GDS Providers

 

What is a GDS System?

GDS is a global reservation system that connects travelers with suppliers such as hotels, other lodging providers, and travel services.

A global distribution system (GDS) can be a valuable tool for hotels. It provides access to a large hotel inventory and advanced search and booking features. However, it is critical to choose the right GDS providers for your needs and ensure that you get the best price possible. 

GDSs are most commonly used in the tourism industry, particularly by airlines, hospitality companies, and car rental companies. It allows service providers such as travel agencies and online travel agencies to sell tickets for the same flight, hotel, or car rental. GDS systems enable users all over the globe to access travel systems and make reservations.

 

How GDS Providers Works in Travel?

GDSs function as middlemen, liaising between travel suppliers and OTAs, TMCs, DMCs, and travel agents to make comprehensive inventories available for booking.

Airlines, hotels, and car rental services make their inventories accessible to a GDS, which showcases the same to OTAs and other resellers. It is important to note that a GDS does not hold inventory; rather, it serves as a channel for locating travel products from multiple providers, making bookings, and updating the inventory listing once a booking is complete.

The GDS provides travel agents with information such as real-time rates and room availability. When a travel agent makes a reservation, the GDS sends this information to the hotel's booking system, ensuring that it is accurate. A GDS system's primary function is to aggregate and distribute real-time travel-related data to make it easier to book airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel-related services like tourism excursions and activities. 

Advanced technology powers seamless connectivity between providers and agencies, synchronizing individual providers' reservation systems with the shared GDS system and instantly reducing inventory across all channels once a travel booking is made. Real-time data transmission ensures that travel agencies have access to the most recent inventory, which includes availability, pricing, and promotional updates.

The GDS also helps hotels manage bookings and reservations. Hoteliers can use the GDS to track bookings, cancel reservations, and update guest information. It can help hoteliers stay on top of their business and ensure that every guest has a pleasant experience.
 
Hotels can avoid paying travel agent commissions if they use the GDS. It can result in significant savings, which can then be passed on to guests via lower room rates. Find GDS providers with XML API integration facilities listed below, which are ideal for online travel businesses that want to integrate GDS capabilities with other products.

 

Here are some popular GDS providers:

 

Amadeus

 

Amadeus is one of the biggest GDS providers. It provides various services, such as airline reservations, hotel bookings, car rentals, etc. Travel agents use it to search for and book travel services for their clients. It enables hoteliers to maintain their inventory in the GDS while also providing travel companies with booking access. 

Amadeus develops robust solutions to help airports, airlines, railways, hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators improve their travel experiences. It offers hotel distribution services and airline and other travel-related solutions, enabling hotels to connect with a global network of travel professionals and customers.

 

Features

 

• Completely synchronized real-time information on flights

• Seat and other facility confirmations instantly

• Frequent flier information- updated and secure

• Cost-effective solutions for all players in the travel industry

• Offers a comprehensive suite of travel solutions

• Global presence for widespread coverage

• Facilitates access to an extensive network of travel suppliers

 

Sabre

 

Sabre, a leading GDS provider, provides a travel marketplace for thousands of suppliers and buyers to plan, sell, and run their businesses. Multiple travel suppliers use this network, including 400 airlines, 200,000 hotels, 200 tour operators, 50 rail carriers, 40 car rental locations, and 17 cruise lines. Sabre is recognized as a pioneer in online travel agencies, corporate booking tools, revenue management, and web and mobile itinerary tools, to name a few.

Sabre has a loyal customer base that includes airlines, car rental companies, cruise lines, railways, tour operators, and hotels. They also have a large number of travel buyers, including TMCs (travel management companies), travel agencies, and corporate travel desks.

• Easily manages information

• Access to several distribution channels

• Real-time booking option

• Sabre GDS offers real-time access to travel content to travel businesses.

• Provide the best ROI

• offers a one-stop solution for all travel needs

• Helps travel businesses by delivering exclusive travel deals

• Access to an inventory of airlines, hotels, car rental booking software, and other OTAs worldwide

• Allow adding new features to a travel business website.

• Expand the market reach of a travel business at a global level.

