What system do websites like ebookers.com and hotels.com use to know that hotels have rooms available?

Answer 1

Nearly all online travel agencies (OTA's) use one of the component systems of the Global Distribution System (GDS) such as Sabre, Worldspan, Galileo, Pegasus, or Amadeaus. This allows real-time inventory availability with all of the major hotel chains. Hotels negotiate "distressed" inventory rates with various OTA's and Third Party Intermediaries (TPI's) at a discounted rate which is then marked up and sold to the consumer. The rates offered by hotels to TPI & OTA's can vary based on weather the consumer will see the rate and know the hotel in advance of the booking (typically lower rates are offered if the consumer cannot choose the hotel). An interesting note regarding sites that "guarantee" the lowest rate is that many of the hotel chains official sites also offer an online lowest rate guarantee. In my experience...use hotels.com or travelocity.com to find the best deal...if you don't care which hotel you end up at book the package or opaque rate. If you are going to choose the specific hotel, find the best deal and then head over to the hotel's offical site to book. You won't pay the booking fee/service charge and if your plan's change the hotels are a little more flexible when you booked through them directly vs. an online site. Additionally, many hotel loyalty programs do not award points/credits if you book with a TPI or OTA. FYI - ebookers.com (owned by Orbitz.com) uses Pegasus hotels.com (owned by Expedia.com) uses Worldspan