Hotel-tech glossary

Wholesaler

A B2B distributor that resells discounted rates to retailers, packagers, and consolidators.

A wholesaler is a B2B distribution channel that buys discounted rates from hotels and resells them to retail OTAs, tour operators, packagers, and corporate travel agencies. Major hospitality wholesalers include Hotelbeds, GTA, and Tourico. Wholesale rates are usually subject to net-rate contracts (the hotel sets a wholesale net rate and the wholesaler marks up freely) rather than commission contracts.

Related terms

OTA

Online Travel Agency. Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Hotels.com, etc.

GDS

Global Distribution System. The legacy travel-agent booking network (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport).

Part of the hotel-tech glossary. Maintained by Maciej Dudziak, founder of Guestivo.