Understand what a GDS is and its role in distributing hotel inventory to travel professionals worldwide.
A GDS, or Global Distribution System, is a vast computerized network system that provides real-time information on airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel products to travel agents worldwide. It acts as a central hub, enabling travel professionals to access and book inventory from various providers for their clients. Major GDS platforms include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, and Worldspan.
For hotels, connecting to a GDS is essential for reaching a broad audience of corporate travel managers and traditional travel agencies, which often book high-value business and group travel. A hotel can leverage the GDS to secure bookings from segments that might not typically use online consumer channels, ensuring a consistent flow of reservations, especially during off-peak seasons.
Related terms
- Channel manager
- OTA
- Direct booking
- Booking engine
