The Fifth Avenue Hotel
PMS - Property Management System = Infor HMS
A computer system installed at the hotel that carries out a number of front office and back office functions (i.e., check-in, check-out, billing). A PMS contains information about available and occupied guestrooms, future reservations, and guest charges.
CRS - Central Reservation System = LHW SynXis
A Software that manages property (or multiple property) availability and reservations from multiple channels such as booking engines, GDS, call center, etc.
BE - Booking Engine
The behind-the-scenes system that provides reservations functionality.
Direct Connect
A technological connection that interchanges and synchronizes the ARI (Availability, Rates & Inventory) across multiple distribution channels, such as between a Hotel CRS (or PMS) and OTAs.
CRO - Central Reservation Office = Onsite & Revinate
It is a system that allows reservation agents to receive reservation requests by phone and to handle them immediately.
OTA - Online Travel Agents
Websites offering comprehensive travel shopping and reservation solutions to consumers. Examples include Expedia, Booking.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, and many local and regional sites.
GDS - Global Distribution Systems
Reservation networks that provide access to travel and tourism inventories through direct linkage with the reservation systems of hotel, airline, car rental, and travel agency companies on a worldwide basis (Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan). These networks make it possible to display airline and hotel products over an extensive network of travel agencies.