CRS (Central Reservation System)

Definition

A system that aggregates reservations across multiple channels (web, GDS, OTA, voice) and routes them to the PMS. Some hotels use CRS as the “one front” for distribution; others connect channels directly to PMS via channel manager.

What it tells you

CRS is most relevant for chain hotels and international brands where reservations come from many sources and need centralized handling before reaching property-level PMS.

How to track it

CRS is configured at the operations level; track reservation flow integrity and channel-mix accuracy as visible in PMS.

Where it fits

For independent hotels, CRS is often replaced by direct PMS-to-channel-manager connections. For chains, CRS is operationally central. The presence or absence of CRS affects how channel mix is computed.