CRS (Central Reservation Systems) - Everything You Need to Know

For customers who want to unify their data and distribution strategy, Cloudbeds is the industry’s only unified PMS platform. It allows you to seamlessly sync real-time room, rate, and availability data between your CRS and Cloudbeds. Effortlessly manage your reservations in one system to save time, effort, and distribution costs. Benefits of integration with CRS:

• Enhances efficiency in managing reservations and room inventory.
• Improves customer experience by providing accurate and up-to-date booking information.
• Increases revenue opportunities by optimizing room sales across multiple channels.

What is CRS?

A Central Reservation System (CRS) is a computerized system used in the hospitality industry to manage reservations and inventory across various distribution channels. It allows hotels to centralize their booking processes, manage room availability, and streamline operations.

Key Functions:

1. Room Inventory Management: Keeps track of room availability and rates in real time.
2. Reservation Handling: This department processes bookings from multiple sources, such as the hotel's website, call centers, and online travel agencies (OTAs).
3. Integration: Interfaces with other systems like Property Management Systems (PMS), Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and channel managers to ensure consistency across platforms.
4. Reporting: Generates reports on booking trends, revenue, and occupancy rates to assist in decision-making.
5. While GDS provides a broad distribution network, a CRS specifically manages hotel reservations and inventory.
6. A CRS can distribute room inventory to various GDS, ensuring that real-time availability and rates are accessible to a wide range of booking platforms.

What does the CRS integration with Cloudbeds look like?

• We send real-time ARI from Cloudbeds PMS to the CRS (like with OTA Channels). Like a standard channel (OTA) connection, a reservation made via the CRS will get added to Cloudbeds.
• Unlike an OTA, the CRS typically has its own exclusive GDS, OTA, and/or BE connections. For example, travel agent/call center reservation information can also be sent to Cloudbeds.
• Additionally, if a CRS customer chooses to use any of the channels offered via the Cloudbeds Channel Manager, Cloudbeds also supports cancellation management (more details in the feature section below).

CRS Partners Overview

Cloudbeds integrates with some of the most popular Central Reservations Systems globally. Cloudbeds customers can bring the following partners into their unified platform: