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Date: January 29, 2024

What is GDS? – A Simple Guide For New Travel Agencies

Many travel agents around the world are using the Global Distribution System (GDS) as their major booking channels. It is also responsible for the significant growth of the travel industry.

If you are brand new to the travel business, you will be probably wondering what a GDS is and why GDS is much important to develop travel agents website

In this blog, we are going to explore about GDS, its importance in the travel industry and what the future looks like for this primary reservation tool.

What is GDS?

Global Distribution System (GDS) is the brain of the travel industry. It is a computerized network system which provides real-time information to companies such as airlines, hotels, car rental and travel agencies. Each of these sectors uses GDS to view real-time inventory of services offered in the travel industry.

For example, using GDS, a travel agency can find the availability of hotel rooms, flight seats or cars on behalf of their clients and book through the same GDS. 

How Do Travel Companies Use Global Distribution System (GDS)?

Travel companies use GDS to find the best airline ticket, car rental, hotel rooms, etc. for their clients. Information is customized and by the travel companies based on the preferences and itinerary.

When a traveler requests information from a travel company, the agent will find the most accurate and cost-effective itinerary. Travel companies are charged every time they access the GDS or they can buy a particular software offered by the GDS on a yearly basis. Also, an average person can never access the GDS without the help of a travel agency or a vendor.

Evolution of Global Distribution System (GDS)

The airline industry created the first GDS in the 1960s to track flight schedules, availability and prices. In fact, the GDSs were actually among the first companies that aided B2B e-commerce in the world. They were used by the airline industry to automate the booking system , but, later travel agents were also given access.

These are some of the major GDS systems in the industry.

Apart from these famous GDS systems, there are other smaller regional GDS systems such as Travelsky , a state-owned company in China and; KIU System , a PSS and GDS used in Latin America.

What Are the Benefits of Using GDS?

GDS will be the most important channel of distribution for airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Here are some of the major benefits of using Global Distribution System (GDS).

• Effective in attracting international travelers
• 24/7 access to inventory
• Enables business models such as retail travel agency and OTA (Online Travel Agency)
• Offer consumers increased pricing transparency
• Travel agents can get a global platform with a strong market penetration
• Provide best rates to your customers which no other system can provide
• Place travel services to many clients without affecting your marketing budget

Frequently Asked Questions About GDS

1. how can i start using a global distribution system (gds).

To use a GDS, you have to be a professional travel agent. For that, you must have a proper industry ID such as an ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation) or IATA (International Air Transport Association) number. Without this number, airline agencies will not know where to send your commission payments. Moreover, airline agencies will not allow unaccredited agents to issue tickets.

If you don’t want to get this certification, you can have a tie-up with an ARC or IATA host company who can book tickets on your behalf.

Some airlines will not allow you to issue tickets even if you have a full IATA license. To be on the safe side, before you sign for the GDS, make sure you talk to the particular airline to ensure if they will deal with you.

2. How much does it cost to use a GDS?

It depends on the specific service you want to use in the GDS. For example, if you want to use Amedeaus’s Flight booking software, they may sell it to you for $150-$160/year (contact the GDS provider to know the exact amount). The software will allow you to reserve tickets on any airlines.

3. Do I need a Global Distribution System (GDS)?

If you are a travel agent who falls under the below category, a GDS will be useful for you.

• A corporate travel agent who books on behalf of corporate clients or an individual working at a corporation who needs to book flight tickets for all their employees
• Complex itinerary agents who have steady clients with multiple travel plans
• High volume booking of air-only travel

If you are a leisure agent who doesn’t book air tickets multiple times in a day, you probably don’t need it.

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What is the future of gds in the travel industry.

The traditional role of GDS is changing and being challenged by the changes taking place in the travel industry. Many online travel websites and airlines are pushing and encouraging consumers to make bookings directly via their website. Some airlines are charging additional fees for tickets purchased via the GDS when compared to the pricing in their own website.

Some industry experts predict that GDS can turn into a direct corporate booking tool rather than a booking tool for travel companies.

For example, Southwest Airlines do not work with the GDS Company Worldspan; Sabre is used by American Airlines; PARS by USAir; TravelSky by Air China; and Worldspan by Delta. If you are an agent who uses WorldSpan, you cannot book with Southwest Airlines or you need to look for pricing directly on their website. Another newsworthy information is, agreements signed between airlines and GDS is on a renewal basis. Many in the travel industry are wondering if the airlines will renew their relationship with certain GDSs.

While changes will continue to impact the future growth of GDS, there will definitely be a role for them. Hopefully, they continue to evolve as they did from the old techniques in the 1950s.

We hope that you learned something new about the travel industry. Keep checking our blog section as we plan to further dismantle the ever-changing world of travel.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to reach our travel solution experts at ColorWhistle anytime. We are always happy to help.

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About the Author - Anjana

Anjana is a full-time Copywriter at ColorWhistle managing content-related projects. She writes about website technologies, digital marketing, and industries such as travel. Plus, she has an unhealthy addiction towards online marketing, watching crime shows, and chocolates.

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A GDS Primer: What is the GDS and Which Travel Agents Need It?

In short, the Global Distribution System (GDS) is a travel agent’s motherboard for booking airline tickets and other sorts of travel goodies (like hotel and car). So it might seem pretty odd for me to show up here and say that many travel agents don’t necessarily need it.

That’s right. If you are a leisure travel agent, there’s a huge whopping huge chance that you don’t need to use a GDS. If you want to become a corporate travel agent though? That's a whole different story. Much more on this later, but before we get there . . . a brief history of the GDS! 1

Before the Dawn of the GDS

It can be easy to confuse the GDS with a Central Reservation System or Computerized Reservation System (CRS). CRSs are automated inventory-tracking systems that were (originally) owned and run by individual vendors (like airlines, car companies and hotels).

American Airlines created the first CRS system in 1946. And while this helped automate inventory for vendors, travel agents did not have direct access to that inventory. Travel agents would need to call the airline’s booking center, who would then contact one of their CRS operators, then relay the results to the travel agent over the phone (literally, like playing telephone). It took a lot of people power to book a single airline ticket. Travelers booking their own ticket? Forget about it! 

Thanks to IBM, these CRS systems became progressively more sophisticated throughout the late 50s to the 70s. Simultaneously, travel agents became progressively more annoyed by all the hoops they had to jump through to book a ticket—they wanted it to be more automated on their end too.

Nowadays, GDSs function as an umbrella for many many CRS systems. It’s like a CRS motherboard. (In fact, many vendors outsource their CRS systems to a GDS.)

The GDS Today

The GDS started out as a distribution channel for many airline carriers and later expanded to carry inventory of hotels and car rentals. But for the purpose of our article, we’re focusing on the airline component of the GDS.

There are many GDS options, and each GDS system will has access to their own pool of carriers. The four largest GDSs are: Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport (which is the parent company of Apollo/Galileo and Worldspan).

Literally hundreds of airlines can be logged into a single GDS system, to which thousands upon thousands of travel agents globally have access. That’s the win win situation of the GDS . . . travel agents have access to zillions of different airline fares, and many airlines’ inventory is accessible to the zillions of travel agents who are booking flights for their many many clients.

The advantage for airlines is that they are spared some of the legwork of trying to market to individual consumers—and their product is in the hands of thousands of consumers through the collective pool of agents that book through the GDS.

The advantage to travel agents is that the GDS not only can show you many fares from multiple airlines, but it also offers a great depth of information about each flight in one place. The carrier, the times, the costs, the class of the seat, aircraft type and so much more. It’s a smorgasbord of options. So if you’re booking a high volume of tickets, it’s great to have access to every minutiae of information from multiple carriers in one go.

Simple, right? Just point and click and get your tickets. Nooooooo sireeeee. That could not be further from the truth.

Green Screen and GUI: The Evolution of the GDS

In today’s world, the GDSs have a bit of a split personality. There is the old school, traditional GDS commonly called “the green screen.” Then there’s the hip side of the GDSs, which people will call “point and click” or “GUI” (Graphical User Interface). Essentially, it’s a more intuitive and prettier looking version of the GDS.

But of course, it’s not that simple. Sigh.

1. The Green Screen: There’s No Such Thing as GDS for Dummies

Most of the time, when people are talking about the GDS, they are talking about the green screen. If an ad for a travel agency job says you need to know how to use Sabre, what they mean is you have to be able to navigate the green screen side of Sabre (not just use GUI).

Let me be blunt: unless you’re some kind of prodigy, the GDS green screens are not user friendly. Be afraid, be very afraid. It’s not like supplier portals and online travel booking sites where you can rifle through your choices, do a price comparison, and click on what you want. Voila. (Watch some videos and read up on what travel agents do and how they do it .)

