GDS: From Airlines to Your Hotel, How It All Connects

Since 1960 it has been possible to instantly book flights, car rentals and hotel rooms using electronic GDS systems. Nowadays, people widely associate bookings with Booking.com and other similar online travel agencies. However, the foundation for accessing real-time global hotel and flight ticket inventory was laid many years ago through the development of global distribution systems.

So what are global distribution systems? How do Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) assist travel agencies & the entire travel industry? We will learn about it in this article.

What is GDS?

A GDS (global distribution system) is a computerized network system owned or operated by a company. It facilitates transactions among various entities in the travel industry, including airlines, hotels, car rental companies and travel agencies. The GDS relies on real-time inventory information including the availability of hotel rooms, flight seats or rental cars, provided by these service providers. This data is crucial for the effective functioning of the Global Distribution System. In the past, travel agencies relied on Global Distribution Systems to access a wide range of services, products & pricing information. This allowed them to provide complete travel-related services to their customers. A GDS serves as a connecting platform, bringing together services, prices and reservations for airline bookings, hotel reservations and car rentals. It functions as a centralized system for the three primary travel sectors.

GDS differs from a computer reservation system, which is a reservation platform utilized by service providers (vendors). GDS primarily serves travel agents, both online and office-based, who make reservations through various vendor-operated reservation systems. Unlike a computer reservation system, GDS does not hold inventory. The vendor’s reservation system stores the inventory instead. GDS establishes a real-time connection to the vendor’s database. When a travel agency wants to book a reservation with a particular airline, the GDS system channels the request to the corresponding airline’s computer reservation system. This ensures seamless communication and efficient handling of the booking process.

History & Development of the Global Distribution System

In the 1960s, global distribution systems emerged to handle the increasing demand for a more efficient solution in managing flight schedules, availability & pricing. These systems surpassed the less effective manual methods that were prevalent during that time.

Businesses using Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) were pioneers in Business-to-Business (B2B) electronic commerce. This is now widely recognized as e-commerce.

Airlines discovered that by automating the travel reservation process for agents, they could enhance the agents’ productivity, save time and effectively transform them into an additional sales force for the airline.

Currently, global distribution systems can handle more than just booking airfare and hotels, they also facilitate reservations for rental cars, cruises, rail tickets and tours.

A traveler booking an all-inclusive holiday package can enjoy the convenience of having everything included and accessible through a GDS. By simply clicking a few times, they can conveniently arrange all their requirements without the need to reach out to each provider separately.

The First Global Distribution System (GDS) was Developed to Facilitate the Sale of Airline Tickets

In 1946, American Airlines unveiled the inaugural Computer Reservation System (CRS) globally. At that point, vendors receiving regular updates regarding their inventory confined the automation component of the CRS. Nevertheless, travel agents encountered a unique set of situations.

The airline’s booking center initially required travel agents to make contact. Subsequently, the booking center would establish a connection with a CRS operator who would then transmit the information back to the travel agent. All of these transactions occurred over the phone, demanding a significant amount of manpower just to secure a single airline ticket.

Following the collaboration between IBM and American Airlines, transformations started to occur. In the ensuing decades, CRS Systems underwent enhancements, evolving into significantly more advanced systems. At the same time, travel agents started requesting an automated booking system because they faced significant challenges while attempting to book tickets manually.

Role of GDS in the Aviation Industry

GDS plays an important role in the aviation industry, especially in airline ticketing. Here are some key use cases of GDS in airline ticketing:

Flight Availability & Booking

GDS platforms collect and display real-time information on flight availability, schedules and fares from multiple airlines. Travel agents and online travel agencies (OTAs) use GDS to compare & book flights for their customers across various airlines.

Multi-carrier Itineraries

GDS allows the creation of complex itineraries involving multiple airlines. This is extremely important for travelers who need to reach destinations not served by a single airline.

Price Comparison & Competitive Analysis

Airlines can distribute their fares through GDS allowing travel agents to compare prices & services across different carriers. Travel agencies can make informed decisions based on real-time fare information helping them offer the best deals to their customers.

