I'm sure that that was the moment when I decided to change direction and study hotel SEO.
But many hotels still wonder about "to GDS or not to GDS". Hence this small page.
Introduction to the GDS 
A brief introduction in PDF
What are the GDS?
GDS stands for Global Distribution Systems.
Originally they were created by the airline industry, as a tool for travel agents to make flight reservations. Gradually also hotel, cruise or car rental reservations were added.
The Big 3 are Amadeus, Sabre and TravelPort.
Together they stand for 23.000 employees spread over 3 major GDS... If they would merge, their total transaction value would rank 3td on the Fortune 500 list.
GDS potential check 
A brief introduction in PDF
What are the IDS?
IDS stands for Internet Distribution Systems, which simply refers to the Internet Portals that offer hotel reservations.
The virtual travel agents.
The biggest ones are Booking.com, Expedia, Travelnow.com, Travelocity.com, but there are literally tens of thousands.
The convention says that some 1200 can be considered worth the while.
And the ADS... what are they?
ADS stands for "Alternative Distribution Systems" which is an older expression, dating from the time when the Internet was still seen as alternative.
Nowadays we use the expression IDS.
What are "GDS representatives"
You can either make a contract with one GDS... or a contract with a representative, who will represent you on all 4 GDS.
And, ideally, at the same time on all major IDS.
Easier to manage, since you will only have one single control centre for all channels.
While your representative performs very good Revenue Management to make sure you keep making the most of your connection.
My own GDS partner is the Swiss Hotel Reservation Specialist GLOBRES AG |
