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Is it finally time to list your hotel on the GDS?

Answers to your questions about the GDS as a distribution channel for your hotels

Published on September 13 2023

The GDS is often overlooked as a distribution channel for independent hotels and small hotel groups, yet it can be a lucrative source of bookings. This is especially true today. After plummeting during the pandemic, GDS bookings have surpassed 2019 volume and are up by 15 to 25 % in average booking value, according to D-EDGE data.

What Is the GDS?

In the early 1960s, long before the internet was a spark in human imagination, the GDS was created to serve as an electronic reservations system for airline companies. Not long after, hotels and travel agencies joined the network, and in 1992 the first Global Distribution System (GDS) was formed.

 

Today, the GDS is used by travel agents around the world to book flights and hotel rooms as well as rental cars, train tickets, tours, cruises, and travel packages. Despite the popularity of OTAs, many travellers prefer to have their trips arranged by an experienced, knowledgeable professional who can step in to help if travel is disrupted. And many companies who want greater control over employee travel outsource the work to a professional travel management company.

 

For hotels, the GDS is the primary platform for reaching travel agents and can generate a small but significant proportion of total bookings. In 2022, hotel groups reported receiving 8 % of total bookings from the GDS on average, according to h2c’s 2022 Global Hospitality Distribution Study

 

Large chains received the highest proportion, at 9 %, whereas small and medium-sized chains received 4 %. The difference is presumably less related to low demand than to the fact that fewer small groups list properties on the GDS. While the study didn’t include independent hotels, D-EDGE data shows that they are missing out on even more of the action. 

 

“The GDS gives us access to worldwide agencies and online travel agencies which increase our hotel’s visibility and helps us drive more bookings and generate higher revenue, especially from corporate bookings,” said Piyadol Chantadej, revenue manager at Grand Fortune Hotel Bangkok. “It has also prevented and reduced booking errors, as the GDS is a real-time system.”

The GDS gives us access to worldwide agencies and online travel agencies which increase our hotel’s visibility and helps us drive more bookings and generate higher revenue, especially from corporate bookings. It has also prevented and reduced booking errors, as the GDS is a real-time system.

Piyadol Chantadej

Revenue Manager

Grand Fortune Hotel Bangkok

Who Are the Main GDS Providers?

While we refer to it as “the GDS,” there are actually several GDS networks. In recent years, mass consolidation has reduced the playing field to the “big three,” which collectively represent about 80 % of the global market.

 

  • Sabre. Founded in 1960 by American Airlines in Texas, USA, Sabre was the first GDS. Today, it’s the second largest GDS network in the world and is particularly popular in North America and Asia.
  • Amadeus. Founded in 1987 by a group of European airlines, Amadeus is considered to be the largest GDS today. Based in Madrid, Spain, the company has a large presence in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 
  • Travelport. Founded in 2001, Travelport is the smallest of the three but has a foothold on all continents. Headquartered in Langley, UK, the company also owns Apollo, Worldspan, and Galileo GDS systems. 

How Does the GDS Work?

The GDS acts as an intermediary between travel agents and travel suppliers. Whereas some large hotel brands connect directly to the GDS, most independent hotels and smaller groups must connect via a channel manager or central reservation system (CRS)

 

The CRS sits at the heart of hotel distribution, connecting a hotel to all distribution channels, including the GDS, OTAs, wholesalers, and the hotel’s internet booking engine (IBE). This allows the hotel to manage inventory, pricing, and listing content from one centralised platform.

 

When a hotel lists on the GDS, it is assigned a GDS chain code. Independent properties and small groups usually use the CRS provider’s code. Large groups may be assigned a dedicated chain code but can still work with a CRS provider using their own code. 

 

Once the hotel is live on the GDS, travel agents can view its rates and availability in real-time. When an agent makes a booking, the details are transferred electronically to the hotel’s CRS and PMS, and the CRS automatically updates availability across distribution channels. 

What Are the Benefits of Listing on the GDS?

For hotels, the GDS offers considerable marketing power, with the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of travel agents and corporate travel managers around the world. Most travel agents use the GDS to search for hotels and make bookings. If they can’t find your hotel, they are more likely to choose another property.

