Every day, millions of travel bookings move through GDS networks that most independent hotels aren't visible on. Not because they're too small. Not because the channel doesn't work for them. Because nobody told them it had changed. I write about GDS distribution specifically for independent hotels — what the channel actually looks like in 2026, who's booking on it, and what it means for properties that aren't part of a major chain. Most of the coverage on GDS is either too technical, too vendor-driven, or written for large hotel groups. Independent hoteliers are left with an outdated picture of a channel that has quietly become one of the most valuable distribution opportunities available to them. Corporate travel is back. Leisure travel through GDS is growing. Travel agents, travel management companies, and online corporate booking tools all pull inventory from the same three networks — Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport. If an independent hotel isn't visible on those networks, it simply doesn't appear when those buyers search. I run reconline, a GDS distribution platform built specifically for independent hotels. We connect properties to all three major GDS networks through the channel manager they're already using — no new technology, no long contracts, no complexity. If you're an independent hotelier curious about what GDS could realistically mean for your property, I offer a free assessment — your market, your setup, your numbers. No obligation.

Markus is panel expert of the AI Everywhere panel.