The imapct of information technology and management system on the development of the hotel industry and tourism

Tucović Miloš (Ugostiteljsko turistička škola, Beograd), dr.milos.tucovic@gmail.com

Information technology (IT) has shaped the global market since the establishment of the first automated booking system in the United States in 1946. This system proved successful in the work of airlines and was later adopted by the Sheraton hotel chain. Today, information technology is used both to provide leisure time and to generate financial benefits. Travellers can make reservations at hotels worldwide from the comfort of their own home, utilise the services of global tour operators, and book airline or other transportation tickets. The functioning of today\'s e‐tourism systems was enabled by the creation of the first central reservation system (Computer Reservation System – CRS) and the global distribution system (Global Distribution System – GDS), which centralised reservations from travellers worldwide across various units of the modern tourism business. The separation of the CRS and GDS systems for travel agencies, tour operators, and airlines also facilitated the implementation of computer‐based solutions in hotel operations. By developing Information Systems (IS), hotel companies operate within their CRS reservation systems and property management systems (PMS). Meanwhile, operational solutions for managing tourist destinations have been developed through the creation of marketing strategies and operational business systems, notably through the use of the Destination Management System (DMS) and the Tourism Destination Management System (TDMS). All these systems have contributed to reducing costs and enhancing the efficiency of providing tourists, hotels, and other related services.

Keywords: Information system (IS), Central Reservation System (CRS), Global Distribution System (GDS), Facility Management System (PMS), Destination Management System DMS, Tourism Destination Management System (TDMS)