Difference between Central Reservation System and Global distribution System in Travel Technology - Everything you need to know

 

Today's travelers want instant and accurate information about their travel options. As a result, travel agencies put a high priority on the Central Reservation System and the Global Distribution System. It has completely transformed the travel industry.

If you want to start a travel agency, you should first learn about the Global Distribution System (GDS) and the Central Reservation System (CRS), as well as the differences between the two.

Here's everything you need to know about GDSs and CRSs, their role in the travel industry, and what the future holds for this essential reservation tool.

 

What are CRS and GDS?

 

CRS stands for Computer Reservation System. A computer reservation system is used to store and retrieve information as well as to conduct air travel transactions. CRSs were originally designed and operated by airlines but were later extended for use by travel agents. 

Airlines have transferred the majority of their direct holdings to dedicated GDS companies, which make their systems available to consumers via internet gateways. Modern GDS's usually allow users to book hotel rooms and rental cars as well as airline tickets. The best known global GDSs are Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan.

CRS and GDS actually perform the same functions, but the main difference between Central Reservation System and Global distribution System is that CRS only provides information about airlines, whereas GDS allows you to reserve a ticket, a hotel room, and a rental car. This is why they are referred to as Global Distribution Systems (GDS), as they allow you to book everything.

Global distribution system and Central Reservation System connect is important for your travel business to tap beyond the local travel marketplace. However, Travelopro's next-generation technology can help you easily connect to GDS and CRS.

Once you connect with CRS and GDS, you can increase your business's exposure to travel agencies, OTAs, and metasearch websites. This technique updates these third-party channels automatically, saving you precious time. If your establishment is not attracting enough travelers, or if you are attracting the wrong kinds of consumers, it may be worthwhile to invest in a CRS or GDS.

Global distribution system and Computer Reservation System connect is essential for a business to tap beyond the local travel marketplace. This huge network is responsible for transmitting the data and rates to online travel agencies and sites. GDS for travel portals can be difficult without the right approach. However, Travelopro's next-generation technology can make it easy to connect to GDS and CRS.

 

The difference between CRS and GDS

 

GDS (Global Distribution System)

 

The Global Distribution System (GDS) is a network/platform that allows travel agencies and their clients to access travel data, shop for and compare reservation options and book travel. GDS networks like the system operated by Amadeus or Travelport generate billions of dollars in global travel sales.

Through such commerce platforms as the GDS, agents can access scheduling and inventory of hotels, airlines, car rentals, and railway and bus reservations – in real-time. GDS connects all of these services across the three primary travel reservation sectors (airline, hotel, and ground transportation, i.e., car rentals), as well as activities.

Independent travel agents, online agents, and travel agencies are increasingly using highly sophisticated GDS systems to search for the best available travel and accommodations and rates for their clients. Agents will make airline and hotel reservations for clients in real-time, and they will complete their research and bookings in minutes.

A global distribution system (GDS) is a huge database that stores and updates massive amounts of information about inventory and hotel rates for travel agencies and websites. This system is responsible for the extensive growth of the travel industry and served as the cornerstone for the majority of internet-based travel services.

Through the GDS software, travel agents/agencies can access real-time availability, price, and offers of flight tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises, ferry reservations, trains, and other services.

GDS is a computerized web service that provides the global travel industry with pricing, real-time availability, centralized data display, and reservation functionality in a unified process. The four main GDS providers in the travel industry are Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, and Worldspan helping travel agents growing the volume of travel transactions.

GDS Networks assist travel companies, agents, and their customers in gaining access to travel data by comparing rates, reservation options, access schedules, and inventories (hotels, airlines, car rental, holidays, bus tickets, railway tickets), as well as the ability for customers to book tickets online.

GDS booking systems streamline the process for online travel agencies by eliminating the need for OTAs to connect with multiple airlines, hotels, and other businesses for inventory. As a result, GDS meets the inventory needs of online travel agencies and reservation sites.