Reservation Management

GDS facilitates the management of reservations including the ability to modify or cancel bookings. This helps in handling customer requests efficiently.

Access to Ancillary Services

GDS provides information on various ancillary services offered by airlines such as seat selection, baggage options and in-flight amenities. During the booking process, travel agents can showcase these alternatives to customers.

Global Reach

GDS systems operate globally, connecting airlines, travel agencies and customers across different regions. This global reach ensures that travel-related information is accessible and consistent worldwide.

Automated Ticketing and E-tickets

GDS facilitates the issuance of e-tickets streamlining the ticketing process and reducing the reliance on traditional paper tickets.

Fare Rules & Regulations

GDS provides detailed information on fare rules, restrictions and conditions associated with different ticket types. This helps travel agents and customers understand the terms of their bookings.

Integration with Other Systems

GDS systems can integrate with various other systems such as customer relationship management (CRM) and accounting systems to streamline overall business operations for airlines & travel agencies.

Real-time Updates & Notifications

GDS provides real-time updates on flight status, delays, cancellations & other critical information ensuring that travel agents & passengers are promptly informed of any changes.

What is GDS in the Hotel Industry?

A Global Distribution System (GDS) is a massive network of computers that links together hoteliers, travel agencies, hospitality providers and other services related to travel.

GDS enables instant sharing of information, hotel reservations, pricing & availability management and other crucial operations vital for the seamless operation of the travel and tourism sector.

It sends up-to-date information on product details, prices and availability to travel agencies and online booking systems simplifying the booking process through automated procedures. The GDS is commonly utilized for arranging business travel as it consolidates hotels, flights and rental cars into a single interface offering users convenience.

How Does a GDS Work in Travel?

The GDS serves as a bridge between the travel agent and the central reservation system of hotels or airlines. Travel agents can see up-to-date rates and the availability of rooms at a particular hotel instantly using the GDS.

What is the practical functioning of the GDS?

The hotel’s property management system (PMS) sends the most up-to-date rates and availability straight to the Global Distribution System (GDS) and online booking pages using the channel manager.

After a booking is confirmed on the GDS (Global Distribution System) or an online booking platform, the channel manager quickly updates the availability on all channels. This includes the hotel’s official website and it automatically sends the booking specifics back to the PMS (Property Management System) or CRS (Central Reservation System). This eliminates the need for the travel agent to communicate with hotel staff and for the hotel’s reservation agents to input any data manually.

Each GDS (Global Distribution System) comes with its connection charges and registration criteria. Before choosing a specific GDS, it’s valuable to understand the terms of collaboration.

Most Widely Used Global Distribution Systems Currently

When it comes to major global distribution systems, several significant players make important contributions to the travel industry. Let’s explore a few top GDSs (Global Distribution Systems) that are making a big impact on the travel industry with their innovative solutions:

1. Amadeus

Amadeus is a major global travel technology company known for offering a variety of services. It helps travel providers and agents connect easily by providing instant access to information, making reservations simple and smooth. In addition to its main functions, Amadeus provides tools and features that help travel agency professionals improve operations and elevate customer experiences. This GDS represents the core of efficiency and convenience in the travel sector.

2. Sabre

Sabre is another important player in the world of GDSs that provides travel agencies with a variety of tools & solutions through its advanced platform. This lets them easily book plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars and plan personalized tours. Sabre uses its expertise to help not just regular travel agencies, but also airlines, hotels and other service providers with custom technology solutions. Sabre’s extensive support demonstrates their dedication to advancing innovation and excellence throughout the travel industry.

3. Travelport

Travelport is another worldwide distribution system that must be considered. Travelport’s platform helps travel agents easily find and book various travel services. Travelport provides agents with a wide range of options ranging from flights and hotels to car rentals and beyond catering to the varied requirements of their clients. Furthermore, Travelport goes beyond that by providing strong tools and solutions tailored for airlines, hotels and service providers. This helps companies sell and distribute their products boosting growth and profits in the fiercely competitive travel & tourism sector.

