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Apollo GDS: What do hotels need to know?

  Posted in Resources  Last updated 15/01/2025

What is Apollo?

Apollo is a global distribution system (GDS) vendor which allows travel agents to access and book inventory from hotels, airlines, car hires, and more.

Apollo is owned and operated by Travelport, one of the three major players in the GDS space – Travelport also runs Galileo and Wordspan. When a hotel connects to the GDS via a partner like SiteMinder, it becomes bookable on Apollo by travel agents around the world.

While airline bookings are the primary focus of Apollo, it also allows travel agents to book hotels, car hire and other travel services.

GDS infographic

Apollo GDS history

Like other major GDS brands, such as Sabre and Amadeus, Apollo was established by United Airlines in 1971 as an early computerised airline booking system. It slowly evolved into a more general travel booking service, and by 1986 had been given a new name – Covia – and was being marketed as an independent affiliate of United Airlines.

It was eventually absorbed into Galileo international, which in turn was absorbed into Travelport. The name was changed back to Apollo during this period of M&A action, and Apollo now sits alongside Galileo and Worldspan in the Travelport stable.

In this guide we’ll break down Apollo from the perspective of hotels that want to capitalise on a GDS as a key hotel distribution channel.

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Why engage a GDS partner like SiteMinder to access Apollo?

Why should a hotel work with a connectivity partner, such as SiteMinder GDS, to gain bookings through Apollo? There are a few compelling reasons, including:

Global reach

Through Travelport, Apollo connects hotels to a quarter of a million individual travel agents from around the world, providing exposure to group, corporate and international travellers that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. And when you choose to partner with SiteMinder, you actually gain access to 600,000 travel agencies, through additional GDS connections. It allows your hotel to tap into markets that can be impossible to reach through traditional hotel marketing efforts.

Increased bookings

Gain access to travel agents who book on behalf of corporate, group and leisure travellers. The corporate travel market can be a particularly valuable one to tap into, as it can be less price sensitive and can significantly boost mid-week and low season occupancy rates.

Streamlined operations

When you connect to Apollo through SiteMinder GDS, you enjoy real-time availability and pricing updates, ensuring accurate information is shared with travel agents. The simple SiteMinder GDS user experience reduces the risk of overbooking and simplifies reservation management for hotels.

Gain access to every major GDS with SiteMinder

With the help of SiteMinder, you can connect your hotel to all major vendors on the GDS, including Apollo, Sabre and Amadeus, to generate more visibility, bookings and revenue than ever before.

Learn more

Apollo GDS Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t know much about Apollo? Let’s answer some quick-fire questions to give you a sense of what this platform is all about.

Who owns Apollo GDS?

Apollo is currently owned by Travelport, the world’s third-largest global distribution system vendor (after Amadeus and Sabre).

Is Apollo GDS part of Travelport?

Yes, Apollo is a distinct brand that operates under the Travelport umbrella, alongside Galileo and Worldspan. When a hotel (or any other travel service provider) is listed on one of these vendors, it is automatically listed on all of them. 

Is Apollo GDS going away?

Apollo has evolved a lot over the years, from United Airlines’ reservation system, to a standalone GDS, to a subsidiary of Galileo then Travelport. But it is still going strong, with a large and loyal travel agent user base, so there are no plans to retire this GDS.

Travelport GDS

What does Apollo do for hotels?

Apollo is best known as an airline GDS. So what can it offer hotels? Well, first and foremost, travel agents almost always need to book accommodation alongside flights, so hotels are wise to have a presence wherever flights are being booked.

But on top of that, Apollo offers a number of opportunities to hotels.

Robust business travel integrations

Apollo makes your hotel accessible to corporate travel agents and companies, helping you to win valuable bookings from business travellers. It offers a simple way to target high-value corporate clients through established travel management networks.

Enhanced multi-channel distribution

A GDS like Apollo can sit alongside other sales channels, such as OTAs, metasearch and direct bookings, to help you expand and diversify your reach to travel agents, tour operators and online booking platforms. These can all be managed in one place on a platform like SiteMinder.

Streamlined group booking support

Apollo enables travel agents to secure blocks of rooms quickly and easily. As a consequence your hotel can earn and efficiently manage more large bookings, helping you to more effectively cater to events, conferences and group travel.

Efficient upselling opportunities

The GDS grants your hotel the opportunity to upsell. Through your channel manager you can offer travel agents and their clients premium rooms, spa packages or dining options, personalising the experiences you offer while boosting your bottom line.

API flexibility for unique hotel systems

SiteMinder GDS offers API integrations to help you seamlessly connect to your existing tech and tools, such as your booking and property management systems. This allows you to update your availability, inventory, pricing and info automatically in real-time.

The advantage of connecting with Apollo GDS

When you partner with SiteMinder GDS, you seamlessly connect all three GDSs – not just Apollo/Travelport, but Sabre and Amadeus too.

SiteMinder GDS also allows information to flow freely between all your channels and tech solutions, opening up opportunities for automation to save you time and money.

By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of SiteMinder, the leading technology provider delivering hoteliers unbeatable revenue results. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at SiteMinder. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance and value for accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations achieve their goals.

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