Quick answer
A travel commerce platform is a single system that lets a business search, book, price and sell flights, hotels, tours, transfers and more under its own brand. It combines inventory from a GDS (global distribution system) or wholesaler with the storefront, payments, markup control and distribution tools you would otherwise buy separately. altovo (formerly easyGDS) is one example.
"Travel commerce platform" is often used loosely. Below is a working definition, what one includes, how it differs from a GDS, a booking engine and an OTA, and who uses it.
What is a travel commerce platform?
A travel commerce platform is the software a business uses to both source and sell travel from one system. It does two jobs. First, it aggregates supply: flights, hotels, tours, transfers and cars, pulled from many sources into a single view. Second, it gives you the tools to sell that supply: a branded website, an agent portal, pricing and markup control, payments, and reporting. Instead of stitching together a booking tool here, a hotel wholesaler there and a payment provider somewhere else, you run the whole operation from one system.
What does a travel commerce platform include?
A travel commerce platform typically includes booking engines, aggregated inventory, distribution channels, payments, loyalty, merchandising and supplier connectivity. Most platforms are modular; altovo, for example, is built from seven modules that work together:
01
Booking Engines
Flights, hotels, packages, tours, transfers and more.
02
Inventory
1M+ hotels, 650+ airlines, 250K+ activities, one contract.
03
Distribution
Branded B2C site plus a multi-level agent network.
04
Payments
80+ methods in 50+ currencies, fraud protection.
05
Loyalty
Earn and burn points across every product.
06
Merchandising
Cross-sell, promotions and digital vouchers.
07
Connectivity
Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport, NDC and AWS.
How is a travel commerce platform different from a GDS, booking engine or OTA?
A GDS supplies flight inventory, a booking engine is the search-and-book interface, and an OTA is a consumer travel business. A travel commerce platform is the complete stack that combines inventory, booking engines, payments and distribution so you can run your own travel business.
| Term | What it is | How it relates to a travel commerce platform |
|---|---|---|
| GDS (global distribution system), e.g. Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport | A distribution network that supplies flight inventory and fares | A supply source the platform connects to, not a full selling system |
| Booking engine | The search-and-book tool a customer interacts with | One component of the platform, not the whole thing |
| OTA (online travel agency), e.g. Expedia or Booking.com | A consumer travel brand that sells trips online | A business model that runs on a platform, not the technology you buy |
| Travel commerce platform | The complete stack: inventory, booking engines, payments, distribution and branding | The system you run your own travel business on |
For a deeper look at replacing a GDS specifically, see our guide to GDS alternatives for travel agencies.
Who uses a travel commerce platform?
Airlines, travel agencies, corporate travel desks and loyalty or retail brands use travel commerce platforms, each for a different reason:
- Airlines, to sell holidays, stopover programmes and other ancillary revenue products while owning the customer relationship.
- Travel agencies, to run branded B2C storefronts and B2B agent networks with full markup control.
- Corporate travel desks, to give business clients a self-booking portal with approvals and policy.
- Loyalty and retail brands, to add white-label travel rewards to an existing programme.
Why use a travel commerce platform instead of separate tools?
The main benefit of a travel commerce platform is consolidation: one contract instead of many separate supplier deals, your own brand and margins, and a launch measured in weeks rather than quarters. Because it all runs through the same system, you can merchandise, cross-sell and report across the whole journey rather than product by product.
How does altovo work as a travel commerce platform?
altovo (formerly easyGDS) is a travel commerce platform for airlines, travel agencies, corporate travel desks and loyalty brands. It brings global supply (over 1 million hotels, 650+ airlines and 250,000+ activities) into one contract, then layers on branded distribution, payments in 50+ currencies, loyalty, merchandising and connectivity to Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport and NDC (New Distribution Capability, the IATA data standard airlines use to distribute their own offers). Airlines, agencies, corporate desks and loyalty brands run it under their own brand. You can explore the full platform here.
Frequently asked questions
Is a travel commerce platform the same as a GDS?
No. A GDS is a distribution network that provides flight inventory and fares. A travel commerce platform is the wider system you use to sell travel: it aggregates flights, hotels, tours and transfers, and adds a branded storefront, payments, markup control and distribution. A platform usually connects to a GDS rather than replacing it.
What can you sell with a travel commerce platform?
Flights, hotels, tours and activities, transfers, car rental and, in some cases, loyalty rewards. altovo provides over 1 million hotels, 650+ airlines and 250,000+ activities from a single contract.
Who uses a travel commerce platform?
Airlines, travel agencies, corporate travel desks, and loyalty or retail brands that want to add travel rewards.
Do you need developers to launch one?
Usually not. Modern platforms are white-label and configurable, so a branded booking site can go live in weeks rather than requiring a long custom build.
See altovo in action
Talk to our team and see the travel commerce platform, under your own brand.
Get started →