Travel Content and Coverage

The diversity of options you can offer plays a crucial role in determining the future success of your agency. A key strength of a GDS lies in its ability to serve as a comprehensive platform for a wide range of travel services. Evaluating the industry coverage of each GDS allows you to assess the extent of their offerings.

Amadeus Inventory and Coverage

Established in 1987, Amadeus has its headquarters in Madrid and was founded by four prominent European airlines: Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia and SAS. Presently, the Global Distribution System (GDS) is established in 190 markets and operates from more than a hundred offices across the globe.

Flights. Amadeus includes 82% of scheduled flights worldwide bringing together over 400 airlines, including 130+ hybrid and low-cost carriers (LCCs) with the leading European LCC, Ryanair, among them. Moreover, over a hundred airlines are accessible through interline agreements.

In addition to reserving basic seats, travel agencies can arrange ancillaries and fare families from more than 150 and 100 suppliers respectively. Vendors also benefit from immediate access to exclusive offers from 120 airlines that manage their inventory through Altéa Reservation, a passenger service system (PSS) operated by Amadeus.

Hotels. The Global Distribution System (GDS) accumulates data from more than a million distinct properties sourced from top bed banks and 350 hotel chains. It also grants entry to numerous alternative lodging options through collaborations with short-term rental platforms like Booking.com and TrustedStays. Incidentally, both Marriott International and IHG, two out of the world’s three largest hotel companies, have opted for a cloud-based central reservation system developed by Amadeus to enhance and simplify their booking processes.

Other content. Travel agencies have the opportunity to capitalize on offers from:

• 44 car rental brands offering services across approximately 42,000 locations worldwide
• 90 railways in 170 countries
• 300,000+ tours and activities
• Over 30 bookable and over 100 searchable cruise companies and ferry lines
• 21 insurance providers

The Amadeus Travel platform provides comprehensive travel content backed by a team of 16,000 professionals including developers, industry experts and local market specialists. This content can be accessed through various channels such as online self-booking tools, travel agency front office solutions, mobile apps and more.

Sabre Inventory and Coverage

Sabre traces its origins to a computer reservation system that was first created by American Airlines. Given its roots, it’s not surprising that the Global Distribution System (GDS) primarily caters to the Americas with its headquarters based in Texas and an additional seven offices spread across the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay. However, Sabre also boasts a significant presence in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific) regions with over 30 offices in the former and 17 in the latter. In total, Sabre extends its services to more than 400,000 travel agencies in over 160 countries worldwide.

Flights. Sabre connects travel agencies to a network of more than 400 full-service and low-cost carriers with 170 of them offering ancillaries and branded fares. Like Amadeus, Sabre operates its passenger service system called SabreSonic.

Hotels. Sabre agents can utilize a vast selection of more than 1.6 million accommodation choices. The company has been selected as the central reservation system provider for Hyatt hotels, with the inventory migration scheduled to commence in 2024.

Other content. Sabre utilizes content from 38 car rental brands that provide services in 160 countries. Additionally, Sabre collaborates with 9 major national rail networks and over 50 rail operators. The platform also extends its support to 20 ocean and river cruise lines as well as tour operators from Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Travelport Content and Coverage

The smallest of the Big Three, Travelport, is a combination of three GDSs: Worldpsan, Apollo and Galileo. It has operations in 180 countries with its headquarters located in London. Its global representation is nearly equal with it outperforming in Eastern Europe and Africa and expanding in Asia and the Americas.

Flights. Access to 460 airlines, 340 branded prices and 150 carrier ancillaries are available through Travelport.

Hotels. Travelport raised the number of lodging alternatives to over a million and introduced pre- and post-pay prices across 140,000 properties after partnering with Booking.com.

Other content. Travelport provides information from 46 car rental companies such as Hertz pre-paid rates, 25 rail companies and packages from top tour and cruise companies. Travelport and Trainline, the top rail reservation platform in Europe, combined in 2022 to allow GDS clients to plan and coordinate rail travel throughout Europe.

