Weekend occupancy is often strong, but many independent hotels still face the same recurring challenge, filling rooms between Monday and Thursday. Those quieter periods can erode average daily rate, reduce overall profitability, and disrupt revenue consistency.
While online travel agencies focus primarily on last-minute leisure demand, another channel continues to generate millions of midweek bookings from corporate travellers across the globe, yet many hotels remain invisible to it.
That channel is the Global Distribution System (GDS). Despite being one of the longest-standing distribution technologies in the industry, it remains a critical engine for corporate travel bookings in 2025 and a proven source of high-value, reliable business.
Why GDS still matters more than ever
The GDS connects your property directly to travel agencies, TMCs, and global corporate buyers booking for companies, events, and government organisations. Platforms like Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport are where high-value business travel happens.
Here’s why it continues to be a powerful revenue driver:
- Corporate visibility: You’re in front of professional buyers who book on behalf of major brands.
- Predictable demand: These travellers pay contracted rates, stay longer, and return frequently.
- Weekday stability: While leisure markets taper midweek, business demand stays strong.
Even as OTAs dominate the leisure market, industry data shows that GDS still delivers 10–15% of hotel bookings worldwide, and those reservations typically bring in significantly higher ADRs than OTA channels.
How the hotel GDS builds reliable midweek business
- Direct access to corporate bookers worldwide
Listing on the GDS connects your hotel to a global network of over half a million travel consultants and corporate agents who book daily on behalf of their clients. - Premium rates and reliable revenue
Corporate travellers are driven by convenience and policy, not discounts. That means stronger rates and lower cancellation risk compared to leisure bookings. - Consistent midweek occupancy
GDS traffic helps smooth out the peaks and troughs, filling your rooms from Monday to Thursday with steady, repeat business. - Visibility among decision-makers
Corporate travel buyers search GDS listings by rate plans, loyalty offers, and amenities. If your hotel isn’t optimised or visible, it’s off the shortlist before the conversation starts. - Smarter business intelligence
Through GDS reporting, hotels can identify repeat clients, booking trends, and top-producing agencies, turning data into strategy, not guesswork. - Total control of rates and distribution
You maintain full control of pricing and rate parity across every channel, protecting your brand integrity and preventing OTA undercuts. - Gateway to corporate partnerships
Promote loyalty rates and negotiated deals that attract long-term business clients and travel programmes. - Technology that works with you, not against you
Integrated solutions like REZswitch streamline the connection between your PMS, CRS, and GDS. One login. One workflow. Zero duplication.
Is GDS right for your property?
Ideal for | Less impactful for |
City hotels, airport properties, business-focused stays | Remote or purely leisure-based destinations |
Conference, MICE, or corporate-friendly hotels | Seasonal, short-stay or leisure-only properties |
Hotels seeking stable, high-value weekday demand | Small properties reliant on spontaneous weekend traffic |
Global reach, local impact
The Global Distribution System is not outdated. It’s underused and for independent hoteliers, it remains one of the most cost-efficient ways to increase corporate visibility, boost ADR, and secure long-term weekday business.
As for us at HotelREZ, we connect independent hotels to the world’s most powerful booking networks through GDS representation, marketing, and revenue management, all designed to help you win more business travellers and drive higher returns.
Ready to strengthen your weekday performance? Speak to our team today and discover how HotelREZ can position your property where global corporate demand begins. Book a Call