payments and money movement to help GBA businesses streamline operations and optimise financial management. As the GBA becomes more interconnected, Visa continues to evolve as the “network of networks," supporting the region to thrive socially, culturally and economically.

The HKB Greater Bay Area Enterprise Awards is a prestigious event that recognises the exemplary endeavours of Hong Kong and Macau-based companies in the GBA.  The awards programme celebrates exceptional initiatives that promote collaboration, investment, and development within the region.

The HKB Greater Bay Area Enterprise Awards is presented by Hong Kong Business Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's initiatives in the Greater Bay Area that foster mutual cooperation, investment, and development, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].