Global Distribution Systems (GDS) are worldwide reservation systems that allow travel agents, websites, and companies to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel services through a single access point. Property information like rates and availability are loaded into the GDS networks and then retrieved by online travel sites and agents. The four main GDS are Galileo, Worldspan, Sabre, and Amadeus. Integrating with a GDS expands a property's distribution by making their inventory accessible to the large network of travel sellers connected to that system. This provides benefits like 24/7 connectivity, greater market reach, and coverage through agent programs.

1. Travel Distribution
PMS to CRS to GDS to IDS

2. The Chain of Action
PMS CRS GDS IDS

3. What is GDS ?

5. Global Distribution System (GDS)
• GDS is a worldwide computerized reservation system used as a
single point of access for booking airline seats, hotels rooms, car
rentals, and other travel related item by travel agents, travel
booking sites and big corporation. It covers everything from
airline tickets to car rentals to hotel rooms and more.

8. How GDS works?

9. How GDS works?
• Your property’s information including rates and inventory are
loaded into GDS networks. From here, many online travel portals
retrieve your property information and display it in the search
results. Travel agents primarily log into one of the four GDS
systems to retrieve your property information. Furthermore, many
online travel portals also retrieve your property information from
one of the four systems

10. GDS ORIGINS
• Originally GDS was developed to help travel agents (worldwide) track of flight schedule,
availability and prices and book flights tickets airlines but were later extended to travel
agents to provide complete travel packages like Travel and tours, hotels rooms, car rentals
and more.
• Today, global distribution systems allow users to purchase tickets from multiple different
providers or airlines. Global distribution systems are also the back end of most Internet-
based travel services.
• GDS can link services, rates and bookings consolidating products and services across all three
travel sectors: i.e., airline reservations, hotel reservations, car rentals, and activities.

11. Four Main Systems of GDS

12. Four Main Systems of GDS
• Galileo is a CRS (Or GDS) owned by travel port business. Galileo now is not only
used to book airline reservation but also train travel, cruises, car rental, and
hotel rooms.
• Worldspan Is a part of Travel Port Business. It offers worldwide electronic
distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and e-
commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and
corporations.
• SABRE is GDS owned by sabre holding, it have more than 400 airlines, 100,000
hotels, 50 rails and 14 cruise lines.
• AMADEUS is a CRS (or global distribution system, since it sell tickets for
multiple airline) owned by Amadeus it group. In addition to airline it is also
used to book train travel, cruises, car rental and hotel rooms.

13. How GDS Integration is Important ?
• GDS are actually computerized and centralized services that provide travel
related services and transactions. It covers everything, from airline tickets to
the hotel bookings and car rentals.
• Running hospitality business is not easy today, knowing the guests are choosy
and they have a number of options in the market to find the services they want.
• To maximize your profits and revenue with the share in the market you will
need a fine tuning in the pricing and inventory allocation across various channel
of the hospitality. This could be done only with the GDS integration.
• The GDS integration brings the much needed support one is required to reach
the masses with their product and services.

14. GDS INTEGRATION

15. Features OF GDS INTERGRATION
• 24 X 7
• Connectivity – Connect seamlessly to the four global distribution systems –
• Market Reach Online - It is extensively used by travel agents and travel websites.
• Coverage – Gain more exposure to agents and travelers through proactive marketing to
travel agencies and corporate accounts.
• Expand Coverage - Expand reach to corporate and leisure travelers with special
programs like GREATRATE for year-round bookings.
• Online Distribution Strategy – Opening out your inventory to new online distribution
channels is an effective method to capture new market share.
• Little maintenance effort required – The information provided to the central
reservation system for your hotel chain or the representation company is copied
automatically to the GDS.