The majority of data from hotels, airlines, and other distributors is stored and processed by several major global distribution systems. These include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, Apollo, and Pegasus.

 

The GDS system offers the following benefits:

 

• Suppliers of hotel rooms, airline tickets, or travel services can dramatically increase revenue by attracting international tourists

• Enable travel agents to help customers book quickly and efficiently

• Customers can find the best locations at the best prices

 

Amadeus GDS

 

Amadeus has been operating for over 30 years, building key solutions to help airlines, hotels, railways, travel agencies, tour operators, and more to run their business and improve the travel experience.

Amadeus has the largest global footprint of any GDS, potentially reaching millions of guests. The company employs over 17,000 people and operates in over 190 markets.

The Amadeus system retains all of the core competencies and merits necessary for long-term success, not only because it is a strong travel management system, but also because of its diversity in travel content aggregation. The Amadeus GDS System is used by over 90,000 travel companies worldwide.

 

Sabre GDS

 

Sabre is a leading technology and data-driven solutions provider helping airlines, hotels, and travel agencies grow their businesses and transform the traveler experience.

Sabre is seen as a pioneer for online travel agencies, corporate booking tools, revenue management, and web and mobile itinerary tools, to name a few.

Sabre Travel Network is its global business-to-business travel marketplace and consists primarily of the GDS and a broad set of solutions that integrate with the GDS.

This marketplace is used by travel suppliers including 400 airlines, 175,000 hotels, 200 tour operators, 50 rail carriers, 40 car rental outlets, and 17 cruise lines.

 

Galileo GDS

 

Galileo, one of the leading GDS providers, is reshaping and evolving the travel industry with its travel marketplace. Galileo software is used by thousands of travel suppliers and buyers to assist with market planning, selling, business operations, and other activities.

The Galileo Global Distribution System contains a wealth of useful information that OTAs can use to introduce to customers. Within one interface travel agents have access to real-time inventory and pricing for airlines, hotels, railroads, touring, car rentals, and more.

Apart from this, Galileo Software provides highly skilled and robust travel portal solutions that enable agents to deliver complete travel packages in a fast and effective manner.

 

Worldspan GDS

 

Worldspan is a Travelport platform and the technology leader in web-based travel eCommerce, providing solutions for all aspects of the online travel business. As a leading GDS, Worldspan provides travel distribution, technologies, and services for thousands of travel companies worldwide, including travel agencies, corporations, travel suppliers, and travel websites.

Worldspan turns global travel distribution and transaction processing with industry-first fares, pricing, shopping and booking technologies, and a portfolio of interactive shopping tools that enable travel companies to reduce costs, increase productivity and build revenues.

 

Apollo GDS

 

As a leading GDS, Apollo provides travel distribution, technologies, and services for thousands of travel companies worldwide, including travel agencies, corporations, travel suppliers, and travel websites.

Apollo is the leading GDS provider of the travel & tourism sector, It is the most desirable GDS system in travel technology and travel distribution solutions for tourism. Apollo GDS tools provide seasoned travel portal solutions and help make reservations or bookings completely easy. It enables travel agencies to provide their customers with real-time inventory of hotels, flights, rental cars, tours, and so on.

By incorporating Apollo Software into your booking engine, website, or application, you can consolidate data for airlines, hotels, car rentals, and package tours in real-time. Once the Apollo GDS is integrated into your reservation system, the data, including availability and price, will be centralized. This is a cost-effective way to build and update your customized booking option with detailed content.

Your online travel agency can use Apollo GDS integration solutions to expand its global audience and increase revenue. This ensures an exceptional user experience.

 

Abacus GDS

 

Abacus was founded in 1988 became a leading provider of travel solutions and services in the Asia Pacific region.

Abacus serves over 100,000 travel agents in the Asia-Pacific region's 59 markets, and it has global and uniquely local relationships with airlines and hotels, including the leading portfolio of low-cost content and airline content.

