Galileo GDS traces its roots back to 1971 when United Airlines created its first computerized central reservation system under the name Apollo. Today, Travelport is one of the world’s largest travel content aggregators and distributors. Travelport powers the travel industry on a global scale by connecting buyers and sellers through agency, online and corporate travel channels.
New Distribution Capability - IATA NDC is a travel & hospitality industry-supported program launched by IATA for the development, growth and adoption of new XML-based data transmission standard, which is called NDC standards today. This was started in 2012 by IATA to replace the old EDIFACT, which global distribution systems rely on. EDIFACT can only display information such as fares and schedules and need an upgrade to meet the new global standards.
More likely, a central reservation system is used by entities like a hotel or chain of hotels. CRS allows you to manage the inventory and reservations can be done by end customers online or through the front desk. Galileo GDS - global distribution system aggregates and distributes the travel contents (airlines, hotels, rails, rentals) through a single seamless interface.
Galileo GDS system provides a single point of access for consolidated travel inventory and pricing. Millions of travel agents access that data, process the bookings for their end customers at any given time. The information provided by Galileo GDS like inventory, rates, availability, details are in real time and thus it reduces the overall execution time per booking for travel agencies is less, which leads to higher revenues and profits.
Apart from Galileo GDS, which is undoubtedly one of the best GDS systems globally - there are few alternatives like Amadeus GDS and Sabre. Amadeus, Travelport/Galileo and Sabre are known as the top 3 GDS systems today.