Using a GDS is a technical skill (think computer coding), and to use it really well is an art. Having experimented with it a few times myself, I have serious respect for travel agents who are fluent in the language of a GDS.

Take a listen (or read the transcript) to our podcast with Karen Hurlbut, of Hurlbut Travel , as she describes working within the GDS and shares what she uses the GDS for, and what she books with consolidators. The answer may surprise you! 

To learn the GDS green screen takes intense training, and to become proficient takes tons of practice and constant use. That means daily use with a mentor (for at least 6 months to a year), not just booking a ticket for a client every few weeks. Even then, you still gotta keep using it on a regular basis to remain a GDS speed demon (think of being fluent in a language).

Here's another great listen (or read the transcript) with Lary Neron of Airfare Consultant . He did price management at WestJet and then left to start his own agency. His knowledge of how the GDS works and tips and tricks to booking is something every travel agent should listen to.

This, my friends, is why host agencies and travel agencies aren’t jumping up and down to teach you the GDS (if they even offer it). It’s hard. Here’s what a booking in an Amadeus green screen looks like:

Are you still awake? Whoa, right?! (FYI: An experienced GDS user will be able to do that at about 10,000x the speed in the video.)

2. GUI: A Brighter Future for the GDS?

The GUI is the point-and-click version of the GDS. You may have heard of options such as Sabre Red 360 and TravelPort+ . So why doesn’t everyone use it? Here’s the problem: At its current stage of development, even GUI users need to understand the language of the green screen. As Ann Waters, president of the $40M Conference & Travel agency and Apollo user said,

“It’s not inputting the information new agents have problems with, it’s interpreting what the GDS is sending back to the agent.”

—Ann Waters, President of Travel Leaders-Conference and Travel

Essentially, the GUI interface isn’t quite there yet . . . and developing this technology is reeeeeally expensive and comes with a lot of growing pain. Sure it’s got perks (like being easier on the eyes and allowing agents to book airline ancillaries) but here’s what happens: You type in that you want a ticket from JFK to LAX on [enter date] and click search. You think, “That was so easy, just like searching online. So intuitive! I’m definitely a natural at this.”

That is, until it spits back at you the cryptic type and command lines you see on the green screen GDS. What in the world?!? Yup. That’s the problem. While new agents can partially navigate the GDS with the GUI interface, the code that comes back still has important information like fare types and rules that the agents really needs to understand. So many agents, in the end, need to learn the green screen (and find it faster) regardless.

If they don’t know exactly what they’re doing . . .

Risks of Booking with the GDS

To book in the GDS, you must have an IATA/IATAN accreditation number , in addition to an ARC accreditation number if you’re located in the United States.

As a new agent, you can’t get these accreditation numbers because they require a lot of experience. So you come into the industry under a host agency ( more on what a host agency is and a list of host agencies ) and use their accreditation number instead.

And heck, your new host agency has a GDS! They’ll just give you that login information along with your Disney log in, right? Wrong. No freakin’ way. Because of the complexity of booking air tickets (or anything) with the GDS, there’s a huge margin for error. And these errors can cost a pretty penny. And this is to say nothing of fraud , which is another can of worms in the GDS world.

Enter travel agency debit memos . In short, debit memos are fines to travel agencies for making a mistake when booking with the GDS. Yes, even an itty bitty innocent mistake or typo. It may not seem like a biggie when you have one or two, but when you sell hundreds of tickets, these fines risk start adding up right quick. In 2015, there was a total of $530-capital-M-million-dollars issued to ticketing agencies.

This is why a host agency cannot afford to let a new agent use the GDS without rigorous training. It’s just too risky. At the end of the day, since the ARC accreditation number is assigned to the host, they will be the ones responsible to pay the big bucks to the carrier or carriers that issue the debit memos.

And the risk doesn’t even end there. When a host or travel agency uses the GDS, they must negotiate long, complicated and specialized contracts with their GDS provider. Somewhere in this contract, the agency commits to selling a certain amount of air segments. And if you miss your goals? Expect there to be financial penalties.

So even if you do have mad GDS skills, you may be better off going with a host agency's accreditation.

Do I Need the GDS?

