GDS real-time availability content
The Global Distribution System (GDS) queries your CRS in real-time for availability requests, accessing current availability, room types, rates, and booking policies. This real-time connection differs from static property content, which requires publishing through the support team.
When you're ready to map rooms or rates to GDS channels, open a support case [email protected] for mapping and confirmation. Once mapped, GDS channels sell from real-time CRS information.
This article summarizes the CRS areas used by the GDS channels to present rooms and rates. The CRS includes dedicated GDS fields to optimize descriptions and meet channel-specific requirements.
Description hierarchy for GDS queries:
The below hierarchy ensures selling information is always available to bookers during GDS queries:
Dedicated GDS fields (if completed).
GDS description field from main configuration (if GDS fields are blank).
Main room or rate description (if both GDS fields are empty, up to character limit).
Room description best practices
Lead your descriptions with views or other valuable features. This ensures agents quickly and clearly understand value differences between the room types and pricing offered.
Below will outline best practices of writing room descriptions.
GDS Room Type Description Requirements
Room type descriptions in the GDS field may have up to 47 characters per line.
Maximum three lines includes spaces and special characters.
With seamless availability display in the CRS, the room description is made of the 47 characters.
Additional descriptive text does not display in the GDS availability response unless the Travel Agent enters additional optional formats: HRD*LN, HOVLN, HPLN and HR(LN.
Writing effective room descriptions
If the room type name is not descriptive of the product, add details in the description area to clarify the room's features and amenities.
Prioritize the most valuable features at the beginning of each line.
Use clear, concise language that agents can quickly scan.
Room-specific amenities
Configure room amenities that will display to travel agents, focusing on features that differentiate your room types and add value for guests.
Rate information best practices
Maximizing the rate name helps agents quickly identify key inclusions. Similar to room types, highlight key selling points at the beginning of the rate description, followed by additional details.
Do the same for guarantee and cancellation policies to ensure bookers understand the requirements.
Offer more than one rate to provide agents and shoppers with a variety of options.
Below will outline the rate information best practices.
GDS rate code description requirements
Character limits:
GDS descriptions for rate codes are limited to 47 characters per line.
Maximum three lines including spaces and special characters.
Most prominent rate inclusions guests are looking for (wifi, breakfast specified by type, etc) should be at the start of the description.
Key inclusions to highlight first:
Wifi availability.
Breakfast (specify type).
Parking.
Other valuable amenities.
Important considerations:
If using packages in the CRS, the add-on elements (breakfast, wine, dinner, etc) are not visible in the GDSs unless you mention them in your Rate Code GDS descriptions. The rate code associated to the package in the CRS is what will be mapped to the GDSs.
The first 2 lines of your Rate Plan Short Info are returned in the availability seamless return to the GDS (approximately 100 characters including blank spaces and special characters).
It is not necessary to include validity dates on the rate plan name as the rate will return as available to book as configured in the CRS.
If any meals are included, select the appropriate type from the meal plan dropdown list. Rates channeled for DHISCO have special requirements for meal plans to display appropriately.
Channel-specific rate descriptions
Leverage targeted rate descriptions for specific GDS channels to optimize presentation for different agent types and booking patterns in the channel tab of the rate configuration.
Understand seamless availability display
The following example shows how your room and rate descriptions appear to travel agents in a seamless availability search.
** DIRECT CONNECT AVAILABILITY **
** ALSTON HOTEL**
MS0038832 KENDALL HOTEL AND SUITES MIA
ADDR- 9100 N KENDALL DRIVE 09JAN - 1NT1
MIAMI FL 33176 MIAMI FL
PHONE- 305-XXX-XXXX
FAX- 305-XXX-XXXX
TAXES- SEE GEN
RATING- NOT AVAILABLE
1 AAA MEMBERSHIP 109.90USD GUAR /C-6P C TTL TAX 14.29
APPROX. TOTAL PRICE 124.19 USD
INCLUDES TAXES AND SURCHARGES
1. KING BED NONSMOKING. FREE WIRELESS IN COMMON
AREAS AND DSL CABLE IN THE SLEEPING
2 AAA MEMBERSHIP 166.90USD GUAR /C-6P C TTL TAX 21.70
APPROX. TOTAL PRICE 188.60 USD INCLUDES TAXES AND SURCHARGES
2. BEDROOM, 2 BATH SUITE WITH 2 BALCONIES. 1 KING
BED, 2 SOFA BEDS, FULL KITCHEN.
This display shows how your character limits and line breaks affect the agent's booking experience.
Optimize room and rate sequencing
Below will outline how to optimize and sequence rooms and rates.
For general availability searches, rank your rates in this order:
Lowest rate or best offer first (Best Available Rate).
Corporate rates (COR).
Rack rates (RACK).
Highest rates display last.
Sequencing details
Rooms and public rates may have display order defined by the room and rate configuration within the CRS.
Negotiated rates are not sequenced within the CRS.
All rates assigned to a negotiated category default to 100 as they are searched for specifically by the agent entering the booking code and do not appear in general availability searches.
Commission policies
Travel agents will be able to see if the rate plan is commissionable and how much commission is paid from the CRS configuration.
When a rate is flagged as commissionable, the default for the property will apply unless there is a specific commission assigned for the date range or specific to the rate code as configured in the CRS.
Submit GDS mapping
Once your rates are loaded and ready to be mapped to begin selling on the GDSs, reach out to the support team [email protected] with the details to complete the channel setup and activation process.