Abacus GDS is used by travel companies to find the best airline tickets, car rentals, hotel rooms, and so on for their clients. Travel companies customize information based on the customer's preferences and itinerary.

When a traveler requests information from a travel agency, the agent will find the most accurate and cost-effective itinerary.

The Abacus GDS is the primary booking channel for many travel agencies around the world. It is also responsible for the significant growth of the travel industry.

 

Pegasus GDS

 

Pegasus strives to eliminate friction and create simplicity amidst an otherwise complicated environment. Pegasus Solutions pioneered the hospitality reservations industry.

The company is a market leader in the electronic processing, management, distribution, sales, and marketing of hotel inventory, rates, and content through various sales channels such as direct bookings through hotels' branded websites, voice, travel agents (GDS), OTAs, and metasearch partners.

 

Computer Reservation System (CRS)

 

A Computer Reservation System (CRS) is an automated reservation system used to store information, retrieve information, and conduct air travel transactions. The method was initially designed to be used by airlines and was later extended for the use of travel agents.

The term CRS is no longer widely used because it became a component of a larger system known as the Passenger Service System (PSS), which includes CRS, an airline inventory system, and the departure control system (DCS).

CRSs enable tourism companies to control, promote and sell their products globally, thus allowing them to maximize their occupancy.

As you'll see, if you want to run a profitable business, you must use a CRS. The system will reduce uncertainty and unsatisfied guests while increasing your profit.

There are numerous advantages to using a CRS that travel agencies can capitalize on. The impacts of central reservation systems (CRS) in the hospitality industry extend beyond efficiency in booking and reservation.

The CRS, in its simplest form, is a database that allows a tourism organization to manage its inventory and make it accessible to its distribution channel partners. The rapid growth in both tourism demand and supply over the last decades has shown that the tourism industry can only be completed by powerful software applications.

 

Examples of CRS

 

• Hewlett Packard’s EDS

• SabreSonic or Altéa (Sabre)

• Navitaire (owned by Amadeus)

 

A CRS system offers a number of benefits:

 

• Increase sales opportunities by reaching customers of booking channels, resulting in increased revenue.

• Limit booking errors thanks to advanced information storage and synchronization system

• Save time and operating costs because the system automatically performs the necessary functions

• Efficient revenue management

 

What are some of the Basic Functions of the Central Reservation System in the Travel Industry?

 

• Displays travel services with prices and images

• Inventory and booking management

• User-friendly reservation system

• Customer data management

• Email notifications

• Booking cancellation and refund management

 

Travelopro initiative to make travel business grow with GDS and CRS 

 

Travelopro takes initiative to integrate travel businesses with the leading GDS and CRS system. With decades of experience in the travel industry, we offer our clients seamless and flexible travel portal development. Most importantly, based on the requirements, we recommend GDS and CRS integration.

Implementing the CRS and GDS increases the probability of working with a diverse range of distributors, modifying rates based on market conditions, streamlining all booking processes, and providing excellent customer service.

At Travelopro, we pride ourselves on being able to connect you with all the major CRS and the leading GDS channels. Whatever the size of your business, we can assist you in finding an optimal solution for your global travel business.

Travelopro is a one-stop destination serving a vast range of travel products and services from the world’s leading GDS including Travelport (Galileo, Apollo, Worldspan), Amadeus, and Sabre, to clients across the globe.

So, don't waste any more time and take full advantage of our travel portal API Integration services to obtain a large global inventory from multiple GDS and CRS systems.

Our developers have a wealth of experience working with major GDS providers and travel consolidators. They have already integrated numerous projects in airline reservation systems, hotel reservation systems, car rentals, and other travel sector services with Amadeus GDS, Travelport/Galileo GDS, and Sabre GDS.

The GDS and CRS allow online travel companies to collect data on airline and hotel room availability, as well as ticket availability in other modes of transportation such as buses or cars. It will assist you in increasing your online visibility and effectively selling your services to travelers.

So, what are you waiting for? Integrate these CRS and GDS Channels today to reap results in the future.