Launched only 17 months ago, G-rez by Great Hotels Organisation is expected to be named the world’s leading independent provider of hotel reservation services in the world, when the Hotels Magazine Consortia Clients Giants List is published for 2006.
Expected to be ranked the fourth largest GDS representation company in the world overall, G-rez represents 1,505 hotels and 262,626 rooms on the GDS through its CRS, HotelFactory.

The phenomenal success of G-rez has seen it boldly meet and surpass its initial launch target of working with 1,000 hotels in the first three years; instead already working with over 1,500 hotels after just 17 months. The product is popular with a cross section of city centre and resort properties alike, while a number of groups, such as Van der Valk in the Netherlands, Ocean Hotels in the Canaries and Aitken Spence Hotels in Sri Lanka, are also benefiting.

Having successfully increased the GDS revenue of participating hotels and resorts, G-rez by GHO will demonstrate the reason for its success by offering hotels free GDS health checks at this year’s WTM, where it will be exhibiting for the first time within the Travel Technology hall.

G-rez itself is the new GDS and internet reservations solution challenging the traditional marketplace. Its superior technology provides hotels and resorts with the tools they need in order to manage all electronic distribution channels through a single point of entry. Paying only for the services they need and use as a result, the hotels benefit by being able to achieve more bookings for less.

With the technology only forming part of the service however, the phenomenal success of G-rez has largely been attributed to the unique Training Academy which forms part of the product offering. The training provided by the academy empowers hotels with the knowledge to become industry experts in the GDS field. Following completion of the course, average revenue has been increased by a staggering 28%.

To share this success, G-rez will be offering hotels the chance to take part in a complimentary expert GDS health check during this year’s WTM. Exhibiting at the show for the first time, the move will enable hoteliers to see the technology in action and determine how it may best be used to help them join in the GDS success story. G-rez experts will use their GDS technology to view hotels’ inventory and assess how that information is currently being displayed to travel agents. In addition, they will review the content being shown on the most important internet channels in order to assess whether or not practices are currently ensuring maximum exposure and bookings, or if improvements can be made.

Yunna Takeuchi, Director of e-Distribution, GHO, commented: “With so many changes taking place within the GDS marketplace, it is important that hotels are fully aware of the new technologies available. G-rez is the first truly integrated central reservations system for the 21st century and the free health check being offered by G-rez at this year’s WTM will give participating hotels a fully analysed report on their current practices to make sure they are making the most of the opportunities available to their property”.
——-