Travel agents rely heavily on the GDS as the backbone of their technology stack. Having a hotel listed on the GDS has the benefit of more easily aggregating the hotel booking with other trip components such as air or car that are generally also sourced in the GDS using the same technology.

A senior executive of a leading travel management company

This facilitates the integration of traveller documentation such as the trip itinerary, invoice, and safety and security reporting, as well as simplifying and synchronising modifications and cancellations, which is key in business travel, he said.

 

Here are some additional advantages to hotels:

 

  • The GDS provides the same visibility opportunities to independent hotels as to chain hotels and big brands, helping to even out the competitive playing field.
  • The GDS is particularly valuable as a source of bookings from business travellers. In fact, we estimate that about 80 % of bookings on the GDS are corporate, whereas 20 % are leisure.
  • Corporate bookings tend to be stronger in winter and shoulder seasons when leisure bookings slow down, helping to strengthen demand year-round.
  • When hotels join travel consortia programs like Internova Leaders Network and Signature Travel Network, their rates appear at the top of search results  in the GDS and the hotel is flagged as a preferred supplier, providing enhanced exposure to worldwide networks of travel professionals. 
  • GDS bookings may also generate ancillary revenue for hotels, including group bookings, meetings & events, and food & beverage expenditures. 

How Does Business Travel Work on the GDS?

Many companies have a managed travel program, which means that travel arrangements are handled by a travel agency or travel management company (TMC). Typically, the company will have a travel policy that outlines the processes employees must follow to book and expense travel, as well as travel rules and preferred suppliers.

 

Large, international TMCs like CWT, American Express Travel, and ABC Global Services manage travel for some of the largest corporations in the world. Part of a TMC’s services is to source and negotiate a company’s list of preferred vendors by sending out annual requests for proposals (RFPs) to suppliers. 

 

If a hotel is invited to bid, it must submit a form that provides detailed information about the property, along with preferred rates and booking policies. If the hotel is accepted into the program, its rates are loaded into the GDS but are only viewable by the designated TMC. 

 

If a hotel isn’t listed on the GDS, it’s at a disadvantage when bidding for corporate business. “Corporate clients often insist that hotels in their hotel program be listed on the GDS and their corporate rates be loaded,” the senior travel executive. “Corporate clients are very focussed on supplier reporting and policy adherence, and the best way to guarantee this is to force hotel reservations through required channels via the TMC.”

What Is a Self-booking Tool?

Some companies allow employees to make their own bookings by using a self-booking tool (SBT) or online booking tool (OBT), which allows employees to view preferred suppliers and negotiated rates, book hotels, and receive customer support. This can save time and costs for the company and the TMC. Content is maintained by the TMC and is sourced through the GDS and via connections to non-GDS aggregators and providers.

Is the GDS a Good Fit for My Property?

With business travel on the upswing, now is an opportune time to capture more corporate bookings. At the same time, international leisure travel is gaining momentum too, and many travellers prefer to book overseas trips through a travel agent.

 

Moreover, in a recent survey of corporate travel managers from the Global Business Travel Association, over three-quarters of respondents said that today’s negotiation climate favours travel suppliers more than it did pre-pandemic. And 55 % said they’re having a hard time finding favourable hotel rates through the RFP process.

 

While virtually any hotel with ten or more rooms can be listed on the GDS, it’s a better fit for some properties than for others. Ideally, a hotel will have at least 30 rooms, will be rated three stars or more, and will command a high enough average rate to cover GDS fees while still leaving ample room for profit. 

 

Generally, large city hotels that cater to corporate travellers are the best fit for the GDS, but there are all sorts of exceptions. Suburban and rural properties located close to large businesses or factories stand to benefit too, as do resorts wishing to gain exposure to luxury travel networks like Virtuoso and Tzell Travel Group. And with more travellers combining work and pleasure on the same trip, the lines are blurring between leisure and business travellers. 

There are many different GDSs available, so it is important to choose a GDS that will meet the needs of your hotel and guests. We also advise staying up to date on the GDS products and trends.

Piyadol Chantadej

Revenue Manager

Grand Fortune Hotel Bangkok

What Fees Are Involved?

Another important consideration is fees. GDS fees can vary by provider ​​but typically include the costs of signup, setup, and integration, transaction fees, travel agency commissions, CRS or channel manager fees, and an annual GDS connection fee. In addition, there may be optional costs of participating in programs with TMCs and consortia and GDS advertising campaigns.

 

However, GDS bookings are still generally cheaper than OTA bookings, where commissions can range from 15 to 25 %. Additionally, GDS bookings generate a higher ADR on average and have a higher proportion of return guests. Nevertheless, it’s important to track acquisition costs and average booking value by channel to ensure you receive a solid return on investment.

How Can My Hotel Maximise Visibility on the GDS?

There are numerous ways hotels can grab the attention of travel agents on the GDS. 

  • Create an appealing listing. Provide clear, compelling information about your property, location, and amenities, along with lots of quality imagery. Note that when travel agents view a hotel’s pricing, they can’t see its photos, so a good description is all the more crucial. Space is limited, so you’ll need to be concise.
  • Ensure your listing is detailed. GDS listings contain up to 3,000 fields, and travel agents use filters to find hotels with specific features and amenities. To ensure you show up in relevant searches, complete as many fields as are applicable. 
  • Offer attractive rates and policies. As with any distribution channel, one of the most efficient ways to attract bookings is to provide competitive rates. Value-adds like complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast, and parking will help too, as will flexible cancellation options. 

 

You will need different strategies for attracting leisure travellers and business travellers on the GDS.

Business Travellers

  • Participate in corporate programs. When a travel agent searches a destination in the GDS to make a booking on behalf of a company, hotels that have negotiated rates with the company appear at the top of results and are more likely to be booked.

Leisure Travellers

  • Participate in travel consortia programs. If the travel agency is part of a professional network or travel consortium, hotels in the program appear in the top results in destination searches.
  • Offer a higher commission. As an added incentive for travel agents to choose your property, consider offering a higher commission than the standard 10 %. Note that this doesn’t apply to corporate accounts with non-commissionable rates.  
  • Launch an ad campaign. Similar to OTAs, hotels can pay GDS providers to receive higher visibility in property search results. 

For more ideas, ask your CRS provider. They act as an intermediary between your hotel and GDSs, setting up and maintaining listings and ad campaigns on your behalf and assisting with RFPs and consortia programs, and can provide additional suggestions for increasing your hotel’s visibility and bookings.

What Should I Look for in a GDS Connectivity Provider?

While a number of companies provide GDS connectivity, not all are the same. Here are some of the key qualities to prioritise.

 

  • Direct connectivity. The vendor should provide direct access to all GDS providers, negotiating arrangements on your behalf, with no need to depend on a third party. 
  • Central management of rates and inventory. More than GDS connectivity, the partner should provide a central platform for managing your rates, availability, and reservations on all distribution channels, along with integration with your PMS.
  • Reliable customer support. Because hotels can’t access the GDS directly, assistance from a knowledgeable partner is essential. According to the h2c study, the level of support is the No. 1 decision-driving factor for hoteliers when purchasing a new distribution system. 
  • GDS expertise. The connectivity provider should have in-depth knowledge of how the GDS works and how it fits into the hospitality distribution ecosystem in order to give hotels the insights and advice they need to optimise productivity. 
  • Assistance with RFPs. Submitting bids to join corporate and consortia programs can be complex and time-consuming. Your provider can make things easier by streamlining and automating the process, as well as providing advice and guidance on how to improve your chances of being accepted.
  • Transparency in fees. The provider should consolidate all GDS fees on your behalf and invoice your hotel directly, providing a detailed breakdown of bookings and fees. 

 

For hoteliers interested in connecting to the GDS, Dubourg advises to “not hesitate!”

It’s important [for us] to have a presence on the GDS in order to increase our visibility,. GDSs are important levers in terms of revenue. [And] they save us time when it comes to managing bookings

Mickaël Dubourg

Director of Sales

Hôtel Pont Royal

How Do I Learn More?

RFP season is here! If you get the process rolling now, you can be up and running on the GDS in time for this season. D-EDGE is the ultimate GDS partner for independent hotels and hotel groups. We offer direct connectivity to all GDSs combined with the hospitality expertise and customer support hotels need to drive more bookings and higher rates on the GDS and all distribution channels. 

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