NDC Support

The New Distribution Capability (NDC) represents an industry-wide effort aimed at enhancing the air travel shopping experience. As prominent airlines such as Lufthansa, American Airlines and United discontinue their offerings through legacy EDIFACT protocol-based indirect channels, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) are compelled to acknowledge this paradigm shift and gradually integrate NDC capabilities.

The Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM) index program, initiated by IATA in 2022 as a successor to the 4-level NDC certification, sees active involvement from all three major Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). This index comprises 76 NDC capabilities categorized into six groups: Shop, Order, Pay, Settle, Account and Setup. Variations exist among the GDSs concerning the quantity of confirmed NDC features and operational integrations with airline NDC content.

Travelport

Travelport takes pride in being the inaugural Global Distribution System (GDS) to unveil the GDS channel. Presently, agencies can access NDC content from Qantas, United Airlines, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Air France-KLM through APIs or the Travelport + retail platform. As a system provider for sellers, the GDS has verified 13 NDC capabilities.

Sabre

Sabre retains access to NDC offerings from Avianca Group (Colombia), Qatar Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines. Its REST/JSON Offer and Order APIs facilitate shopping, booking, fulfillment and various servicing functionalities. In total, the GDS has verified 22 ARM capabilities as a system provider for sellers and 18 capabilities as a system provider for airlines.

Amadeus

Under its Enterprise subscription designed for major players in the travel industry, Amadeus provides NDC content from 19 airlines. This comprehensive offering includes major carriers such as American Airlines, United, Singapore Airlines, Air France-KLM, Qantas, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Finnair and additional airlines with ongoing efforts to integrate more. Accessible through XML-based SOAP APIs and Selling Platform Connect, the NDC content is facilitated by the GDS, supporting 23 ARM capabilities for sellers and 36 features for airlines within the Altéa Reservation PSS.

GDS API Functionality

For those with considerable experience in the industry, it’s evident that API connectivity stands out as a primary means of data exchange within the travel sector. Each of the three Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) offers an extensive array of travel APIs designed to fuel various applications including travel agency software, tools for tour operators, B2B travel platforms, car rental reservation systems and other innovative solutions.

“Ready to expand your travel business’s reach and streamline operations? HashStudioz Technologies can help you harness the power of GDS API integration, seamlessly connecting you to a vast network of travel suppliers and enabling effortless booking experiences for your customers.”

Amadeus APIs

In the year 2000, Amadeus pioneered the introduction of APIs becoming the inaugural Global Distribution System (GDS) to do so. Presently, Amadeus APIs play a crucial role in fueling numerous web and mobile applications categorizing them into two main groups: Self-Service, designed for newcomers & travel startups and Enterprise tailored for major industry players.

The Self-service subscription offers APIs utilizing contemporary REST architecture and is compatible with JSON format for data interchange. Presently, approximately 40 APIs are spanning seven categories accessible for the creation of booking engines and various travel software applications.

Flight APIs

Flight APIs facilitate the automation of the entire flight booking workflow ranging from searching for offers to upselling branded fares. These APIs offer various additional features including travel recommendations, predictions for flight delays, discovering all destinations served by a specific airline and more. The total number of APIs within this category exceeds 20. It’s important to note that APIs in the Self-service catalog do not support airline ticketing directly. Hence, you must finalize the booking process through a partner host agency or air consolidator.

Cars and Transfers APIs

The Cars and Transfers APIs streamline transportation coordination by standardizing information from worldwide providers, enabling seamless bookings and providing convenient management and cancellation options for reservations. These APIs involve a wide range of services including private transfers, taxis, airport express trains, buses, private jets, transfer helicopters and more.

Hotel APIs

Hotel APIs provide comprehensive coverage for searching & booking accommodations in over 150,000 hotels. This allows users to easily find lodging in specific areas. The search process is enhanced with autocomplete functionality and users can further enhance their results by incorporating travel ratings. The corresponding API utilizes sentiment analysis on hotel reviews to provide valuable insights.