 

Galileo GDS

 

Galileo GDS, developed by Travelport, is a sophisticated global distribution system for the travel industry that includes computer reservation software, a travel system, and web service XMLs. Galileo's airline booking system is linked to almost all major airlines. 

It provides travel booking solutions for travel agencies and suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. Galileo provides travel agencies with desktop solutions (search and book) and web services XML to connect to the core database. 

Galileo Travelport provides access to a vast amount of content and functionality via web service APIs and desktop connections. It is designed to work alongside your existing API solutions for an efficient and low-risk implementation. The Galileo GDS software system gives you access to low-cost carriers, high-speed rail providers, and multi-source content via a single API, which can help you avoid the clutter of multiple programming interfaces while saving time and money.

 

Worldspan Global Distribution System

 

Worldspan is a part of the Travelport GDS platform and a technology leader in web-based travel eCommerce, providing solutions for all aspects of the travel industry online. As a leading GDS provider, Worldspan offers travel distribution, technologies, and services to thousands of travel companies worldwide, including travel agencies, corporations, suppliers, and websites.

Worldspan revolutionizes global travel distribution and transaction processing by providing industry-first fares, pricing, shopping, and booking technologies, and a suite of interactive shopping tools that help travel companies cut costs, increase productivity, and grow revenues.

 

Abacus GDS Providers

 

Abacus was founded in 1988 and has since grown to be a leading provider of travel solutions and services in Asia Pacific. Abacus serves over 100,000 travel agents across the 59 markets of the Asia-Pacific region and has both global and uniquely local relationships with airlines and hotels, including the leading portfolio of low-cost content and Chinese airline content.

 

Apollo GDS 

 

Apollo is a GDS system that primarily serves travel agencies and professionals in North America. It offers tools for searching and booking travel services like flights, hotels, and car rentals.

 

Travelport GDS

 

Travelport enables travel agents to search for and book various travel services. Travelport ensures that agents have a wide range of options to meet their clients' diverse needs, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. Travelport expands its value proposition by providing powerful tools and solutions for airlines, hotels, and service providers. It facilitates the sale and distribution of their products, resulting in increased growth and profitability in the highly competitive travel and tourism industry. Travelport ensures that agents have access to a wide range of options to meet the diverse needs of their clients, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

 

How does GDS Systems help to grow the travel business? 

GDS stands for Global Distribution System. GDS is a computerized network that provides travel agencies and other distribution partners with real-time information on hotel rooms, rates, availability, and other travel-related services. 

It is a vital tool for the travel industry because it allows for the distribution and booking of hotel rooms and other travel products to a diverse range of customers, including travel agents, corporate travel departments, and online travel agencies (OTAs).

Global Distribution System is a sophisticated interface that integrates the various offerings of travel service providers. In addition, its tasks include: collecting data from travel providers and storing it in a database. It provides information like flight seats, hotel room availability, prices, and booking conditions.

Booking management includes changing flights, canceling reservations, adding additional services, etc. Global Distribution Systems play a vital role in the hotel industry by connecting hotels with travel agents and assisting them in efficiently distributing their inventory to a diverse customer base.

It sends real-time product, pricing, and availability information to travel agencies and online booking systems, automating the transaction and booking process. GDS is commonly used for business travel bookings because it presents hotels, flights, and rental cars in a single interface, making it easier for users.

One of the primary functions of a GDS provider is to help with reservations and bookings. GDS provides travel agents and online travel agencies (OTAs) with real-time access to room availability, rates, and other critical information. Furthermore, GDS offers valuable data and insights that can be used to inform pricing and marketing strategies, resulting in increased occupancy and revenue.

A Global Distribution System enables travel professionals to search, compare, and book these offerings in real-time, facilitating reservations and transactions between suppliers and agents around the globe. Global Distribution Systems play a vital role in the travel industry by providing a unified platform for information exchange and distribution, allowing travel agents to easily access and offer their clients a diverse range of travel options.