The GDS does have a time and place! Here’s a few reasons why an agent might want/need to use the GDS:

• Corporate Travel Advisors: Corporate travel agents book a whole lot of air, so the GDS is pretty much a must for them. This can either be a travel agent who books on behalf of corporate clients, or an appointed individual at a corporation who has the capacity to book air for all their employees.
• Agents Booking Complex Itineraries: If your specialty is around the world tickets or you have a steady stream of clients with multi-stop air itineraries, the GDS will be a necessity. 
• High Volume Booking of Air-Only Travel: I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what other travel agents other than corporate agents book reeeally high volumes of air. It might be an advisor who focuses on booking air to a specific international destination. Who knows! But if that’s you, let me know what your niche is!!

If you fall into one of these categories, check out this article on how to become a corporate travel agent . Even if you don't want to sell corporate, it offers strategies to learn the GDS system. Essentially if you’re not booking airline tickets multiple times each working day and you were never trained in the GDS, you probably don’t need to use it. This includes most Leisure Agents.

One of the reasons that most leisure agents don’t need the GDS is because the air will be included in a vacation package by the tour operator, or you can book it with the cruise line and you don’t need to use the GDS.

If you’re only booking a few flights here and there, there are ways to nab tickets for your clients without having to labor through the GDS.

Booking Air Without the GDS

If the GDS doesn’t seem practical for your agency, and you have a client who wants an air-only reservation that’s not already included in a package you’re selling, here’s a few strategies:

• Use an Airline Consolidator: When you become a travel agent you will have access to airline consolidators. A consolidator is a wholesaler of international airfares that works with travel agencies (not the general public). You can either book net fares, published fares (the rate available to the general public), or commissionable fares. This article is a great resource that will provide more detailed information regarding the types of airline fares .
• Book air directly through through the airline's site and charge a service fee: Just remember to compensate yourself for your time . . . especially if the client is, errr, particular. Charging a service fee is one way to offset the cost of your valuable time .
• Ask clients to book their own air-only reservations: If it’s not worth your time, it’s not worth your time. 
• Use your host’s or consortium's online booking tools : Your host may have an online booking engine for air. Revelex is one example of these tools . . . they are user-friendly booking engines that are linked to the host’s GDS (so agents get the advantage of a host’s airline contracts in the GDS without having to learn the process). 
• Ticketing Desk: Some hosts have a ticketing desk service that can book flights on behalf of agents (see image below on how to find out if a host has a ticketing desk) . Usually there are applicable fees and certain service hours, so you'll want to ask about that. If your client is flying international, first or business class, always look into a ticketing desk at your host agency or a consolidator first to see if there are any commissions (rather than booking it on your own).

But . . . I’m Losing out on Airline Commissions! (No, you’re probably not)

Yes, airlines do have commissions. No, they are not as common as you think.

The simplest way to say this: If you’re booking domestic non-premium seats, forget about commissions. If you’re booking international air, especially first and business class, commissions are a possibility. A possibility. Not a certainty.

I won’t go into things here, but you can read more on travel agent commissions here (airlines and otherwise). But at the end of the day, for most leisure agents, it’s frankly not worth their time to learn the GDS.

In Closing/ Major Thank Yous

The GDS is no walk in the park! Do you use it? Do you wish you could? Are there other places where you book air-only reservations with your consortia or host agency? Please let us know in the comments (literally, we’re begging you)!!

Last but not least, thank you to Marc Casto, CEO and President of MVC Solutions, Ann Waters, President of Travel Leaders—Corporate and Events, Sandy Armstead and Christy Young, corporate agents at Safe Harbors Business Travel, a branch of Tzell Travel Group, and Jason Block, CEO & Managing Partner of WorldVia, a division of Tzell Travel Group. We would have floundered without their willingness to share their agencies' GDS experiences with us!

• Sources Travel Weekly , Wikipedia ,   ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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What is a GDS (Global Distribution System)?

A Global Distribution System (GDS) is a central platform that enables travel agencies, online travel agencies, airlines, hotels, car rental companies and other service providers to distribute products and services efficiently. It serves as a one-stop shop for travel information and bookings, enabling seamless transactions and providing travelers with multiple options at competitive prices, underscoring its critical role in the modern travel industry.

How does a Global Distribution System work?

