For those in the travel industry, including hotel owners, a global distribution system (or GDS system) is one of the major distribution channels, connecting their inventories with travel agents, who can sell products on their behalf. In this article, you will learn more about Galileo GDS, one example of such a system.

What is a GDS System?

A global distribution system (GDS) serves as a network for allowing service providers in the travel industry to carry out transactions. The systems are almost exclusively used by travel agencies or similar companies, to access real-time information about hotel room availability, airline ticket availability, and similar products.

Travel agents then use this to book products or services for their customers. A GDS system remains one of the most important distribution channels for those in the hotel industry, because it provides opportunities for global reach and can increase the number of hotel room bookings generated, resulting in larger revenue. You can read more detailed information about global distribution systems and the benefits for hotels in the article “Global Distribution System (GDS): What Are the Benefits for Hotels?”.

What is the Galileo GDS?

Galileo GDS is a global distribution system based in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. It is owned by Travelport, forming one part of their collective offering, including the Apollo and Worldspan systems. Galileo can book hotel rooms, airline tickets, train tickets, cruises, and car rentals.

The system was originally developed in 1987 by nine European airlines, including British Airways.

What Are the Benefits of Galileo GDS?

For hotel owners, the primary benefit of the Galileo GDS system is the ability to distribute hotel rooms to travel agencies and customers globally. This is achieved by providing travel agents with 24-hour live access to inventories and pricing information, allowing them to book rooms at the hotel for their customers.

Although Galileo GDS’ market share has declined since the turn of the 21st century, it remains a major global distribution system. As part of Travelport, it also has the benefit of sharing a data center with Worldspan.

Similar GDS Systems to Galileo GDS

Travelport and its Galileo GDS is just one of the major global distribution systems available to those within the travel industry. Below, you will learn more about two of the main alternatives.

1) Sabre

Sabre GDS is a global distribution system traced back to the 1960s. It is based in the United States and is estimated to serve around 60,000 travel agencies worldwide. However, it is considered especially strong within the North American market.

It is estimated that Sabre currently has a total market share of around 35 percent. The system also attracts more hotel bookings than its main rivals in the travel industry. You can read more detailed information about the Sabre GDS system in the article “What is Sabre GDS?”.

2) Amadeus

The Amadeus platform is recognized as the largest GDS system in the world, as measured by total market share, with around 40 percent of travel agency bookings going through its network. The system was established in 1987, and it puts travel agents in connection with hotel rooms, airline tickets, and various other travel services.

Amadeus’ company headquarters is in Spain, and its central database is in Germany. As a result, it is considered to be the strongest global distribution system within the European market. You can read more detailed information about the Amadeus GDS system in the article “What is Amadeus GDS?”.

How to Connect Your Hotel to Galileo GDS?

The most common process for connecting a hotel to the Galileo GDS is to go through a GDS provider, who will connect the hotel to all major global distribution systems simultaneously. Numerous companies offer this.

Most GDS providers connect with property management systems, or hotel channel managers. As a result, hotels can automate GDS system usage fully and manage their listings – including their hotel description, list of facilities, and photos – all from a single location.

Galileo GDS forms part of Travelport, regarded as one of the three major global distribution systems. These systems connect hotels with travel agents, who can use access to real-time inventories to sell hotel rooms to their customers. This can expand the reach a hotel has, resulting in a greater number of bookings.

More Distribution Tips to Optimize Revenue

The distribution mix that hotels choose to use has a significant impact on their revenue management strategy, and their overall success. In the following articles, you will find more distribution strategies to optimize your revenue:

More Tips to Grow Your Business

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.