A Global Distribution System or GDS is a means of reservation across the globe that connects airlines, hotels, car rentals, or other travel agents. It allows you to book easily by checking the availability and ratings and helps businesses to work efficiently.
In this article, let’s know clearly about what GDS is and why it is still relevant for Hotels in 2025.
Table of Contents
What Is GDS?
GDS or Global Distribution System is an electronic means of booking that brings together airlines, hotels, booking agencies, and other travel partners. It enables businesses to work more smartly by allowing current search, comparison, as well as booking of travel services including hotels, airlines, or car booking at affordable prices. It is also the means of a global travel and tourism network.
What Is The Purpose Of GDS?
The GDS serves as an agent for sending information between travel providers and distributors. It allows travel agents to see the current rates and inventory for a specific hotel via GDS, thereby helping them book flights, hotels, and other services on a single platform. It acts as a window into the hotel that shows available rooms, rates, and restrictions. When a travel agent books a room via GDS, it shares all the information with the hotel’s system and removes that room from the system’s inventory. There is no need for a travel agent to talk to anyone from the hotel and the hotel’s booking agents no longer have to fill the data manually.
What Are The Most Popular Global Distribution Systems?
The most popular Global Distribution System include
- Amadeus in Europe is the world’s largest GDS with 40% of GDS transactions, mainly used for airfare but also serves hotel bookings connecting over 600,000 hotels.
- Sabre in North America connects about 175,000 hotels and is the second largest GDS with 35% of travel booking
- Other GDS systems namely Travelport GDS systems include Galileo, Worldspan, and Apollo.
- Travelsky is a state-run GDS in China.
- KIU is another popular but smaller GDS company in Latin America.
Why Is GDS Still Relevant For Hotels In 2025?
Here are the reasons why GDS is still relevant for hotels in 2025.
- Global Market Reach:
A GDS allows hotel managers to discover new market segments and connect to travelers who were unable to reach them before. By extending GDS reach to people, hotels can boost their visibility in the travel market. It also enables corporate and group bookings. The hotel reservations through a valid GDS system enable extended stay thereby increasing occupancy.
- Increased Revenue:
GDS helps hotels in increasing their revenue by providing necessary information about availability and prices allowing travel agents to find them easily. Increase your revenue by using a trusted partner like UNO Rategain. By increasing their visibility hotels can improve their booking even at busy times and also let wealthy travelers reach them for their comfortable stay.
- Growth Opportunities:
A huge number of travel agents are relying upon GDS to find better stays for their clients.
- Real-Time Updates:
It allows agents to see the live prices and availability and easily book the rooms for their clients. Though direct booking helps in increasing hotel revenue, GDS-generated bookings are still a popular source of business.
- Targeting The Corporate Segment:
GDS is an important means of booking for travel agents and large corporations. It improves your visibility and supports business growth.
Conclusion:
GDS is a powerful platform that saves time and increases the visibility of your business. Even in 2025, GDS is still relevant for hotels as it offers several benefits. Connect with a trusted GDS partner such as Uno RateGain to improve your business growth.
So, if you are still searching about what GDS is and why it is still relevant for hotels in 2025, this article is your best partner.
