notitur.com August 24, 2026

Hotel technology

CRS

A central reservation system centralizes a hotel or chain's availability and rates and pushes them to every channel. It is the single source of truth for price and inventory that feeds the website, OTAs and GDS. In large chains it sits alongside the PMS.

Example A chain updates a rate in the CRS and the new price reaches all its hotels and channels at once.

Related terms

Hotel technology

PMS

The property management system is a hotel's core software. It handles reservations, check-in and check-out,...

Distribution

Channel manager

A channel manager syncs a hotel's rates and availability across all its sales channels at once. When a room...

Distribution

GDS

A global distribution system is a network that connects travel agents with hotels, airlines and car rentals....

Hotel technology

API

An API is the door through which two programs talk and pass data with no human in the middle. In a hotel it...

FAQ

What does CRS mean in hospitality?
CRS stands for Central Reservation System. It is the central database that manages a hotel or chain's availability and rates, and distributes them in real time to all sales channels, including the hotel website, OTAs, and GDS.
How does a CRS work?
The CRS acts as the single source of truth for inventory and pricing. When a guest books through any channel, the system automatically deducts that room to prevent overbookings, and it updates rates across all sales points instantly.
What is the difference between a CRS and a PMS?
The CRS handles distribution and external reservations (online and agencies), while the PMS (Property Management System) manages daily hotel operations like check-in, billing, and housekeeping. In large chains, the CRS typically integrates with the PMS to keep data synchronized.

Explore the glossary

More terms with the letter CSee all terms

Notitur is an independent digest. It is not the official site of any brand mentioned. Content is editorial and produced with AI assistance and editorial review, and may contain errors. Verify anything important with the original source. This is not financial, legal or investment advice. Some links or blocks may be sponsored or affiliate. Trademarks belong to their owners. You can unsubscribe at any time with one click, and you can request access or deletion of your data at notitur.com/contact.

⚙ Admin