Hotel GDS

 

What is Hotel GDS?

 

A hotel GDS, or Global Distribution System, is a network that enables automated transactions between travel service providers, including hotels and travel agencies. It allows travel agents to access real-time information about hotel availability, rates, and inventory and make reservations for their clients. This system helps hotels reach a wider audience and streamlines the booking process for hotel and travel agencies. 

The global distribution system enabled hotels to reach a larger number of potential customers and sell more rooms. Today, GDS is an essential component of the hotel industry. More than 600,000 travel agents now use a global distribution system to search for and book hotels online.

 

How Does Hotel GDS Work?

 

When a hotel is connected to a GDS, it can reach a wider audience and increase its chances of being booked by travel agents worldwide. Hotel GDS provides a centralized platform for travel agents to access and book hotel accommodations, streamlining the reservation process and increasing the hotel's visibility in the global travel market. Key functionalities:

• Easier bookings. GDS systems enable clients to book rooms at your hotel directly through their platform, making the booking process simpler for you and your visitors.

• Increased visibility. Because travel agencies and other businesses use GDS systems to search for and book accommodations, having your hotel listed can boost your property's visibility to potential guests.

• Increased efficiency. GDS systems let you handle bookings, reservations, and other aspects of your hotel's operations more efficiently, saving you time and resources.

• Enhance data management. GDS systems provide detailed information on your hotel's bookings, reservations, and other operations, allowing you to make better business decisions.

• Reporting and Analytics: GDS platforms offer thorough reporting and analytics on hotel reservations, allowing hoteliers to monitor performance and make data-driven choices. It can assist in discovering market demand patterns and alter price tactics as needed.

• Multilingual and Multi-currency Support: GDS platforms typically support multiple languages and currencies, accommodating international travelers and agencies.

• Corporate Travel Policy Compliance: GDS platforms can enforce corporate travel policies for corporate bookings, ensuring adherence to company-specific guidelines.

• Mobile Accessibility: Many GDS providers offer mobile applications or responsive interfaces that enable travel agents to book and access information from their devices.

• Broad Distribution Network: A GDS connects your hotel to a massive global network of travel agents, corporate bookers, and online travel agencies (OTAs). This extensive distribution network broadens the hotel's reach into new markets and potential guests.

• Negotiated Rates: Using the GDS, your hotel can provide authorized agencies and corporate clients with exclusive negotiated rates. These negotiated rates are only visible to specific partners, encouraging direct collaboration with valuable customers.

• Rate Parity Control: GDS allows your hotel to maintain rate parity across all distribution channels, resulting in consistent pricing for all agents while preventing rate conflicts.

 

What benefits does GDS provide Hotels?

 

The GDS provides various benefits to hotels. Perhaps the most essential advantage is that it enables hoteliers to contact a vast number of potential visitors. In addition to providing exposure, the GDS enables hotels to manage their 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 all guests have a pleasant experience. 

GDS is a seamless connection from your channel manager to leading GDS. This real-time, seamless connection ensures you can optimize your rates and availability for this channel from a single dashboard. The advantage of the GDS is its ability to link with a hotel's property management system (PMS). This connection can help hoteliers keep track of their rooms and availability. 

It may also help to automate numerous hotel administration procedures, such as bill generation and confirmations, from a single platform. The GDS system may help hotels save costs. 

Hotels that utilize GDS can avoid paying commissions to travel agents. It can result in substantial savings, which can then be passed on to visitors in the form of decreased hotel prices.

A global distribution system (GDS) can be an invaluable resource for hotels. It gives you access to a large amount of hotel inventory and includes advanced search and booking features. However, it is critical to select the appropriate GDS for your requirements and to ensure that you are receiving the best possible price. 

The primary benefit of using a Hotel GDS is that it gives users access to a diverse range of travel options from multiple providers, making it easier to find the best deals and make the most informed decisions. Furthermore, GDSs are typically updated in real-time, ensuring that the information users’ access is accurate and up-to-date.

