Universal PayCard Enables Employers To Provide Optional Payday Benefit

A California company, with the support of Hospitality Solutions LLC, has devised a way for employers to alleviate banking hassles for employees with virtually no risk. By replacing traditional paychecks with the Universal PayCard, workers are able to eliminate unnecessary banking hassles and incurred costs each time they are paid.

"It is often the case that as many as 50 percent of a hotel's employees do not have a relationship with a bank," said Mike Fitzpatrick, President of Big Springs Consulting and the Hospitality Market Director for Aztec ATM, reseller of the Universal PayCard. "The Universal PayCard is a prepaid, stored-value ATM/Debit Cash Card insured by the FDIC issued to employees-and owned by employees. Once the card has funds loaded onto it, employees can use it as a convenient way to access funds, make purchases or transfer funds to other cards."

Steve Belmonte, President and CEO of Hospitality Solutions LLC, said the Universal PayCard is perfect for the hotel industry where margin slippage is an ongoing concern of hotel operators. Belmonte said he believes so strongly in the immense value the card has for the hotel industry that he has entered into a marketing partnership with Fitzpatrick for UPC. The two industry veterans met while working for Schiller Park, Ill.-based P&S Management Co., and have remained long-time friends and colleagues.

"Hotel owners and operators are constantly seeking ways to improve relationships with their workers and increase the benefits those workers have in working in the hotel industry," Belmonte said. "We cut them a check on pay day, but we are not keenly aware of what our employees may have to go through to access the funds they have earned."

Belmonte said the UPC provides a valuable benefit to employees and employers alike. He explained that those employees who do not have a banking relationship typically must pay to have their payroll check cashed, and then must also incur the cost of buying money orders to pay their bills. The Universal PayCard eliminates those expenses for employees.

For employers, he said, the expense of printing and mailing checks to multiple properties is eliminated.

"The UPC works like any traditional ATM card and allows the cardholder to withdraw money at millions of ATMs and point-of-sale terminals worldwide," Belmonte said.

BVI Jumps On The Bandwagon
Roger Bloss, president of Best Value Inns, said he was impressed with the cards' possibilities and is now testing its use at select properties in Nevada, Texas and Louisiana. If the trial is successful, Bloss said BVI will consider a system-wide roll out.

"As an industry, we are constantly concerned with retaining employees in order to cut down on the huge expense of training," Bloss said. "The key to retaining those employees is letting them know how important they are to your hotel, and finding ways to provide them with benefits that are meeting their individual needs. The Universal PayCard is just such a benefit."

Art Loterstein, director of operations for Best Value, said the card has been enthusiastically accepted at the trial properties.

"This is a fantastic option for our employees and they are very pleased with the convenience it provides for them," Loterstein said. "They recognize that having their payday funds available to them at no more than minimal ATM costs is very important."

The Universal PayCard may optionally be a VISA-branded card or a non-branded card. With the added VISA logo, cardholders can make web purchases, rent cars and reserve hotel rooms while enjoying virtually worldwide retail acceptance.

Belmonte said the Universal ATM Network is an innovative and versatile card-based product. The issuer provides card-management functions and real-time banking functions for hotel owners that are unlike any that other banks can deliver.

"It is also the employer's co-branded corporate ATM Card and can be issued and funded real time for funds issuance, purchase, payroll, and can even replace the corporate credit card," Belmonte said. "The Universal PayCard is a versatile card with many additional features that can be customized to the specific needs of hotel owners and operators to provide benefits to both their companies, their clients and their employees."

Fitzpatrick said the Universal PayCard also provides phone card capabilities, as well as offer discounts on prescription drugs, dental and vision services.

About Universal PayCard
In alliance with CalNet Business Bank, Sacramento, Calif., Universal PayCard is a product of Universal ATM Network. Aztec ATM is a member of the Universal ATM Network and a reseller of the Universal PayCard. Mike Fitzpatrick, an independent Hospitality Market Director for Aztec ATM, is a 16-year hospitality industry veteran, maintaining a degree in Hotel Management. In addition to remarketing the UPC for hospitality, Fitzpatrick provides hospitality management consulting under Big Springs Consulting. For more information on bringing UPC to your hospitality outlet, visit www.universalpaycard.com or call Mike Fitzpatrick at (530) 550-1880 or Steve Belmonte, Hospitality Solutions LLC, at (973) 598-0839.

About Hospitality Solutions LLC
Hospitality Solutions LLC, Randolph, N.J., provides franchise agreement formulations and termination negotiation/liquidated damage claims assistance, consulting, mediation, litigation support and expert witness services to the hospitality and service industries. Company President and CEO Steven Belmonte, former President and CEO of Ramada Hotels, serves on the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc. and serves as a partner with Belmonte/Lasky Asset Management Inc. For more information, call (973) 598-0839, email stevenbelmonte@aol.com or visit www.stevenbelmonte.com.

Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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