Distribution Channels and Technology in Tourism

Distribution Channel

network of organizations, including manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, that distribute goods or services to consumers

Travel/ Tourism Intermediary

distribution agents that participate in a tourism-product sales process from its creation until the time it is consumed by final clients.

Examples of Tourism Intermediaries

1. Travel Agencies - GDS

Distribution Channel

a chain of businesses or intermediaries through which a good or service passes until it reaches the final buyer or the end consumer

Method of Distribution of Tourism Product

1. Direct method

Method of Distribution of Tourism Product

2. Through an intermediary

Method of Distribution of Tourism Product

3. Through multiple intermediaries

Examples of Tourism Intermediaries

2. Tour Operators - GDS

Examples of Tourism Intermediaries

3. Booking Office - GDS

Examples of Tourism Intermediaries

4. Destination Management Organization - Websites

Global Distribution System

A worldwide computerized reservation network used as a single point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel-related items by travel agents, online reservation sites, and large corporations.

Global Distribution System

Computerized network system owned or operated by a company that enables transactions between travel industry service providers, mainly airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and travel agencies.

Property Management System

software that facilitates a hotel's reservation management and administrative tasks

Property Management System

software that helps hotels efficiently organize, schedule and manage their daily operations. It enables hotels, both small & independent and groups to handle front office workflow including booking, guest check-in & checkout, assigning rooms to guests, delegating housekeeping tasks and billing etc

Centralized Reservation System

a type of reservation software that is used to update and maintain information of a hotel pertaining to inventory and rates so that hotels are able to manage guest reservations and the process around such reservations in real-time.

Centralized Reservation System

these reservations are managed across a multitude of distribution channels such as third-party booking websites, direct internet booking engines, the global distribution system (GDS), wholesalers, and more. A CRS centralizes the data from the property management systems (PMS), distribution channels, call centers, and phone reservation systems used across one or many properties.

Restaurant Ordering System

system that allows restaurants to accept orders from customers.

Restaurant Ordering System

With the rise in online orders, it becomes essential that the ordering system is integrated with online ordering. The point of sale (POS) has now evolved to become an integrated restaurant ordering system that can accept and process orders online apart from facilitating manual order taking.