In the dynamic hotel marketing and hospitality industry, Independent Hotels are witnessing a game-changer tool that goes beyond traditional booking methods. Enter the ever-evolving world of Global Distribution Systems (GDS). If you are wondering what GDS is and how it is changing the landscape of independent hotels, you are in the right place.
GDS has come a long way, evolving from a simple labelling tool to a powerful ally for hotels looking to expand their reach. Think of it as a digital marketplace where hotels can showcase their rooms to a global audience. The evolution of GDS has been quite adaptive, adapting to the fast-paced demands of today’s travellers and hotels.
So why should independent hotels oversee this growth? Well, the benefits are no less than a hospitality revolution. GDS has become the lifeline of independent hotels, providing a level playing field in the vast world of online bookings.
One of the main advantages is visibility. Independent hotels are now more accessible to more people with the help of GDS and hospitality marketing agency. Traditional channels are used to reach potential guests who may have never seen them before. This expanded access sounds like a treasure trove of opportunities open to hotels that crave more bookings and increased occupancy.
But it’s not just about publishing; GDS simplifies the transportation process, making it easier and more convenient for both hotels and guests. This new flexibility translates into improved productivity for independent hotels, allowing them to focus on what they do best – delivering exceptional experiences. If you are curious to know about other benefits of GDS in the hospitality industry, then you should keep yourself updated with this article.
Join us on this journey because we are going deeper into the development of GDS and unlocking specific benefits that are reshaping the landscape for the independent hotel industry. It is time for independent hotels to harness the power of GDS and grow in the competitive hospitality world.
A Global Distribution System, or GDS, is a worldwide system of computers of reservations that serves as a conduit between suppliers and traveller bookers, like hotel and other accommodation providers and other travel-related services. The Global Distribution System or GDS communicate live product, availability data, and price to travel agents and online booking engines for automated transactions.
A GDS system is often utilized to tap into the market of corporate travel because it comes with the ability to represent hotels, car rentals, and flights in a simple space with the help of effective hotel marketing. The interface provides users with enhanced convenience.
Whether your hotel is struggling to attract enough attention from travellers or guests you are attracting are not from the targeted audience group, then we suggest you sign up with the GDS systems of any reliable provider because these systems might be a worthwhile option for the business of your hotel. If you need any kind of assistance in choosing a reliable provider of GDS systems, then we suggest you consult a hotel marketing agency.
Despite the enormous growth of third-party online travel agencies, like Expedia or Booking.com, these GDS or Global Distribution Systems are still doing the perfect job in promoting your business of hotel to the market of corporate hotels globally and attracting guests to your hotels.
The growth of online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Expedia, and Wotif has further complicated the already complex web of databases. Hotels and other entities of travel can use technology solutions to capitalize on this trend, tapping into all GDS systems.
The GDS is intermediate between the travel agent and the central hotel or airline reservation system. With the help of the Global Distribution System or GDS, travel agents will have the ability to see available resources and current rates for a certain hotel in real-time.
Current rates and availability are directly sent from the property management system or PMS of the hotel to the GDS and online pages with the help of the channel manager. Once a reservation is created on the GDS or online booking website, the channel manager instantly updates the availability across all channels, like the official website of the hotel, and automatically delivers the details of the booking directly to the PMS or central reservation system (CRS). This removes the requirements for the travel agent to communicate with the staff of the hotel and for the booking agent of the hotel to step into any kind of data manually.
Each Global Distribution System comes with its own set of connection fees and requirements for signing up if you will perform this independently, rather than with the help of technology solutions. So, it would be great for your hotel business to know the terms and conditions of the GDS service provider before selecting any particular kind of GDS.
We are sure that most of you might be confused between Global Distribution Systems or GDS and online travel agencies or OTA because the primary motive of both systems is to attract guests to the hotel. Indeed, both things aim to improve the hotel marketing of any hotel throughout the world. But both things come with the significant difference between each other.
A Global Distribution System or GDS serves as an enormous, computerized network that comes with the ability to connect travel agencies, online booking websites, and service providers, like hotels, car rentals, and airlines. The system provides you with real-time access to prices and inventory that facilitate quick booking and reservations in the hospitality industry.