 

Benefits of Using a GDS Provider

 

For Travel Suppliers

 

• A GDS gives travel suppliers visibility in a global marketplace, putting independent providers on par with well-known brands. As a result, the revenue generated by GDS bookings is significantly higher than that of direct bookings.

• Travel agents from all over the world can use a GDS to access a provider's inventory listing and even book it, with API integration offered separately by the GDS and third-party providers.

• GDSs are the preferred method of booking for corporate travel, which is a profitable segment for travel providers. Because corporations made bulk bookings to take advantage of wholesale prices, travel providers using a GDS can direct this revenue stream to their accounts.

• Bookings made through a GDS provider are automatically updated across all channels, reducing duplicate bookings and streamlining the process flow.

 

For Online Travel Agents

 

• Travel resellers who use a GDS have access to a global inventory of airlines, railways, car rentals, and hotel establishments, allowing them to serve larger markets.

• A GDS enables end-to-end bookings, allowing OTAs to sell complete travel packages to travelers.

• OTAs can make bookings at any time of day, regardless of the time zone, given the 24/7 accessibility of a GDS.

 

Key Features of the GDS System

 

• Real-Time Information: GDS systems offer real-time information, such as room availability, pricing, and restrictions. It allows travel agents to make more informed booking decisions.

• Reservation Processing: When a travel agent makes a booking through the GDS, the system processes it and sends a confirmation to both the agent and the traveler.

• Payment and reporting: GDS platforms often handle payment processing and generate reports for travel agencies and hotels. It simplifies the billing and reconciliation procedures.

• Facilitated synchronization of offers: GDS offers a unified interface that enables hotels and airlines to update and synchronize their offerings. It gives accommodation providers access to the most up-to-date data, increasing sales effectiveness.

• Improved efficiency and transparency: A GDS booking system helps to streamline the travel industry by providing a single access point for travel data. It makes it easier to compare prices and book with various suppliers, resulting in a more efficient and transparent travel environment.

• Global Outreach: GDS systems create a global network that connects OTAs to a wide range of travel suppliers worldwide. This inventory approach used by travel agencies allows OTAs to provide a wide range of travel services from around the globe. As a result, OTAs may provide their customers with a diverse range of travel options, regardless of their geographic location.

• Easy Booking Process: The GDS booking system streamlines the booking process, making travel arrangements and reservations easier for customers. Furthermore, they offer the convenience of instant confirmations, which boosts customer satisfaction by instilling confidence and promptness in their travel plans.

 

Leveraging GDS Systems with FlightsLogic

 

FlightsLogic's customizable and easily branded platform provides unique travel rewards and experiences, complementing the diverse options available through GDS systems and capitalizing on ongoing customer loyalty. We have years of travel industry experience and offer our clients seamless and flexible travel portal development.

Our GDS streamlines the distribution of travel services by providing a single platform for agents to access and book flights, accommodations, car rentals, and other services, eliminating the need for multiple connections. GDS platforms connect businesses to an international network of travel professionals, increasing their visibility on a global scale.

Our platform is designed to connect to multiple GDSs, aggregators, and other sources to provide the most convenient and cost-effective travel options. We also establish direct connections with airlines, hotel chains, rental car companies, and rail companies to provide travelers with personalized offers. Our GDS solution offers up-to-date information on availability, pricing, and reservations, ensuring that travel agents have accurate and current information when assisting clients.

FlightsLogic's GDS and XML/API Integration enable clients to expand their business in the global market. Our developers have experience working with major GDS providers and travel consolidators.

At FlightsLogic, we assist you in developing a comprehensive GDS strategy that aligns with your business objectives and focuses on improving customer satisfaction, revenue growth, and market presence to help your hotel effectively leverage the power of GDS platforms.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Overall, GDS systems are a powerful tool for the efficient and effective distribution of travel services, benefiting travel providers and agents by increasing visibility, sales opportunities, and customer satisfaction. Global Distribution Systems facilitate the delivery of travel products from providers (airlines, rail, car rentals, hotels) to OTAs, TMCs, DMCs, and Travel Aggregators.

If you are considering using a GDS but are unsure where to begin, FlightsLogic will guide you through the process, developing custom APIs tailored to your unique business requirements.