Viva Leisure launches Transactional Payment Gateway division

October 26, 2021

Nigel Benton

ASX-listed Viva Leisure Limited has advised that it is set to launch its Viva Pay service to provide an alternative option to businesses which operate credit card and direct debit processing services on behalf of third parties.

In an announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange today, the Canberra-based company explained that Viva Pay Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viva Leisure, would operate not only for fitness clubs but also in other industries.

Viva Pay has achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Level 1 Service Provider certification under PCI DSS v3.2.1, which is the highest, and most stringent, of the PCI DSS levels. Level 1 Service Provider certification will enable Viva Pay to process significant volumes of transactions on behalf of Viva Leisure corporate owned locations and third parties who wish to use the Viva Pay system.

Using its significant IT resources, Viva Leisure believes that its Viva Pay service can benefit other health club owners achieve a high level of collections through automation and Artificial Intelligence collection methods all based on the experience that Viva Leisure has amassed over the years as a merchant itself.

Viva Pay will look to integrate into as many third party products (such as club and facility management software) as possible over the next twelve months to make the transition to the service as streamlined as possible for users of those products.

Viva Pay and Plus Fitness
It is expected the Viva Pay service will develop to integrate with the Plus Fitness franchise network which currently processes approximately $100 million in sales a year. The service is expected to provide cost savings to our franchisees once fully implemented, and at the same time improve the level of integration and collections.

Due to an existing payment processing contract in place, the full transition of the Plus Fitness direct debit systems is not likely to occur for a further six to 12 months, after the expiry of that contract.

First Clients
The first clients expected to subscribe to the Viva Pay service are Viva Leisure’s hundreds of contracted personal trainers. Viva Pay will build a custom interface for our trainers in order that they can have greater flexibility in debiting their clients, and benefit from reduced fees and improved settlement terms.

The Viva Pay service will be available to any merchant who wishes to subscribe to the service as their payment gateway and processor.

Once fully operational, the Viva Pay service is expected to process total transaction value (TTV) of approximately $200 million from the Viva Leisure corporate network and Plus Fitness networks, increasing as additional clients are onboarded to the service.

Security and Confidentiality of Information
Under the PCI DSS guidelines and protocols which Viva Pay follows, information on individual clients of third parties is not shared or accessible within Viva Leisure. All Viva Pay information technology systems operate on a stand-alone basis separate to the Viva Leisure network of servers and systems.

Commercialising Viva Leisure’s bespoke management IT systems
Viva Pay is the first step in commercialising the bespoke management systems developed in-house by Viva Leisure into other complimentary industries. In the same way that Viva Leisure has built a fitness ecosystem where members can turn on and off various membership options and brands, Viva Leisure will look to take advantage of its bespoke and unique technology offerings.

Advising of the development, Viva Leisure Chief Executive and Managing Director, Harry Konstantinou stated “Viva Pay is an exciting opportunity for Viva Leisure to introduce the technology and systems Viva Leisure has developed over the years and make these available for smaller third party operators. With inside knowledge on how a health club operates, Viva Pay is well positioned to understand client needs.

“As the systems are all developed in Australia, flexibility to accommodate specific client requirements into the debit and collection process is something Viva Pay has been designed to provide. I look forward to on-boarding our first clients over the next few months.

“Viva Pay is the first of many new initiatives Viva Leisure is looking to introduce, outside of the traditional health club recurring revenue model in which it operates as the business matures and strategically diversifies its income streams using the Intellectual Property it has developed over many years.”

Lower image: Viva Leisure Chief Executive and Managing Director Harry Konstantinou.

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.