GDSs were first created to help airlines to manage the sales of their ticket. Since then, they have grown to include the hospitality sector, giving hotels a more significant opportunity to connect with corporate travellers and travel agencies. Sabre, Galileo, and Amadeus are some of the famous GDS systems available for the hospitality industry.
On the flip side of the GDS, the Online Traveller Agency or OTA serves as a customer-facing platform that comes with the ability to aggregate flights, hotel rooms, and other travel services for direct booking by travellers. They are critical digital marketplaces where travellers get the ability to compare and reserve a wide range of services from numerous providers. Online Travel agencies or OTAs come with an enormous marketing reach that targets potential travellers through various channels, like search engines, email campaigns, and more.
While both Global Distribution System (GDS) and Online Travellers Agency (OTA) act as an intermediary between potential guests and hotels, the target audience and ways of operation of both these differ from each other. GDS primarily aims travellers professional and corporate travellers with the help of offering a B2B approach. On the other hand, OTA or online travel agencies are more B2C and focus on only individual travelers who are looking for the best deals and a wide variety of options.
Indeed, both Global Distribution System (GDS) and Online Travellers Agency (OTA) are developed to serve different primary audiences. But they are not mutually exclusive in the world of hotel marketing. There are uncountable modern travel agencies that use OTAs with a combination of GDSs to provide their clients with excellent services. Similarly, there are numerous Global Distribution Systems, or GDSs, that are evolving to get more potential to provide B2C services, while OTAs are trying to explore B2B avenues.
The choice of hotels is about more than choosing one over another, hotels have to understand the benefits that they can get from each of these. Furthermore, hotels have to use them in a balanced distribution strategy to take enough benefits from both of these with the help of a branding consulting agency. With the help of diversifying their presence across both the Global Distribution System (GDS) and Online Travellers Agency (OTA), hotels will have the potential to expand their reach that cater to both individual travellers and large corporate customers.
Indeed, the Global Distribution System (GDS) has enormously evolved over the past years by adapting to technological advancement and the needs of industries. These advancements in the Global Distribution System (GDS) have improved operational efficiency, enhanced the reach of distributions, given data insights, increased direct booking opportunities, and empowered the management of revenues.
Hotels can use these technological advancements to improve their visibility, revenue streams, and overall competitiveness in the ever-changing industry of hospitality.
The following are the 6 key methods in which GDS have evolved and the benefits they provide to hotels:
GDS systems stand out as ambitious tools for hotel marketing within the travel industry, leveraging their prowess to deliver an all-encompassing travel experience. Their specific strength lies in the seamless integration of diverse trip additives, consisting of flights, lodges, car rentals, and extras. This distinguishes them from fragmented options, offering customers a unified platform that streamlines the whole journey booking method.
What distinguishes GDS systems is their comprehensive technique, presenting a one-stop solution for journey dealers and fans alike. By consolidating all essential elements on a single platform, GDS simplifies the complexities of booking, fostering performance and convenience. The unified nature of the platform method means that travel dealers can get access to all pertinent records in actual time, developing a clean and informed reserving technique from initiation to final touch.
The real-time accessibility of relevant information and insight is a game-changer, enhancing the user experience notably. Travel marketers could make informed decisions right away, and clients could benefit from having updated information at their fingertips. This dynamic integration guarantees that GDS systems are not just transactional systems but additionally treasured assets of real-time, correct data.
Moreover, the holistic nature of GDS platforms contributes to the general reliability of travel preparations. Users can accept as true that every factor in their trip, from flights to accommodations and automobile leases, is seamlessly coordinated. This reliability is a critical component in the competitive journey industry, wherein customer satisfaction hinges on the capacity to supply trouble-unfastened and properly coordinated journey reviews.
Mobile technology blends itself seamlessly into the fabric of our daily lives, and Global Delivery System (GDS) platforms have evolved expertly in response to these transformative changes. Seeing an increasing reliance on mobile devices for travel planning, hoteliers are now allowed to cater to the complex needs of travellers for effective hotel branding with solution appropriateness of the mobile.
