Distribution channels

A distribution channel (DC) is a channel you use to sell your inventory. This includes Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), wholesalers, resellers, and your own channels, such as a brand website or call centre.

If you configure channels and representations correctly, you control which products are sold, at what price, and under which conditions. A clear channel setup ensures your inventory reaches the right customers, maximises revenue, and improves operational efficiency.

Distribution channel types

There are different types of business channels:

• Direct: channels you own and operate, such as your website.
• Reseller: third parties who resell your inventory.
• Tour operator: operators with specific agreements.
• Comité d’entreprise (CSE): corporate partners in certain regions.

Channel inventory and allotment

A channel’s inventory defines which products it can sell. You can configure this by:

• Copying inventory from an existing channel.
• Linking the channel to a distribution channel group for standardised setup.
• Creating a custom inventory for maximum flexibility.

Allotment defines how a channel accesses inventory:

• Freesale: the channel can sell any available inventory.
• Allotment only: the channel can only sell from the units you assign to it.

Representation

A representation defines the display of an accommodation, add-on, or offer on a specific distribution channel. It ensures that the right booking conditions apply in each distribution channel.

Inheritance of distribution channels

When you set up a tree structure for your distribution channels, you can implement specific rules at the highest or intermediate levels. This allows lower-level elements to inherit these settings.

• Inheritance applies to child DCs when you create them under a parent DC.
• Inheritance does not specifically apply to DC groups. This is because DC groups don't use a parent-child relationship.

Scope of inheritance for distribution channels

Here is an overview of the elements that can use inheritance at a distribution channel level. For individual child DCs, see below which functionalities or characteristics support inheritance and which do not: