SIX Payment Services (SIX) has enabled cashless payment at the most famous ski race in the world, the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel. Between the 19^th – 22^nd January 2017, SIX provided complete cashless payment services to the Mastercard Fastlane, official partner of the Hahnenkamm races, as well as the fan catering area in the Kitzbüheler Innenstadt.

Over 80 mobile payment terminals were stationed in the area to allow guests to book tickets and purchase food and drinks using cashless payment. SIX’ mobile payment solution, “mCashier”, was also used in the catering sector, where smartphones and tablets could be used to make purchases at any selling point.

SIX provided the entire payment infrastructure as well as a dedicated operations team who were on site over the weekend in order to ensure smooth operation of the systems. Providing cashless payment solutions for events of this scale is one of the core competencies of SIX in Austria.

Pay cashless and save time

Troublesome cash handling was avoided, and queues were minimised. Convenient card payments –enabling payment for purchases under 25 Euros without a PIN or signature – allowed visitors to focus on the main event, the Hahnenkamm race. Race-goers were able to make quick, secure payments in the following sections:

• In the Cashless Area in the city centre of Kitzbühel
• For all ticket sales in the entrance areas
• On selected stands at the finishing post

No time consuming cash handling

Because of SIX’ cashless payments services, caterers did not have to worry about providing change, and the risk of theft was eliminated. Visitors benefited from uncomplicated payment processing and final billing at the push of a button.

Thomas Grabner, Managing Director of SIX Payment Services in Austria, said: “The Hahnenkamm race presented an ideal opportunity to provide efficient cashless solutions and demonstrated clearly just how transformative they can be.

“At an event with such a large number of visitors, a tightly packed programme and frosty temperatures, reliable payment is not easily achieved. However, SIX Payment Services successfully supported the organizers and caterers, providing them with fast, secure and seamless payment processing. 

“Events without cash will be increasingly common in the future, and we are delighted to have been able to provide the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, the annual highlight of the Ski World Cup, with our mobile payment solutions.”

Faster with the Mastercard Fastlane

In addition to the cashless services in the city centre and at selected stands, in the exclusive Mastercard Fastlane, card holders had access to a complete end-to-end streamlined process. Here, visitors who purchased tickets using a Mastercard or Maestro debit card received fast-track access to the spectator area.  Visitors to the Mastercard Area also gained a further bonus: cardholders were spared paying a 1 Euro deposit for their cups, and even received a 1 Euro refund once they were safely returned.