As travellers turn to their smartphones for a seamless travel experience, travel planning apps are emerging as powerful tools in the hospitality industry’s arsenal, with prominent examples being Trip Source by BCD Travel and myCWT by CWT. This role illustrates a paradigm shift in how hoteliers interact with their target audience. By adopting such an innovative platform, hoteliers are not only increasing their visibility but also actively interacting with travelers.
The strategic integration of hotels into those GDS platforms extends beyond mere online presence. It is set to make sure a pervasive and impactful presence at each stage of the company adventure for the tourist. Through seamless GDS integrations, hotels can have the potential to position themselves as indispensable additives to the journey's surroundings. This entails not handiest showcasing their offerings on their very own websites but also leveraging those superior platforms to capture the eye of mobile-centric travellers.
If you want to succeed in today’s world of competition, then you should consider personalization as a key to your success in the hospitality industry. Yes, you have guessed it right! The Global Distribution System (GDS) platforms also come with the ability to provide your targeted audience with personalized services.
The Global Distribution System (GDS) has evolved into a catalyst to provide your visitors with more personalized experiences. Hotels can offer personalized recommendations, targeted promotions, customized packages, and much more with the use of guest profiles, booking history, and guest preferences through GDS platforms.
This degree of customization for your visitors not only raises their level of satisfaction but also strengthens their brand loyalty to your hotel. In the end, this boosts revenue and encourages return business for hotels—accounts that can be maintained while guests remain on your website.
Responding to the ever-changing landscape of user expectations, global distribution system (GDS) companies have made significant changes to improve the user experience. The outdated green screen interfaces reminiscent of a bygone era have now given way to modern, user-friendly interfaces such as Sabre's, Red360, The Amadeus Selling Platform, and Travelport’s TripGate. These interfaces look not only ushered in a new era of sophistication but also better aligned with the user-friendly experiences offered by online travel agencies (OTAs).
Changes to these modern interfaces are not merely cosmetic; They represent a way to increase the productivity of travel agents. By providing easy access to information, these networks empower travel agents to access the information they need quickly. For hoteliers, this tangible translates into profits when their properties are widely accessible and marketable. Advanced functionality allows travel agents to navigate swiftly through complete visual content and property descriptions, facilitating effective promotions and sales.
The ripple impact of those advancements extends to hotel visibility, allowing them to attain a much broader target market that might have been outside their draw close via conventional distribution channels. The seamless integration of user-friendly interfaces with the efficiency of GDS systems positions motels to face out in a crowded market. As a result, the hospitality industry witnessed a paradigm shift, with hoteliers leveraging those improvements to optimize their advertising techniques.
Hotels are allowed to use the changing face of distribution to provide support to responsible brands and initiatives because the hospitality industry puts a great emphasis on sustainability. Modern retailing lets hotels demonstrate their sustainable practice and provide their guests with the option to select environmentally friendly accommodations.
The integration of Amadeus GDS booking tool with Eco. mio is the perfect example of how sustainability is taking a significant role in the choice of business travellers. The integration lets guests receive nudges and incentives on the planning based on sustainability.
Collaboration in the eco-system of GDS has emerged as a game-changer through forging partnerships with airlines, car rental services, and tour operators to provide bundled service centers and develop unique hotel experiences. Hoteliers can step into these opportunities to unlock new opportunities because these recent partnerships might expand their visibility to their potential audience with the help of a hospitality marketing agency.
Global Distribution Systems (GDS) have converted into an essential asset for independent hotels, offering superior visibility, streamlined reserving methods, and personalized reports. Evolving to meet user expectations, GDS not only ensures competitiveness but also supports sustainability tasks. Embracing GDS with the help of a hospitality marketing agency empowers lodges to thrive within the dynamic and aggressive hospitality landscape. By staying up to date with the latest trends and user expectations, GDS can provide lodges with a competitive edge. Additionally, GDS can help lodges reduce their environmental impact by providing access to tools and data to help them make informed decisions.
Ultimately, GDS can help lodges better understand their customers and the market, while also helping them make sustainable choices. It is a powerful tool that can help lodges maximize their potential and increase their success.