The GDS (Global Distribution System) is the network of legacy platforms, such as Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport, that travel agencies and corporate booking tools use to search and book hotels, flights and cars worldwide.
For hotels, the GDS is the gateway to corporate travel programs and traditional travel agencies. Rates and availability are loaded through a CRS or channel manager, and bookings arrive with agency identifiers that determine commission payments.
GDS business typically books shorter windows, pays corporate negotiated rates and concentrates midweek. It carries per-booking fees on top of agency commission, so hotels should compare its net value with other channels rather than treating GDS presence as automatically prestigious.
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