Pathway GDS is a first of its kind B2B platform that gives distributors live access to over 45,000 holiday rental properties from a portfolio of leading suppliers.
Pathway GDS is a first of its kind B2B platform that gives distributors live access to over 45,000 holiday rental properties from a portfolio of leading suppliers. Distributors can not only search across multiple suppliers but can also reserve and amend bookings through the platform via real-time connections into the booking systems of the partner suppliers with 95% of the properties being instantly bookable.
Distributors can not only search across multiple suppliers but can also reserve and amend bookings through the platform via real-time connections into the booking systems of the partner suppliers with 95% of the properties being instantly bookable.
Created by James Marchant and Craig Mankelow, previously part of the senior management team at Villarenters.com, Pathway GDS has been built to solve a pressing problem in the holiday rental sector – accessible connectivity between suppliers and distributors.
Commenting on the market opportunity and the value of the platform to the sector Marchant stated: “The holiday rental market is already significant and the growth potential is massive. However this growth is being constrained by a fragmented supplier base and the difficulty they have in connecting with distributor channels.
We don’t think it makes sense for suppliers and distributors to spend time and money creating multiple unique XML connections – and our supplier and distributor partners agree. We built Pathway to offer a one-stop solution. By connecting once with Pathway GDS, both suppliers and distributors gain access to multiple business partners through one connection.”
Partnerships have been established with some of the leading suppliers in the holiday rental industry, all of whom are bonded. And the properties available cover price points from 3* apartments through to 5* luxury villas with a full range of property types available including chalets, cottages and gites. Suppliers already accessible to distributors include Interhome, Belvilla, Villa Select, Quality Villas, Solmar Villas, Nox Rentals & Mallorca Farmhouses.
On suppliers, Marchant adds: “We already have a comprehensive inventory and will be adding more portfolios. The important thing for us is forging partnerships with good quality suppliers with properties that will appeal to the travel trade.”
Shop or call-centre agents can access and search the properties using an agent desktop solution with advanced search functionality and selected properties can then be placed into branded PDF and e-brochures to send to clients. Pathway GDS can connect with distributors via an XML feed into existing B2C websites and white label solutions are also available.
Andrew Nicholson, Commercial & Distribution Director explains: “Pathway GDS is designed to work with travel agents, OTAs and tour operators and therefore offers distributors a number of ways to access the inventory. With agent desktop, XML and white label solutions we know that we can help any organisation that wants to access more holiday rental stock which is a highly sellable product.”
There are no integration costs to join Pathway GDS and there are no monthly or licensing costs. Pathway simply charges suppliers on a per-transaction basis.
“We are a pure pay-for-performance model,” says Nicholson. “The whole rationale for the business is to generate incremental bookings for our suppliers and distributors so it is right that we only earn revenue when we deliver those bookings.”
Marchant adds: “You can see with our range of suppliers that for both small and large companies, having the ability to access distribution channels more efficiently is a valued service. Access to good technology has been a barrier to growth in the holiday rental market and we’re excited to be able to deliver an easy and cost-effective way to fix this.”
Pathway GDS is already being used by award winning travel company Black Tomato and is currently being integrated into a number of UK distributors. Pathway GDS will also be available to OTAs and tour operators via Traveltek later in Q1 2013.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
