— by Mia Kun
- 2025 Best B2B Connectivity and GDS Providers Shortlist
- What is a Global Distribution System?
- Why Connect Your Hotel to a Global Distribution System?
- How to Choose the Best GDS Connectivity Provider for your Hotel?
- What to Look for in Your Global Distribution System (GDS) Connectivity Provider?
- Which is Best GDS System for Your Hotel?
- List of the best GDS Providers for Hotels
2025 Best B2B Connectivity and GDS Providers Shortlist
Check out this comprehensive guide featuring the top 10 list of GDS systems, along with everything else you need to learn before you choose one for your hotel business:
- NetToHotel
— best for independent hotels and small groups - RateTiger
— best connectivity through a unified distribution platform - Cendyn
— best for global distribution through hundreds of channels - Reconline
— best for next-generation seamless connectivity to the big 4 GDS - Roibos
— best for direct contracting without intermediaries - BookLogic
— best for seamless 2-Way Connectivity to both GDS and IDS systems - Impala
— best for next-gen open distribution - Above And Beyond
— best for hoteliers to package rates with airfares - D-EDGE
— best for access to a big partner network - SynXis
— best central reservation system with integrated connectivity
Browse the ultimate list on the best B2B Connectivity and GDS Providers for your hotel. But first things first!
What is a Global Distribution System?
As the name suggests, GDS is a global reservation system that acts as a middleman between travel suppliers and bookers - including hotels, flights, cab providers, etc.
Everything you see on the system is live, accurate, and automated. And since COVID, all types of hotels are beginning to see the benefits of the service to attract a bigger audience. To know more about GDS systems, check out our comprehensive GDS Systems guide made for hoteliers.
However, please note that independent property owners can't connect to GDS Systems directly and have to tap into the B2B Distribution landscape and use a GDS Connectivity Provider.
Why Connect Your Hotel to a Global Distribution System?
Now, before you start reading about GDS companies and GDS providers for hotels, you may wonder why you need to connect to the service in the first place, especially if you're already on OTA platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb.
Here's why: a GDS provides additional revenue that a hotel or property cannot make in any other possible way. When a travel agent logs into GDS to book a hotel, they will not find your hotel there and won't book it, because it doesn't exist on that platform. After all, it's a global distribution network, and if your hotel isn't on it, you're simply missing a significant chunk of the revenue stream.
When properly managed, bookings received via GDS are much cheaper than OTA bookings and don't diminish the hotel's business of getting direct bookings. This makes it clear that if your property isn't connected to a GDS provider, you're missing out on bookings that you won't get from anywhere else.
How to Choose the Best GDS Connectivity Provider for your Hotel?
Global Distribution System Providers aren't new. They have been around for decades and have a consistent and dedicated user base, aka travel management companies (TMCs). When you get your hotel onto a GDS system or even just on the top GDS in the world, you get a chance to expand your hotel's reach further than ever before. It's a good marketing strategy if you're currently looking for one.
While there isn't an accurate or fixed answer to the question, 'Which is the most popular GDS system in the world?' This article will help you choose one that's best for your hotel.
Furthermore, any GDS you choose should function just as any other integration you have - it should simply connect to your hotel's Channel Manager seamlessly. So here's covering the basics:
Simple and Efficient
One of the most essential things to look out for when choosing a GDS is prominent hotel GDS providers that are designed for the business. That means they should have an extranet that connects to your existing tech stack and should be user-friendly and efficient.
Vast Network
Another thing that you must look for when going through our GDS systems list is that your hotel should use a GDS that positions you such that you receive special pricing queries from corporations looking for large booking volumes. These enquires are Request for Proposals (RFPs) and are often managed directly by the GDS provider.
HotelMinder, it is about:
- Optimizing occupancy, revenue or ADR
- Upgrading your software stack
- Solving distribution or/and tech issues
- Improving their hotel online presence
HotelMinder, it is about:
- Upgrading your software stack
- Optimizing occupancy, revenue or ADR
- Solving distribution or/and tech issues
- Improving their hotel online presence
RFP Support & Management
RFP Management can be a separate thing, managed usually by the hotel’s sales team. Agreed rates can be simply updated once a year in the channel manager or the GDS CRS directly.
What is unique though is the fact that hotels can offer additional commission to travel agents making bookings as a form of an incentive. This can be visible on the agency side of GDS, and travel agents can choose hotels based on their location, pricing, and commission offered.
Additional Features
If you're asking, 'Which gds is best for travel agents?', you're asking the wrong question. Instead, you should think about getting your hotel on a GDS that has the ability to offer additional commission to travel agents making bookings. Most hotels do that with (Best Available Rate) BAR bookings, but if there are special rates agreed upon for certain companies, the bookings are usually non-commissionable.
