rate parity

Refers to the commercial practice by which a hotel, airline, or other travel provider maintains consistent publicly available prices for the same room, seat, or product across all distribution channels. Within the architecture of travel operations and distribution, this principle governs how rates are displayed on brand websites, global distribution systems (GDS), online travel agencies…

group booking

Refers to a reservation made on behalf of a coordinated party of travelers—typically above a minimum number of passengers or rooms—who are treated and priced as a single unit rather than as individual bookings. In the tourism supply chain, this concept sits at the heart of Travel Operations & Distribution, allowing airlines, hotels, cruise lines,…

release back

Refers to the process by which unsold, pre-allocated travel inventory—such as hotel rooms, airline seats, or tour spaces—is returned by an intermediary (typically a tour operator, wholesaler, or consolidator) to the original supplier once a contractual deadline has passed. In the intricate ecosystem of Travel Operations & Distribution, this mechanism allows suppliers to regain control…

distribution strategy

Refers to the deliberate plan a travel business uses to deliver its products—such as hotel rooms, tours, flights, or packages—to travelers across a mix of sales channels. In tourism, this encompasses the balance between direct channels (like brand websites, mobile apps, and call centers) and indirect channels (such as online travel agencies, global distribution systems,…

reservation

Is a formal commitment to hold travel services—such as hotel rooms, airline seats, rental cars, or tour spots—for a specific guest, at a specific time, under agreed conditions. Within travel operations and distribution, it functions as the crucial bridge between a traveler’s intent to journey and the actual allocation of inventory in the global tourism…

inventory

Refers to the total set of travel products and services that are available to be sold at any given time—whether seats on a flight, rooms in a hotel, cabins on a cruise, tickets for an attraction, or slots on a guided tour. In the realm of Travel Operations & Distribution, it is the foundational resource…

CRS

Is a computerized platform used by travel companies to store, manage, and distribute travel inventory—such as flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, and packages—in real time. Within the architecture of Travel Operations & Distribution, it functions as a central hub where availability, rates, and booking rules are maintained and synchronized across multiple sales channels. Originally rooted…

metasearch

is a type of online search platform that aggregates and compares travel prices—such as flights, hotels, car rentals, and sometimes activities—from multiple booking sites in real time. Rather than selling travel products directly, it functions as a powerful discovery and comparison layer, pulling live fares and availability from airlines, online travel agencies (OTAs), hotel chains,…

OTA

Is an online travel agency that sells travel products—such as flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car hire, and packaged experiences—directly to consumers through a digital platform. Operating as the most visible layer of the travel distribution ecosystem, it aggregates inventory from airlines, hotel chains, independent properties, destination management companies, and global distribution systems, presenting travelers with…