CRS - Computer Reservation Systems

Computer Reservation Systems are of high importance for today´s travel and tourism industry. Originally CRS were created to facilitate transactions and bookings related to air travel and at a later date in order to help travel agencies to ease bookings of customers. CRS is a computerized system in order to store and retrieve information and store transactions related to air travel.
cf. (2010, October 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:03, October 10, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Computer_reservations_system&oldid=389527103


It is used by airlines, hotels and other facilities to manage their inventory properly and allow direct access through terminals to check for availability, make reservations and to even print tickets.
cf. E-Business Slides, Modul University of Vienna, Dr. Irem Arsal

[..] Now it is for us to distinguish between CRS and GDS (Global Distribution Systems). CRS developed to become GDS (Global Distribution System) - GDS enable costumers to compare and access information about travel, leisure and many other tourism related information. [..]


[..] CRS mainly focus on direct reservations (eg directly in the hotel) and GDS are more of a global database which soley manage and organize the reservation data. However without an appropriate CRS it is sometimes impossible to access GDS. But both systems allow and enable tourism providers to control, promote and sell their products internationally.
Computer reservations system. [..]



Evolutionary Development of GDS Technology

cf. The Role of Global Computer Reservation Systems in the Travel Industry Today and in the Future, Dr. Axel Schulz, Lufthansa Systems GmbH, Time of Access: 10.October.2010 citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.96.7450&rep..., PDF Data