What You Might Not Know About GDS Bookings
Key Trends and Insights to Optimise Your Hotel Distribution Strategy
The Global Distribution System (GDS) may not make headlines every day—but it’s a powerful, proven hotel distribution channel for attracting corporate and international guests. Let’s break down the numbers and latest GDS booking trends that might just change the way you see this network.
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Did you know that hotel bookings through the Global Distribution System (GDS) grew by +14.3% between 2023 and 2025?
Often seen as a legacy tool, the GDS has quietly become a reliable growth engine for hoteliers—bringing in international guests, corporate travellers, and high-value bookings.
Here’s a closer look at the numbers, the trends, and what they mean for your hotel.
📈 +14.3% Growth in GDS Hotel Bookings
Between 2023 and 2025, GDS bookings rose by 14.3%, reflecting steady and consistent growth:
- +9.8% from 2023 to 2024*
- +4.2% in early 2025*
Far from being stagnant, the GDS continues to deliver incremental revenue for hotels worldwide.
→ Bottom line: For your hotel, the GDS hotel distribution system remains a reliable growth driver of room sales —if you know how to make it work for you.
GDS Average Booking Value: €412.8
GDS guests aren’t just booking rooms—they’re booking higher-value stays.
- €392.7 in 2023*
- €417.5 in 2024*
- €412.8 in 2025*
Although 2025 saw a slight dip (driven by shorter stays: 2.2 nights vs. 2.3 in 2024), the overall trend remains positive.
Hotelier’s Takeaway
Shorter stays don’t mean weaker revenue. In fact, GDS guests maintain strong average spend, making them a stable and profitable segment.
Seasonality: When GDS Peaks (and Dips)
Understanding the rhythm of GDS bookings helps hotels plan smarter:
- October → Peak month, fastest-filling calendars.
- November → Highest volume, but lower spend (shorter stays).
- July & August → Quieter in volume, but with highest booking values (leisure stays).
- December → Slowest month, both in volume and spend.
Hotelier’s Takeaway
Plan your pricing and promotions around these peaks and dips—anticipate corporate demand in autumn, and maximise leisure revenue in summer.
Top Source Markets for GDS in 2025
Where do GDS travellers come from—and what do they bring?
Top 3 GDS markets in 2025
- France – 21% of bookings | €277.7 | 1.8 nights → Corporate, short stays, consistent base.
- United States – 10.9% | €901 | 3.4 nights → Long-stay, premium guests, highest spenders.
- Germany – 9.4% | €342.2 | 2.3 nights → Reliable mix of spend and stay duration.
Other Notable Markets
- Asia (excl. China) → €535.7 | 3.6 nights → Premium long-stay travellers.
- Switzerland → €501.7 | 1.8 nights → Short stays, but top European spenders.
- UK → €474.6 | 2.1 nights → Shorter trips, high revenue per night.
- Netherlands → €366.8 | 2.2 nights → Steady mid-range.
- Australia & New Zealand → €304.1 | 2.1 nights → Modest spend, long-haul potential.
- Italy → €273.4 | 1.8 nights → Corporate-driven, lower spend.
- South Africa → €182.6 | 2.1 nights → Niche, small contribution.
Hotelier’s Takeaway
US and Asian travellers represent the premium markets, combining longer stays with higher budgets. France and Italy form a solid corporate base, with shorter but steady bookings that ensure consistency. Meanwhile, Switzerland and the UK may deliver fewer stays overall, but their excellent revenue per night makes them valuable markets not to be overlooked.
Which GDS Should Hotels Prioritise?
Not all GDS platforms perform equally. Here’s where to focus:
- US & Australia → Sabre (80% agency bookings).
- France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands → Amadeus (80–90% market share).
- Italy → Galileo preferred.
✓ Good news: With D-EDGE GDS connectivity, you don’t have to choose! Your hotel is listed on all major GDSs, ensuring complete visibility in every target market.
*Period: January 1 to June 30
GDS Expert Insight
To maximise GDS performance, make the most of these profiles: be visible on Sabre for the US and Australian markets, and on Amadeus for European travelers.
Conclusion: Why GDS Still Matters for Hotels
With +14.3% growth in just two years, high-value international markets, and predictable seasonality, the GDS remains a pillar of hotel distribution.
For hoteliers, the lesson is clear:
- Balance your channels → GDS complements OTAs and direct bookings.
- Know your travellers → Each market brings a different type of guest.
- Plan for seasonality → Anticipate peaks to maximise occupancy and revenue.
In a fast-changing distribution landscape, GDS offers something rare: consistency and opportunity. For hotels ready to embrace it, it’s not just another channel—it’s a growth lever.
How D-EDGE Supports Your Hotel GDS Distribution
At D-EDGE, we help over 17,000 hotels optimise their distribution with our all-in-one platform, offering you:
🗹 Optimisation of both direct and indirect distribution with one of the world’s most powerful channel managers.
🗹 Premium connectivity (partners include Egencia, Booking, Opera PMS, and more).
🗹 Dedicated strategy support from our expert team to help you boost your GDS visibility.
🗹 Access to preferential travel agency rates along with practical ressources like our Consortia Guide to help you choose the right partners.
Stay ahead of the GDS season
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