A global distribution system (GDS) is one of the most effective ways for hoteliers to promote their business in the global corporate travel market. It's a vital part of a well-rounded distribution strategy, and it helps hotel management increase occupancy in the lucrative corporate travel sector.

In the hotel industry, a GDS acts as a link between a travel agency and the hotel's central reservation system (CRS), presenting a property's available inventory and pricing so that agents may book flights and rooms on behalf of customers. Once connected to the GDS, your hotel is bookable by 600,000 travel agents and thousands of travel managers from the largest corporations. Being connected to the GDS System will undoubtedly help your hotel increase bookings from the business segment.

• Presence in a corporate travel platform. A hotel GDS provides your hotel with access and visibility to thousands of travel agents and corporate bookers around the globe who are looking to book hotel rooms individually or as a package, increasing your sales opportunities.

• Real-time inventory updates. A global distribution system can integrate with your Property Management System (PMS), automating the reservation process and updating room availability across multiple OTAs and your direct bookings site.

• Exposure to higher-paying clientele. As part of a GDS hotel booking system, your property will be exposed to a more targeted, professional travel community that may be difficult to reach via your hotel website or online travel agencies (OTAs). In addition to being listed on a GDS, you can increase your exposure to these systems through paid advertising.

• Increase revenue opportunities. A hotel GDS opens up new revenue opportunities for hotels, such as participation in attractive package deals (hotel, airline tickets, car rental, tour operators, and so on), increased return business, and longer stays.

 

Major Global Distribution Systems

 

In terms of hotel GDS providers, three major players dominate the market.

 

Amadeus GDS System

 

Amadeus has been integrating travel providers and businesses since 1987. They service over 770,000 hotels in over 190 countries and employ a global workforce of 19,000 employees. Aside from hotels, Amadeus provides services to airlines, airport operators, train operators, ground handlers, car rental and transfer companies, insurance provider groupings, and cruise lines and ferries.

 

Sabre GDS System

 

Sabre, the top-rated GDS, allows for seamless communication with multiple vendors and suppliers. Sabre connects to over 400,000 travel agents worldwide who serve end customers. During peak season, the Sabre GDS system processes over one million travel booking transactions per minute. 

Sabre software also provides excellent support to travel agents through online chat, calls, and email. B2B and B2C travel portals using the Sabre software system are growing in the United States, Europe, the UAE, India, Africa (Nigeria, Egypt), and Indonesia. Sabre provides 300,000 hotels and properties around the world. Offer instant bookable rates on your online travel booking platform and apps. It provides 24-hour access to hotel inventories.

 

Travelport GDS System

 

Travelport owns Galileo, Worldspan, and Apollo global distribution systems (GDS). It's a network that connects individual and chain hotels with international travel agents, corporate travelers, and global travel buyers. 

Travelport provides 730,000 unique properties around the world. Offer instant booking rates on your online travel booking platform and apps. Independent and boutique hotels can easily connect to Travelport's travel commerce platform, which is the most efficient and convenient way for hoteliers to integrate their properties and connect directly with over 2,34,000 travel agencies worldwide.

These GDS systems are used by travel agencies, airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and other travel and hospitality providers to manage bookings, reservations, and other travel-related aspects. Customers also use them to search for and book travel arrangements online. Using a GDS may help you reach more prospective tourists, streamline hotel operations, and increase revenue.

 

Why is GDS Important for the Hotel Industry?

 

A global distribution system (GDS) is an important distribution channel for hotel industry business leaders because it enables travel agents to sell hotel rooms on your behalf. This has the potential to boost overall room bookings while improving financial performance.

Hotels usually contact a GDS provider to help them connect to a GDS system. Many different providers offer these services, and the hotel is usually connected to all major GDS systems at the same time. 

It helps hotels to manage their listing information, inventory, and pricing through a single interface. Furthermore, a GDS provider will typically have connections to major property management systems and hotel channel managers. It gives hotels the ability to fully automate GDS usage.