Destination Experiences APIs

Destination Experiences APIs return

• The compilation consists of local points of interest with coordinates, categorized details & popularity ratings. These ratings are determined through the AVUXI TopPlace algorithm. This algorithm analyzes millions of online comments and images to assess the appeal of each attraction.
• A compilation of prime activities in a specific location, accompanied by convenient links for seamless booking through reputable providers. These exclusive offerings are sourced from prominent experience aggregators such as Viator, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor and Holibob.

One additional function within this classification involves locating cities that commence with a particular sequence of letters.

Itinerary Management APIs

Itinerary Management APIs serve dual purposes: assembling a comprehensive itinerary by consolidating information from diverse booking confirmation emails and forecasting the trip’s purpose to enhance the delivery of a personalized experience.

Market Insights APIs

Utilize Market Insights APIs to inform your decisions with data on highly frequented and reserved destinations as well as peak travel periods. These valuable insights are derived from Amadeus’s historical flight data including traffic summaries and the overall count of Passenger Name Records (PNRs) generated.

Travel Safety APIs

COVID-19 and Travel Safety APIs provide comprehensive details on restrictions and safety conditions for over 40,000 cities worldwide. The information covers ratings for women’s safety, health, theft, political freedom, physical threats and LGBTQ safety.

The Enterprise subscription includes the Self-service catalog and traditional SOAP APIs, which remain prominent in Amadeus’s portfolio. In total, it comprises more than a hundred APIs providing the following essential capabilities that are not available in the Self-service tier:

1. Booking air tickets during the reservation process.
2. Utilizing NDC for flight reservations.
3. Securing travel insurance reservations.
4. Generating virtual credit cards for payment and completing transactions.
5. Making railway reservations.

In addition to its extensive functionality, enterprise clients receive round-the-clock technical support, personalized pricing and the assistance of a dedicated manager. However, membership eligibility requires IATA/ARC certification.

Please be aware that Amadeus does not disclose cruise content through APIs. Instead, it is exclusively accessible through its dedicated cruise portal.

Sabre APIs

Sabre utilizes both SOAP APIs and REST APIs. While SOAP APIs provide more extensive functionality, REST APIs are known for their developer-friendly nature. The connectivity suite includes

• Air APIs such as REST/JSON Offer and Order APIs, facilitate the integration of NDC, ATPCO and low-cost deals;
• Hotel APIs;
• Car APIs;
• Cruise APIs and
• Rail APIs.

In addition to individual endpoints, Sabre provides orchestrated APIs that consolidate multiple operations into a unified call. For example, users can perform air option searches, check availability and prices, and book a flight (create a Passenger Name Record, or PNR) within a single request. Additionally, there are pre-built workflows available for tasks such as air ticket issuing, NDC (New Distribution Capability) air offer fulfillment, car reservations and more.

Travelport APIs

Similar to Amadeus and Sabre, Travelport provides RESTful/JSON and SOAP/XML APIs for the development of booking applications and travel websites. There are four distinct API groups accessible:

• Access EDIFACT/ATPCO, NDC and LCC content through Air APIs;
• Connect to properties in 180 countries via Hotel APIs;
• Reserve cars across 38,000 locations using Car APIs and
• Book tickets from five global carriers through Rail APIs.

You have the option to experiment with and assess REST APIs using credentials available in a 90-day trial. For SOAP APIs, the trial period is limited to 30 days.

GDS Tools

These days, GDSs serve as the biggest IT suppliers in the travel industry in addition to acting as content aggregators. Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport provide a broad range of ready-to-use software products for retail travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, hotels and other businesses, in addition to APIs. We’ll quickly go over some of the most important off-the-shelf options for travel merchants that are based on their content APIs in this section.

Amadeus Selling Platform Connect, Cytric and Outpayce

Travel agents may work from any device and any location with an Internet connection thanks to one of Amadeus’s flagship products, Selling Platform Connect. The cloud-based platform, aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises has automatic updates and doesn’t require installation ensuring that all users inside the company are using the same version.