What to Look for in Your Global Distribution System (GDS) Connectivity Provider?
When going through Global Distribution System companies or providers, here are some basics that you must look for:
- Seamless and complete control over rates and availability visible on the GDS.
- Option to work with the GDS provider on generating new sales and revenue streams.
- Control over any content or images visible on the GDS of your hotel.
- Ability to review and change GDS presence and hotel comp set presence.
- The total cost of booking acquisition, including all set and RFP Management related fees.
- Technical integrations with channel managers, PMS, and other tech stack.
- Automated reporting and statistics with insights.
- Information on GDS intelligence, travel agencies, TMCs, consortia, and more.
- Prompt and efficient customer support and/or training resources.
Which is Best GDS System for Your Hotel?
There's no one answer - hotels should be present on all GDS providers simultaneously to access all travel agents. This is mainly because different travel agencies use different GDSs. If you want your hotel to be visible to all travel agents around the world, then presence on all GDS systems simultaneously would be advised.
When working with a top GDS provider, hotels should be able to connect to a Channel Manager and receive maintenance-free bookings. Rate Parity is key, and special corporate rates (coming mainly from corporate RFPs) should be managed by your ‘good’ GDS provider efficiently.
Additionally, Corporate Rate Loading Instructions (RLS) usually include a mix of different agencies using different GDSs. This means that hotels might be required to register with a particular GDS as a condition to work with a particular TMC. To know more, read: The Big Players of B2B Hotel Distribution.
Not all GDS companies provide the same type of GDS service in all locations, so what can work well in one of the major cities in the USA may not be able to bring the same result in the EU and the other way around. Therefore, check out the best GDS Systems list to find the one or more systems right for your hotel:
List of the best GDS Providers for Hotels
Note that some of those companies operate a sort of a ‘white label’ partnership, effectively using the Sabre SynXis Platform and hotel clients are not always aware of that. Some of these companies also offer additional hotel promotion and sales support in addition to GDS connectivity provided by the SynXis Platform.
Some well known Sabre Partners include Preferred Hotels, Navarino, HotelRez, NetToHotel, Small Luxury Hotels, Utel, D-EDGE, and many more around the globe. Sabre Holdings seems to be the only company with such a vast and mature network of partners around the world.
RateTiger by eRevMax is considered a leader in Hotel Channel Manager, Rate Shopping, CRS, Booking Engine, GDS Distribution, Metasearch management and Website Design solutions to independent boutique properties as well as small, mid-size and large hotel chains and resorts worldwide.
RateTiger connects to over 450 distribution and technology partners worldwide. It has deep two-way integration with distribution channel partners including Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, Airbnb, Google, HRS, Hotelbeds, among various others. It also offers connection to leading PMS, RMS, CRS, Booking Engine and other hotel technology systems for a seamless online distribution experience.
Data security and privacy is a key aspect for RateTiger, hence the company is ISO and PCI certified as well as GDPR compliant. It provides 24x7 multilingual support to hotels globally to assist in revenue generation objectives.
Reconline Seamless GDS is supported by our proactive RFP Sales Team and super efficient Technical Support.
Reconline AG is a parent company of Supranational Hotels and Classic International Hotels and offers a unique combination of solid GDS connectivity, proactive consulting and hotel promotion services. Hotels can work with Reconline directly, or with one of their brands or via one of a good range of resellers and white label solution partners around the world.
BookLogic was founded in 2004 with the goal of maximizing online and offline earnings for hotels and other accommodation providers through customized software solutions.
Now, it provides revenue and profitability maximizing hospitality solutions for accommodation providers, online & offline travel agencies, and tour operators. As a leading travel technology provider, BookLogic develops and maintains trendsetting and user-friendly solutions enabling efficient operational procedures and enhancing brand image. Establishing itself as a industry leader, BookLogic offers smooth and time-saving travel technology solutions making its customers' and partners' lives easier.
Unlock your travel company's potential by building a great brand image and enhancing online presence globally through BookLogic's wide spectrum of connections & integrations via its cutting-edge travel technology solutions for hotels, online & offline travel agencies and tour operators.
Browse HotelMinder Marketplace for more options, integrations, software, and exclusive offers.
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Next up in: B2B Distribution Software
B2B Hotel Distribution: Everything You Need to KnowWhat is Business-to-Business (B2B) Hotel Distribution?
The Big Players of B2B Hotel Distribution
Global Distribution System (GDS) - The Complete Guide for Hotels
10 Best Global Distribution System (GDS) and B2B Connectivity Providers for Hotels of 2024
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Firstly, we assess
We evaluate objective(s), defining opportunities and setting goals.
Then, we plan
We make a plan detailing what should be done to help reach set goals.
Finally, we make it happen
We implement change, as planned, within set timeline and budget.