Why you should bet on the dark horse – expanding your reach with the GDS — Photo by GuestCentric Systems

Although it has long been said that the GDS systems are out-dated, with limited capabilities and benefits, the facts suggest otherwise.

Thanks to a considerable effort in development over the last 10 years from major players in the industry, this is simply no longer true. Actually, hotel GDS is more relevant now than it has ever been and the results speak volumes.

With the distribution landscape expanding at an incredible rate, driven by advancements in technology designed to exceed the ever-increasing demands of today's business traveler, the GDS is not lagging behind.
Quite the contrary, in fact. And it shows.

Gone are the days of the 'Green Screen', command-based interface

With the introduction of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), today's travel agents and travel planners have access to wider range of content in a much more user-friendly way. Furthermore, concerted efforts to increase 3rd party integrations and it's clear that things are moving in the right direction.

In fact, being able to access 'rich hotel content' such as hi-res images, location maps, and additional relevant information, in a much more accessible manner means that agents and advisors are better prepared to meet the needs of their corporate travel clients.

Consequently, most of the feedback from Travel Agents and Travel Management Companies has not only been positive but also indicates an increase in productivity, as their are able to complete more hotel bookings via GUIs in a set time than via the traditional 'green-screen' interfaces.

The numbers show us that 66 million hotel reservations were made through the GDS system in 2016. This number increased to 70 million in 2017 and up to 75 million in 2018.
With an upwards curve like that, it is hard to deny the productivity of the GDS system.

Taking all this into account, it's no wonder hotels and connectivity providers are focusing on content optimisation for their hotels' GDS in order to showcase their property(ies) and reach the 600,000 travel professionals who connect to the GDS every day, with the sole purpose of booking accommodation.

Have you been paying attention to your hotel's GDS content?

It might be worth taking a closer look! Make sure you tick all of these boxes:

  • Good quality hi-res photos that show your property at it's best!
  • A range of images that cover everything from rooms to your facilities and amenities, public areas and an exterior shot;
  • Up to date property descriptions including all the services and facilities you offer;
  • Accurate location information. Make sure your Geo-coding is optimised and that you include all relevant POIs to ensure greater visibility;
  • Content, content, content - you can never have enough… CONTENT!

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric is a leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software and services that help extraordinary hoteliers promote their brand, drive direct bookings and connect with customers on all digital platforms. GuestCentric's all-in-one platform provides hotels with the only unified solution for managing their guests' online journey: award-winning, high impact websites; an integrated, easy-to-use booking engine; social media marketing and publishing tools; a GDS chain code and a channel manager to offer rooms on Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Galileo, Google, Sabre, TripAdvisor and hundreds of other channels. GuestCentric is a proud provider of solutions that maximize direct bookings to hotel groups and independent hotels from collections such as Design Hotels, Great Hotels of the World, Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels and Small Danish Hotels. GuestCentric is featured on Skift Travel Tech 250, a list of the top 250 travel tech companies shaping the modern-day travel experience.

Michael Territt
Director of GDS Consultancy, GuestCentric
+35 191 685 3597
GuestCentric Systems

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