Sharp rise in agents using GDS to book hotels
More agents are using Global Distribution Systems to book hotels than ever before, according to a recent study.
The study of 650 agents from 34 countries reported a 14% rise in the use of GDSs for booking hotels since 2011.
The 2013 Bi-Annual Global travel agent GDS Study was conducted by market research firm Phoenix Marketing International in partnership with TravelClick and surveyed agents worldwide who use Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan.
The only other channel that experienced growth was hotel/chain websites, which increased 3%.
Travel agents’ use of all other channels – including other agent booking tools, telephone to hotel/CRO, travel mega-sites, general hotel directories and direct mail/fax – shrank significantly in the past two years, decreasing by 21%.
"The GDS is more popular with travel agents than ever. This year the GDS is on track to produce 58 million hotel reservations, up 5 million from 2011," said Jason Ewell, executive vice president, business intelligence, media and web solutions for TravelClick.
"As key influencers in booking decisions, hotels need to merchandise themselves to travel agents at the point of sale through the GDS."
The study also found that nearly two thirds of agents will actively book away from a hotel not in full rate parity within the GDS.
"With more agents using the GDS, there is an increased emphasis on ensuring rate parity so that agents can maintain credibility with their clients. There is nothing worse for an agent than offering a rate to clients only to learn that they could find a better rate by themselves on a different channel," said Ewell.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent