You wouldn’t buy the cheapest car seat on the market no matter what the quality, so why would you expect other products to be any different? High quality is often synonymous 
with high price, which can be off-putting to some, but some things you don’t want to gamble with. Every now and again, you need to make an investment to protect what is important. A global distribution system can be quite the investment for your growing business, but it is worth the cost. A GDS will protect your property’s bottom line and connect your listings to travel agents around the world.
A GDS may not be cheap, but the services included are far-reaching. Costs that go into a GDS include travel agent commissions, hotel switching fees, GDS pass through fees, commission tracking fees, credit card fees, bank clearance fees, tele-fax, fax or other service confirmation fees. With all the combined technological costs and outside fees that GDS’s take care of, they are an extremely good investment when you break down the costs. Because GDS’s are so prominent, it has been difficult for airlines and properties that don’t work with them to connect with a large segment of customers. Business travelers typically use corporate travel agencies to book flights and accommodations, so that segment of the market would be lost if your property is not connected to a GDS.
There are many competitive priced GDS’s and fees with vary with carriers. Look for the hotel system that works best for your budget and your needs, but remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best. With most systems you only pay when you receive reservations, so profiting 80 to 90 percent of your rate makes more sense than allowing rooms to go un-booked. If you want a high-quality product that produces leads, you may need to put down a decent chunk of change to see the benefits.