Here is a condensed description of how a GDS works:

• Integration : Service providers such as airlines, hotels and car rental companies integrate their inventory and pricing information into the GDS database.
• Access : Travel agents access the Global Distribution System through specialized software or web interfaces. They can search for available flights, hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel services based on specific criteria such as date, destination and budget.
• Reservation : Once a traveler selects a service, the travel agency or online travel agency makes the reservation directly through the GDS. The system then communicates with the service provider’s reservation system to confirm the booking and issue tickets or vouchers.
• Updates and changes : The GDS constantly updates availability and pricing information in real time to ensure that travel agents and travelers have access to the most up-to-date options. It also allows existing bookings to be changed or canceled if necessary.

Who uses a Global Distribution System?

Various companies in the travel industry rely on GDSs to help them operate:

• Travel Agencies : Both traditional brick-and-mortar travel agencies and online travel agencies use Global Distribution Systems to search and book travel on behalf of their clients.
• Airlines : The world’s major airlines distribute their flight inventory through GDSs, making it available to travel agents and travelers worldwide.
• Hotels : Hotel chains and individual properties use GDSs to distribute room availability and rates to travel agents and corporate clients.
• Car rental companies : Car rental companies integrate their fleets and rates into Global Distribution Systems, allowing travel agents to book cars for their clients.

What different GDSs are there?

There are several Global Distribution Systems (GDS) that are widely used in the travel and tourism industry. Here are some of the most popular:

• Amadeus : Amadeus is one of the largest GDSs and serves a wide range of travel suppliers worldwide, including airlines, hotels, car rental companies and tour operators.
• Sabre : Sabre is another leading GDS offering a full range of travel services. It is used by airlines, hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies and other travel service providers.
• Travelport : Travelport is a GDS provider that offers a range of solutions for the travel industry, including the Apollo, Galileo and Worldspan systems. It provides travel agencies with access to a wide range of travel services and also offers technology solutions for airlines, hotels and other travel suppliers.
• Worldspan : Worldspan is part of Travelport and provides a range of services to travel suppliers and travel agencies.
• ITA Software by Google : ITA Software is a technology company acquired by Google that provides travel search and booking solutions. It offers advanced tools for searching airfares, itineraries and availability.

These GDS systems offer similar services, but there are also differences in terms of functionalities, coverage, user interface and availability of additional services. Travel suppliers and travel agencies often choose the GDS that best suits their specific requirements.

Who finances a Global Distribution System?

Funding for a Global Distribution System typically involves a combination of revenue streams:

• Subscription fees : Travel agencies and OTAs pay subscription fees for access to the GDS platform and its services.
• Transaction fees : Service providers pay a commission or transaction fee for each booking made through the GDS.
• Additional services : Global Distribution System providers may offer additional services, such as marketing solutions, analytics and consulting, for which they charge fees.
• Advertising revenue : Some GDS platforms generate revenue through advertising partnerships with travel-related companies.

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What is Global Distribution System (GDS) – A Simple Guide

The Global Distribution System (GDS) is one of the primary booking channels used by many travel agencies worldwide. The travel business has grown significantly as a result of it. It is essential to know how to become a GDS travel agent and learn the tech to further your business. 

If you are just getting started in the travel industry, you probably have questions about what a GDS is and why creating a travel agent website is crucial.

This blog will discuss GDS, its role in the travel industry, and what the future holds for this key reservation tool.

What is a Global Distribution System?

The driving force behind the travel business is the Global Distribution System (GDS). It is a computerized network system that gives businesses like airlines, hotels, auto rentals, and travel agencies access to real-time information. To access the current inventory of services provided by the travel industry, each of these sectors employs GDS.

For instance, a travel agency can use GDS to check the availability of hotel rooms, airline seats, or vehicle rentals on behalf of its clients and make reservations using the same GDS.

How do travel companies use GDS?

The most incredible deals on airfare, rentals, cars, hotels and other travel-related items are found by travel agencies using GDS. Travel agencies tailor their information based on the customer’s tastes and trip plans.

A travel agency’s agent will locate the most precise and economic schedule when a customer wants information. Travel agencies can either purchase a specific piece of GDS software on an annual basis or pay a fee each time they use the GDS. In addition, a regular person can only use the GDS with a vendor or a travel agency’s assistance. Suggested Read:  Travel and Tourism Courses – TBO Academy

Evolution in GDS

The airline industry developed the first GDS in the 1960s to monitor flight availability, rates, and timetables. In reality, the GDSs were among the first organizations to support B2B e-commerce globally. The airline industry employed them to automate the reservation process, but later, access was also granted to travel agencies.

