Travel Reservation System Integration in the Context of a Knowledge-based Economy

Abstract

This article brings up the term of Global Distribution System (GDS) as a system that hasbeen primarily designed and created to distribute airline content. It shows some current integrationsolutions of rail and airline systems and points out the areas where parties may encounter variouschallenges trying to build such integration on a larger scale. On the other hand the article presents thecomparison of rail and airline offers available to travelers, who, in the era of high speed and super comfortabletrains are facing with the choice of means of transport.As an example of initiatives towards integration, the article discusses some recently signed global distributionagreements between European rail companies and leading representatives of GDS.This kind of cooperation will allow rail owners to distribute their offer through the existing GDS saleschannels. This, in turn, will allow the owners of high speed trains to draw on new market segmentswhilst expanding distribution beyond its traditional channels, developing its presence in such strategicmarkets as Central Europe, North America and Asia. This innovative solution will provide travel agencieswith greater ease and flexibility when selecting and booking a travel and, as a result, rail customers will be able to enjoy a more convenient booking and railway line operation that will satisfy the needsof modern travellers.