Cytric Travel and Expense is a distinct suite of Amadeus’s corporate travel booking solutions. A mobile app for employees who are on the go, tools for managing expenses, user-friendly dashboards, CO2 compensation data and more are included.

The business introduced Outpayce, a B2B payments platform completely linked with the Amadeus digital ecosystem, in 2022. It enables travel agents to establish and maintain B2B wallets as well as pay their suppliers with virtual cards. More than 50 credit issuers are connected to travel businesses through the system.

Sabre Red 360, GetThere and Conferma Pay

Sabre Red 360 is a marketplace that links suppliers and sellers, and it is available to Sabre agents. It includes NDC offers as well as content that can be accessed using APIs. When looking for flights on the site, consumers began to obtain data on carbon offsets in 2023. They can use this tool to find the largest polluters of the air and make reservations that consider sustainability.

GetThere is Sabre’s corporate and TMC client product. Operating on top of Sabre Red 360, it provides services to thousands of international and mid-sized businesses in 11 countries such as Visa and JTB Business Travel. The cloud-based program, accessible on desktop, tablet and mobile devices includes travel booking and reporting features.

Like Amadeus, Sabre is the owner of a B2B payment platform; the GDS purchased its longstanding partner Conferma Pay in 2022. It connects travel agencies with more than 50 institutions that can issue virtual credit cards in 100 different currencies.

Travelport + and Deem

Beginning in 2021, Travelport has been diligently enhancing its retailing platform, Travelport+. It is projected that this software contributes to a daily time savings of 1.5 hours for agents as opposed to the conventional method of booking through the traditional GDS green screen. Travelport CEO Greg Webb reports that in 2023, more than 80 percent of the company’s travel agency customers actively utilized Travelport+.

In the year 2023, Travelport enhanced its primary product by introducing Smartpoint Cloud, a technology designed to assist travel agents in crafting personalized travel packages. Furthermore, Travelport+ has recently been integrated with the corporate booking tool Deem, a move anticipated to result in a doubling of the GDS’s global presence by the year 2024.

Regarding B2B payments, Travelport bucks the trend. In 2020, rather than acquiring a platform to enhance transaction efficiency, the company took a different approach by divesting its payment business, eNett along with its parent company Opal, selling them to the rival brand WEX.

Pricing and Time-to-market

The cost of integrated technology remains a significant consideration for businesses. Obtaining straightforward answers regarding the pricing from the three major Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport – is challenging. To obtain detailed information, it is 

recommended to reach out to them directly.

The pricing structure of any GDS is typically influenced by several key factors:

1. The target market for your expansion efforts.
2. The technologies you intend to implement.
3. Your sales volumes, directly affect the number of API calls.
4. The desired quality and quantity of content you seek to acquire.
   

Predicting the time to market for any of the three GDSs is challenging. However, it can be determined by factors such as the prompt payment of the quoted amount, the effectiveness of your product strategy and the seamless compatibility of the suggested technology with your current system.

GDS Systems: How to Connect to Them

With the emergence of online booking platforms, mastering the intricacies of a Global Distribution System (GDS) is no longer a prerequisite for purchasing travel. Nevertheless, engaging directly with a GDS offers numerous advantages over non-GDS agents, particularly in the world of flight bookings. Accessing GDSs firsthand continues to be the fastest and most effective method for discovering and securing airline tickets at competitive prices. Below are the typical steps to connect with a GDS of your preference.

Apply for Acceptance

To enlist as a GDS agent, reach out to a service provider and fill out an application form. During this process, you will need to furnish details about your business including evidence of previous accomplishments and industry certifications. Specifically, if your role involves managing air ticketing, possessing IATA accreditation (or IATAN/ARC numbers for US travel agencies) is a prerequisite.

Small enterprises and independent travel agents with budget constraints for expensive industry accreditations have the option to arrange travel through a host travel agency or an air consolidator. In such instances, it is necessary to provide the credentials of the hosting entity.