While hotel owners may prefer direct bookings, global distribution systems remain an important distribution channel. A GDS system allows a hotel to reach travel agents and a much larger customer base, resulting in increased demand, bookings, and revenue.

The most significant advantage of using a GDS for hotels is the increased demand that can be generated. This is because a global distribution system provides a single-entry point for a large number of travel agents around the world. Allowing these agents to book your hotel rooms on behalf of their clients can significantly increase total bookings and revenue.

 

Why Choose FlightsLogic?

 

FlightsLogic GDS connects your channel management to the industry's largest GDS seamlessly. This real-time, seamless link allows you to manage your prices and availability for this channel from a single dashboard. By working with OTAs, GDS has broadened its reach and improved the visibility and accessibility of hotel inventory to a worldwide audience.

Choose our best travel software development solutions to boost the efficiency of your internal operations with GDS integration for a customized booking engine. We build online booking engines and Central Reservation Systems (CRS) for direct trip booking, passenger tracking, confirmation/ cancellation, and other services that integrate seamlessly with GDSs, OBTs, extranets, and open distribution channels. GDS integration also helps travel agents generate income and manage their businesses. 

Our expert GDS software developers have extensive expertise in creating web services such as bespoke websites, online booking engines, front-office systems for online travel agencies, and self-booking tools. Travel and hospitality companies may utilize the Global Distribution System's single gateway to market their products to a wide range of online travel agents and business travel bookers.

 

How to Choose the Right GDS Provider for Your Hotel?

 

In the dynamic travel industry, selecting the right Global Distribution System [GDS] provider is crucial for your hotel’s success.

 

1.    Assess Your Needs

 

Identify your unique needs and goals. Consider your intended audience, distribution plan, budget, desired features, and integration capabilities. This evaluation will help you filter down the GDS vendors that fit your needs. 

 

2.    Research Provider Reputation

 

Conduct extensive research into potential GDS providers' reputations and track records. Look for providers with a track record of dependable service, strong industry relationships, and a good reputation among hotels and travel professionals.

 

3.    Check for Compatibility and Connectivity

 

Ensure that the GDS integrates with your hotel's existing systems, such as the Property Management System (PMS) and Central Reservation System (CRS). Compatibility and smooth connectivity are essential for efficient operations and inventory management.

 

4.    Pay Attention to the Distribution Network

 

Assess the GDS provider's distribution network and reach. Determine whether they have a vast network of travel agents, corporate bookers, and online travel agencies (OTAs) that can help you target your ideal audience and increase your hotel's exposure.

 

5.    Look for Negotiated Rates and Revenue Management

 

Consider the GDS provider's ability to provide negotiated rates and practical revenue management tools. Negotiated rates can attract valuable corporate clients, and strong revenue management capabilities can help optimize pricing and maximize profitability.

 

6.    Understand the Support and Training Services

 

Examine the GDS provider's level of support and training. A reputable provider should provide comprehensive customer support, including technical assistance, training resources, and regular updates, to ensure that you get the most out of your services.

 

7.    View the Pricing Structure.

 

Understand the GDS provider's pricing structure, which includes setup fees, transaction fees, and ongoing expenses. Compare pricing models and evaluate each provider's overall value based on your expected usage and ROI.

 

8.    Know the Contract Terms and Flexibility 

 

Examine the contract terms and conditions to ensure that they are consistent with your company's objectives and allow for future growth and changes. Look for providers with scalable solutions and flexible contract terms.

 

9.    User Experience and Interface

 

Request demo or trials of the GDS provider's platform to evaluate its user experience and interface. An intuitive and user-friendly system will help to streamline your operations and reduce the need for training.

Overall, Hotel GDSs are valuable tools for the travel industry because they help to make the booking process more efficient and convenient for travel agents and their clients. GDS ensures real-time updates on rates and availability. 

It eliminates the possibility of overbooking and makes the reservation process more convenient for travel agents and hotel staff. Streamlined communication and instant booking confirmation save time and resources, allowing your team to focus on providing outstanding guest experiences.