Global Distribution System (GDS) Interface
RDP can help increase the number of reservations received by your property
from the Global Distribution System (GDS) using a three step approach, as
follows:
| Category |
Description |
|
Internet Reservation Module (IRM) |
RDP's
Internet Reservation Module (IRM) allows millions of potential guests,
groups, and travel agents to check availability and make reservations 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. The IRM is an RDP product and does not
require you to sign up with a GDS provider. All reservations made via
the Internet using the IRM are completely commission free.
See
IRM for details. |
| Sign up with GDS Provider |
RDP's Internet Reservation Module (IRM) is the lowest cost channel for Internet
Reservations, as they are commission free. However, the Global Distribution System should be
used to capture reservations from Travel Agents and other Internet Websites.
|
| GDS Interface to Inn Link and VIP |
For those customers already signed up with a GDS provider, RDP offers a one-way
interface to load new reservations and changes from the GDS directly into the
RDP database. This interface is currently available for
TravelClick,
Synxis, and
InnLink. If you
are working with a different provider, please call
RDP Sales for availability. |
Also see Two-way Global Distribution System
(GDS 2-way) for additional information.
Overview of RDP GDS One-Way Interface
Reservations
made via the GDS by travel agents or guests are stored by your GDS
provider. The RDP GDS one-way interface provides the ability to
automatically load these reservations from the GDS provider into the RDP
system. Features include:
- When a reservation is made on the GDS, either by a travel agent or by a guest via a GDS travel website, it is
automatically loaded into RDP.
- Eliminates data entry of GDS reservations.
- Since there is no data entry, it reduces errors from typos, etc.
- Reservation changes or deletions made via the GDS are automatically loaded into RDP.
- Tracking reports of all GDS reservations.
- RDP Currently has One-Way interfaces to: TravelClick,
Synxis, and InnLink
- RDP is investigating Two-Way interfaces with Expedia,
TravelClick, Synxis, and
InnLink please Click Here
for more information
How
the RDP GDS One-Way Interface Works
The best way to understand the
RDP-GDS One-Way Interface is by following a sample reservation, using the
diagram below:
- You first sign up for the GDS
with a GDS provider such as TravelClick,
Synxis, and InnLink
- A travel agent can use their
GDS terminal and make reservations for your property.
- Guests can use any Internet
booking website, such as Expedia, to make a reservations.
- GDS Reservations from travel
agents or guests are stored at the GDS provider TravelClick, Synxis, and InnLink
- The GDS One-Way Interface
workstation at your property is connected to the GDS provider via the
Internet. This workstation polls the GDS provider every few minutes
looking for new reservations, changes, or deletions. When found,
these new reservations or changes are automatically copied to your RDP
data server by the interface workstation, via the local network
Hub/Switch.
- If RDP's optional Internet
Reservation Module is installed, guests and travel agents can also make
reservations directly into your system, without using the GDS or paying
commissions. See IRM
for details.
| RDP Data Server |
All Reservations end up in the RDP Data Server at your property without re-entry
of data.
- GDS reservations are automatically loaded with RDP’s GDS interface.
- Owners can reserve their property for themselves or their guests using the IRM.
- Travel agents and guests can use either the commission free IRM <or> any of
thousands of GDS powered Websites.
|
| IRM Lowest Cost Channel |
All reservations via the IRM are by far the lowest cost channel, since there are
no commissions or fees paid to RDP, the GDS provider, or a third party
internet Website |
| Owners |
Owners use the RDP IRM for all Internet Access, including owner and guest of owner
reservations, entering and reviewing work orders and statements, etc. |
GDS One-Way Interface Workstation Hardware Requirements
A
workstation at the property is used to run the RDP GDS One-Way Interface
software. This workstation must have the following requirements:
- It must be connected to the Internet
at all times, so the workstation can connect to the GDS provider to fetch new
reservations and changes.
- If there is a firewall at the
property, it must be configured to allow Internet traffic to the
workstation. Call RDP support at 970-845-7108 for specific port
information.
- The operating system must be Windows
XP Professional with all service packs (including Service Pack 2) installed or
Windows Vista (Business or Ultimate).
- Minimum of 1 GB RAM memory.
- Minimum Pentium 3 GHz processor
(CPU).
- Pervasive
Client V9.xx or higher (including all service packs) must be installed
on the workstation. Customers running on Windows 2008 servers must run
Pervasive Version 10.x., since Version 9.x does not work on 2008 servers.
- It must be connected to the same hub
or switch as the RDP Data Server with 100 MB Ethernet or faster.
This
workstation may be used for other functions, such as the Call Accounting
interface.
Sample
Screens for RDP 1-Way GDS Interface
Once the RDP
1-Way GDS interface is launched, the Main window will display. In order
to start the interface, click the GREEN button in the window's upper-left hand
corner. To have the interface automatically turn on when RDPGDS.exe is
first loaded, type "StartNow" after RDPGDS.exe. (Start | Run |
C:\RDPGDS\RDPGDS.exe StartNow) You can add "StartNow" in the
Target line of the RDPGDS shortcut. To stop the interface, click the RED
button in the window's upper-left hand corner.
GDS Information Section
The GDS
Information section displays information defined in the System Settings option.
Last
File Processed Section
The
"Last File Processed" section parses the GDS reservation into
specific fields, making the reservation easier to interpret. Each field
is described below.
| Field |
Description |
| Reservation(s)
Made
|
Lists
the numbers of the RDP Reservations that were created.
|
| Reservation(s)
Changed
|
Lists
the numbers of the RDP Reservations that were changed.
|
| Reservation(s)
Cancelled
|
Lists
the numbers of the RDP Reservations that were cancelled.
|
| Guest
Info
|
Shows
name, address, phone number, and email of the guest.
|
| Travel
Agent Info
|
Shows
IATA #, name, address, phone number, and email of the travel agent.
|
| Company
Info
|
Shows
the group #, name, address, phone number, and email of the company.
|
| Arrival
|
Arrival
date.
|
| Nights
|
Number
of nights.
|
| Departure
|
Arrival
date plus the number of nights.
|
| Adults
|
Number
of adults.
|
| Children
|
Number
of children.
|
| #
of Rooms
|
For
some vendors, the GDS reservation can have up to 3 different room
types. This field holds the number of rooms for each room type.
|
| Room
Type
|
Room
type (can be up to 3 different room types).
|
| Rate
|
Rate
for each room type.
|
| Rate
Code
|
GDS
rate code followed by the RDP rate plan.
|
| Currency
|
The
currency that the rate is in.
|
| Credit
Card Info
|
Credit
card type, number and expiration date.
|
Error
Section
The error
section displays the last error encountered since the program was
started. This section also keeps track of how many files were processed,
how many were good, and how many were errors. The files that incurred
errors get moved to the "Errors" folder within the "Move To
Path", so the file with the error isn't continuously being
processed. Errors are also entered in the log file.
Check
Directory Section
Below is
detailed information regarding checking the directory.
| Field |
Description |
| Last Time Checked |
Last time the "GDS File Path" directory was checked. |
| Next Time to Check |
20 seconds after the last time the directory was checked. (The directory is checked every 20 seconds). |
| Check Directory Now |
Click this button to immediately check the directory . |
|
