Amadeus today announced that it has moved all 75,000 hotel properties listed in its global distribution system onto a new platform that enhances searching capabilities and eventually will enable a new user interface, a best available rate program and a commission retrieval mechanism.
The new platform, running on the Linux operating system, defines hotels by 100 attributes, enabling users to search for hotels by such amenities as swimming pools and hoteliers to display more information about available rooms, according to Amadeus. With the platform in place, Amadeus plans to expand on its searching capabilities.
The platform will allow hotels to centralize their technology infrastructure, reducing costs, according to Antoine Medawar, managing director of Amadeus' hospitality business unit. "The hotel industry is one of the world's biggest in terms of transactions processed, but the industry's IT processes remain fragmented and unready to cope with the enormous increase in transactions as more hotels are booked online," Medawar said in a statement.
Amadeus also announced it would have a new user interface for travel agencies on the market in 2008. The interface will include a best available rate program so agencies can be assured the rates are as competitive as those on other distribution channels. Amadeus also is piloting a worldwide commission manager that will track commissions due to agents from participating hotels.
Although airfares often get the lion's share of attention in GDS discussions, Amadeus and its competitors in the distribution arena recently have focused on improving hotel distribution
(BTN, July 9). In addition to content and technological offerings, GDSs also have been adding to the volume of hotel properties available. Amadeus, for example, said it has added 10,000 hotels a year since 2005.