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Galileo GDS: Overview for hotels

  Posted in Resources  Last updated 17/01/2025

What is Galileo GDS?

Galileo is a travel distribution platform that utilises a global distribution system (GDS) to allow travel agents to book hotels, flights and other travel services.

Galileo GDS is owned and operated by Travelport, one of the three major players in the GDS space (along with Amadeus and Sabre). Travelport also runs the Apollo and Wordspan GDS platforms. When a hotel uses a connectivity partner like SiteMinder GDS, travel agents and corporate travel management companies can book inventory through Galileo and other major GDS providers.

While Galileo is mainly used for airline bookings, it’s also used by travel agents to book hotels, car hire and other travel services for their clients.

gds infographic

In this guide we’ll look at Galileo through the lens of a hotel looking to learn more about the GDS, from how it works to how it might capitalise on the distribution opportunity.

Table of contents

Why do hotels need Galileo GDS integration?

Galileo (along with Apollo and Wordspan) is owned by Travelport, which is one of the world’s ‘Big 3’ GDS vendors.

This means that when a hotel’s inventory is listed on Galileo, it’s also listed on those other Travelport platforms, which allows it to reach a vast network of 68,000 travel agencies across the globe, equating to over 250,000 individual agents.

Galileo is particularly popular with travel agents in Asia and the Middle East, so being bookable through this GDS platform can significantly increase the number of bookings you generate from these parts of the world.

What is the role of GDS in hospitality?

The GDS offers a way for travel professionals to book travel services – flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, tours – for their clients.

The GDS was originally created as a way for airlines to simplify and speed up their booking processes. As more airlines joined, the system slowly grew, eventually becoming a marketplace for all types of travel service providers.

To be listed on a GDS, a hotel can work through a connectivity partner, like SiteMinder GDS.

Gain access to every major GDS with SiteMinder

Why limit yourself to Galileo, or even Travelport? With the help of SiteMinder, you can connect your hotel to all major vendors on the GDS, including Sabre and Amadeus, to generate more visibility, bookings and revenue than ever before.

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How does Galileo GDS differ from other GDS systems?

In many respects Galileo is very similar to other GDS operators like Apollo (which formed the base from which it was originally developed), Worldspan, Sabre and Amadeus. But a couple of key differentiators include:

  • Popularity in Asia, and particularly the Middle East, where it’s the GDS platform of choice for 55% of travel agents.
  • Travelport integration: any hotels that are bookable through Galileo will also be found on Apollo and Worldspan.

Galileo GDS

What are the key benefits of Galileo GDS for hotels?

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

But Galileo also offers a number of other unique opportunities to hotels.

Greater global reach   

Galileo, and the GDS channel in general, forms the perfect complement to your other sales channels – OTAs, metasearch and direct bookings – because it helps you attract bookings from sources (namely travel agents and corporate travel management companies) that those other channels cannot.

Group bookings

Galileo enables travel agents to efficiently book blocks of rooms for travel groups, so when you have a presence on Galileo, you can more efficiently earn large bookings.

Corporate travel management

Galileo helps make your hotel visible to corporate travel agents and management companies, where you can win high-value bookings from business travellers. Corporate clients are a particularly valuable source of bookings because they can be less price-sensitive and tend to fill mid-week lulls.

Efficient upselling opportunities

A GDS grants your hotel the opportunity to upsell without needing to put much effort in at all. You can offer travel agents (and their clients) value-added options like premium rooms, spa packages or in-house dining, to both personalise the experiences you deliver and boost your revenue.

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 and in real-time across Galileo and all other major GDS vendors.

What are the technical requirements for implementing Galileo GDS?

It’s important to note that as a hotel, you do not connect directly to Galileo. Galileo is what travel agents and professionals use to book your rooms.

On the service provider (hotel) side, while you can be listed on Galileo, you’ll never directly interact with Galileo. You’ll instead need to control your GDS presence through a connectivity partner, like SiteMinder GDS. Here’s how that works:

1. Choose your GDS connectivity partner

Choose a partner that offers seamless integration with your property management system (PMS), and that works not just with Galileo, but with all major GDS vendors. The connectivity partner is tasked with facilitating the connections between your hotel and the GDS vendors, which involves translating your room inventory, rates and availability into a format that GDS systems can understand and access.

2. Configure your property details

Provide your GDS connectivity partner with all the information it needs to pass on to the GDS vendors: room types, rates, amenities, imagery, policies, availability and more. This data is then synced with Galileo and the other GDS vendors.

3. Maintain and update your listings

Once your data is synced, you can update listings and information in real time through your connectivity partner. You can manage pricing, promotions, availability and more. Regular updates ensure your hotel remains competitive and visible to travel agents booking through Galileo and other GDS vendors.

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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