What are the benefits of using GDS in travel?

For airlines, hotels, and car rental businesses, GDS will be the most effective distribution channel. The following are a few of the main advantages of adopting GDS.

• Effective at enticing tourists from abroad
• Facilitates the use of business models like retail travel agencies and OTA’s (Online Travel Agency)
• Increased price transparency for customers
• With significant market penetration, travel agencies can get a worldwide platform.
• Offer your clients the best prices possible—rates that no other system can match.
• Distribute travel services to numerous customers without letting your marketing budget suffer

What is the future of GDS in the travel industry?

The developments occurring in the travel sector are challenging and modifying the conventional function of GDS. Airlines and other online travel agencies encourage and lure customers into making reservations through their websites. Compared to the cost on their own website, several airlines are adding extra charges for tickets bought through the GDS.

Some industry experts believe that GDS may evolve into a platform for direct corporate booking instead of a travel agency service.

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What are the major GDS systems?

The majority of the data from hotels, airlines, and other distributors is stored and processed by a few large global distribution systems.

• Amadeus : Amadeus is one of the largest GDS providers. It offers a wide range of services, including airline reservations, hotel bookings, car rentals, and more. It’s used by travel agents to search and book travel-related services for their clients.
• Sabre : Sabre is another major GDS provider. It offers technology solutions for airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and other travel-related businesses. Sabre’s platform helps travel agents access and book travel options for their customers.
• Galileo : Galileo was one of the original GDS providers and is now part of Travelport. It offers travel booking solutions for travel agencies and travel suppliers, including airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.
• Worldspan : Worldspan, also a part of Travelport, provides a GDS platform used by travel professionals to access and book travel services. It offers a range of services to travel agencies and travel suppliers.
• Apollo : Apollo is a GDS system primarily used by travel agencies and professionals in North America. It provides tools to search and book travel services such as flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Pegasus : Pegasus Solutions is a provider of technology solutions for hotels and travel distribution. While it’s not one of the primary GDS providers like Amadeus, Sabre, or Travelport, it offers services related to hotel distribution and reservations.

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How do gds systems work.

GDS are programmed platforms that provide access to real time data of flights, hotels, and car rentals. It aggregates the pricing and inventory of the various suppliers for flights, hotels, and car rentals and list them using a tech-backed platform. The data is then used by online travel booking agents and platforms to shop for the best fit as per clients and customers requirements. Once a booking has been made, the system marks it as unavailable and update it on the system so that it can’t be sold again. This helps issues such as double booking for the same amenity. 

GDS in hotel Industry

In the hotel industry, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) play a crucial role in distributing hotel inventory and making it accessible to travel agents, online travel agencies (OTAs), and other travel professionals. GDS systems help hotels reach a wide audience of potential guests and streamline the booking process.

For instance, GDS company Worldspan do not work with Southwest Airlines; American Airlines uses Sabre as a GDS tool; PARD by USAir; Air China uses TravelSky; Delta uses Worldspan.Another newsworthy affair is that agreements are signed between airlines, and GDS is on renewal. Many people working in the travel sector are still determining if the airlines will continue using particular GDSs. So, if you are a travel agent who uses Worldspan, you cannot book Southwest Airlines, or you need to look for pricing on their website and book directly from their website.

We really hope you discover something new about the tourism sector. Check back often as we intend to dismantle the ever-shifting travel industry further. Suggested Read:  How to Become a Tour Operator

Global Distribution System GDS FAQ’s

1. what is global distribution system (gds).

A global distribution system, or GDS, is a computerised network that streamlines interactions between travel service providers and travel agencies (both online travel agents).

2. What are the four Global Distribution Systems?

There are currently four major GDS systems: 1. Amadeus 2. Galileo 3. Sabre 4. Worldspan

3. Who created GDS?

The first GDS was developed by the airline industry in the 1960s as a tool to monitor flight availability, rates, and timetables.

4. Who can use GDS?

GDS requires a training process to understand the user interface. Therefore, travel agents and bookers use GDS. However, several online booking platform use GDS and simplify the interface providing a better way to book for layman as well.

5. Which industries do GDS cater to? 

GDS is widely used by car rentals, flights and hotels suppliers

ravinder babbar

February 13, 2024

Business Guide , General , Travel Agent Guide

GDS guide , Global Distribution System , Simple Guide for GDS , What is GDS

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