Pass the GDS Terminal Training

In contrast to contemporary booking platforms, a traditional Global Distribution System (GDS) workspace, often referred to as a green screen or terminal utilizes a command-line interface featuring text-based inputs and outputs. Effectively maneuvering through systems such as Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport requires a sophisticated technical skill set involving proficiency in the operation and comprehension of numerous domain-specific commands and codes. It is no surprise that achieving expertise in GDS demands rigorous training and ongoing practice, typically involving daily bookings under mentor supervision for a period ranging from six months to a year.

Although global distribution systems share many similarities, each possesses its unique characteristics necessitating your attention to the specific one you intend to employ. Various pertinent courses are offered by GDSs, IATA and educational platforms such as Udemy. The pricing fluctuates based on factors like duration, level of expertise (basic, advanced, etc.), specific knowledge areas addressed and other considerations.

In addition to traditional terminals, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) provide contemporary and user-friendly interfaces for travel agents including Sabre Red 360, Amadeus Selling Platform Connect and Travelport+. These interfaces not only reduce training time but also boost productivity. However, users are still required to transition from graphical user interfaces (GUI) to manual commands for reservation completion. Consequently, GDSs mandate users to undergo a training course, either provided or approved by the GDS to gain access to their innovative products. It is crucial to note that even minor errors made during the booking process lead to debit memos resulting in fines imposed on travel agencies.

Negotiate Competitive Deals

The effectiveness of your collaboration with GDS hinges on the relevance of the data provided by suppliers. To secure the most lucrative and advantageous deals from suppliers through GDS platforms, it is crucial to personally organize them. GDS platforms, in return, empower you to set the negotiated rates with providers.

Integrate with GDS APIs

Online travel firms can use GDS APIs to automatically obtain and book travel material eliminating the need for a human search process through GDS interfaces. API integration is a labor-intensive process that entails new contracts and discussions and calls for qualified IT personnel. The process of creating, testing and GDS-certified connections might take a few weeks to several months.

Amadeus vs Sabre vs Travelport

Which GDS System is the Best?

GDSs are without a doubt the greatest at covering distribution for travel networks globally. They do have several disadvantages such as demanding specifications, protracted confirmation procedures and high resource usage. Furthermore, GDS adoption of NDC content and low-cost carriers has space to grow.

Other than that, it’s difficult to say which GDS: Travelport, Sabre or Amadeus is superior. The explanation is more nuanced and we hope this post made things more clear.

Hire a travel technology expert and explore other choices if your travel agency is not very tech-savvy. HashStudioz Technologies is a leading provider of travel technology services, serving retail sales, B2B resellers, tour operators and business travel intermediaries. Our expertise lies in Travel portal development, API/XML Integration, Travel App Development, Travel process Automation and more. With a core focus on customer acquisition and process simplification, we deliver comprehensive travel portal development solutions complete with pre-integrated APIs. Beyond GDS, XML and API Integrations, we also offer auxiliary tools like Google map weather widgets, the latest travel news, trip advice & other resources facilitating travelers in efficiently planning their journeys.

How HashStudioz Can Help You?

HashStudioz is an IT company, with years of experience navigating the intricate world of travel technology. We offer a helping hand in seamlessly integrating APIs into your travel app, unlocking a world of real-time inventory, efficient booking tools, and happy customers. No matter if you’re an established travel giant or a budding entrepreneur, our expertise ensures a smooth ride, from finding the perfect API to making it sing within your app. Ditch the API headaches and let HashStudioz be your passport to travel tech success.

Here’s how we can help you:

• Identify the Right GDS API: We’ll analyze your business needs, target markets, and technical requirements to determine the most suitable GDS API for your business, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Strategic Planning and Implementation: Our team will work closely with you to develop a comprehensive integration strategy, ensuring a smooth and successful implementation process that aligns with your business objectives.
• Seamless Integration: Our developers are proficient in handling various API technologies and data formats, ensuring a flawless integration process.
• Customization and Configuration: We tailor the integration to meet your specific needs, including branding, workflows, and content distribution.
• Custom Travel Solutions: We offer the development of custom travel portals, booking engines, and other travel-related software to enhance your online presence and user experience.

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