Galaxy Connect is the distribution layer of Gateway Ticketing Systems' Galaxy platform, which runs ticketing, admission control, online sales, group sales, membership and retail for theme parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, ferries and buses, opening Galaxy inventory to third-party resellers. Gateway is headquartered in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, with a UK subsidiary, and offers hardware, managed services and a global reseller program around the platform.
Connecting Galaxy Connect to Ventrata lets you resell products from operators that use Galaxy Connect as their booking system. Ventrata reads their live availability and prices from Galaxy Connect, and every booking you take is created directly in the operator's Galaxy Connect account.
To learn more about Galaxy Connect, visit gatewayticketing.com.
Primary website | |
Tags | Booking / Ticketing System |
Connection features | Availability Sync · Pricing Sync · Bookings Sync |
Developed by | Ventrata (using Galaxy Connect API) |
This operator connection (also called a backend) lets you resell products from operators that use Galaxy Connect as their primary booking system, with every booking created directly in Galaxy Connect. Features of this connection include:
Availability Sync – live availability comes from the operator's Galaxy Connect account.
Pricing Sync – prices come from Galaxy Connect, or you set prices in Ventrata.
Bookings Sync – bookings post from Ventrata to Galaxy Connect, and Galaxy Connect issues the tickets or vouchers.
Galaxy Connect's external API used for this connection is a custom API that does not follow the OCTO API standard, which may limit certain functionality and capabilities.
Creating the Galaxy Connect Connection
🔐 Required Role Permissions: See Operators, Modify Operators, See Products, Modify Products
Before you begin:
You must have a commercial agreement with the operator for their rates and terms.
You must have the API key for the operator. See the steps below.
You must recreate the operator's products in Ventrata. See how to create products. The connection syncs availability, pricing and bookings, but doesn't create products in Ventrata.
Step 1: Configure the Operator in Ventrata
Ask the operator for the API key for your account.
In the Ventrata Dashboard, go to Products → Operators and open the operator. If they don't exist yet, create them as an operator first.
In the Backend Partner section, select Galaxy Connect and enter the API key.
Press Update Operator.
Step 2: Connect Each Product
Open the operator's product in Products → Products and edit it. Check that Operator is set to this operator.
Tick Backend Connected. Tick Backend Availability to use availability from Galaxy Connect, and Backend Pricing to use prices from Galaxy Connect.
Press Update Product.
Mapping Products to Galaxy Connect
‼️ IMPORTANT
Mapping tells Ventrata which Galaxy Connect product, option and units to check availability for and book. If a backend-connected product isn't mapped correctly, its bookings fail. A red highlight across the product row shows an incorrectly mapped product.
In the Ventrata Dashboard, go to Products → Products and open the product.
Open the Mappings tab. It appears once the product is set to Backend Connected.
For each Ventrata option and unit, select the matching Galaxy Connect product, option and units from the dropdowns, which Ventrata loads from Galaxy Connect. Don't leave any field empty.
Press Save Changes.
📗 TIP
Make a test booking after mapping, and ask the operator to confirm it arrived in their Galaxy Connect account.
Managing the Galaxy Connect Connection
Update the mapping when the operator changes products, options or units in Galaxy Connect.
Replace the key on the operator if Galaxy Connect or the operator issues a new one.
Switch Backend Availability or Backend Pricing off on a product to use Ventrata's own availability or prices instead. Bookings still post to Galaxy Connect.
Connection Features Detailed
This section is for anyone who wants to know exactly how the Galaxy Connect connection works. Here the direction is the opposite of a reseller connection: Ventrata calls Galaxy Connect, using Galaxy Connect API. For each feature, it explains which calls Ventrata makes, when, and what that means for you.
In short: Ventrata asks Galaxy Connect for availability and prices whenever someone looks at a backend-connected product, and creates every booking in the operator's Galaxy Connect account. Galaxy Connect doesn't send changes back to Ventrata.
Timings are typical for Galaxy Connect and rounded, and they can change.
Product Mapping | ✅ |
You map each Ventrata product, option and unit to the operator's Galaxy Connect product in the Ventrata Dashboard. This works as follows:
What this means for you: if something is missing from the dropdown, the operator hasn't made it available to you in Galaxy Connect. Ask them to. |
Content Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata doesn't import product content from Galaxy Connect. Ventrata doesn't import product content from Galaxy Connect. You create and describe the products in Ventrata yourself. |
Availability Sync | ✅ |
With Backend Availability on, Ventrata checks the operator's live availability in Galaxy Connect. This works as follows:
What this means for you: customers book against the operator's live Galaxy Connect availability, so you can't oversell a slot the operator has already sold elsewhere. |
Pricing Sync | ✅ |
With Backend Pricing on, Ventrata takes prices from Galaxy Connect. This works as follows:
|
Promotions Sync | ❌ |
Promotions aren't sent to Galaxy Connect. Promotions aren't sent to Galaxy Connect. Your Ventrata promotions still apply to the price your customer pays in Ventrata. |
Bookings Sync | ✅ |
Bookings made in Ventrata for a backend-connected product are created in the operator's Galaxy Connect account. This works as follows:
‼️ IMPORTANT – Bookings sync one way, from Ventrata to Galaxy Connect. If the operator changes or cancels a booking in Galaxy Connect, Ventrata isn't notified. Ask the operator to tell you about any changes they make. |
Pickups/Dropoff Sync | ❌ |
Pickup and drop-off details aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Pickup and drop-off details aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Share them with the operator another way if a product needs them. |
Custom Questions Sync | ❌ |
Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Share them with the operator another way if they need them. |
Extras Sync | ❌ |
Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Galaxy Connect. Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Galaxy Connect. Only the main product, option and units are. |
Redemption Sync | ❌ |
Redemptions and other status changes in Galaxy Connect aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. Redemptions and other status changes in Galaxy Connect aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. |
Pass Walkup Scanning Sync | ❌ |
Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Galaxy Connect. Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Galaxy Connect. |
Gift Card Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Galaxy Connect. Gift card payments stay in Ventrata. |
✅ supported · ❌ not supported
Good to know: limits and details of the Galaxy Connect connection
Good to know: limits and details of the Galaxy Connect connection
Live availability: availability comes from Galaxy Connect as people browse.
One-way bookings: changes the operator makes in Galaxy Connect don't reach Ventrata.
Custom API: Galaxy Connect's API isn't OCTO, so some features may be limited compared with OCTO backends.
FAQs
I get an error when I save the operator's backend configuration.
I get an error when I save the operator's backend configuration.
The API key or endpoint is most likely incorrect. Check them with your operator. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
There's no Backend Connected box in the product settings.
There's no Backend Connected box in the product settings.
The operator set on the product most likely doesn't have a backend configured. Check the operator's Backend Partner settings and try again. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
The product, option or unit I want to map isn't in the dropdown.
The product, option or unit I want to map isn't in the dropdown.
The dropdowns list what the operator has made available to you in Galaxy Connect. Ask the operator. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
Bookings fail for a backend-connected product.
Bookings fail for a backend-connected product.
Check the product's mapping first: every option and unit must be mapped. Then check that the slot is still available in Galaxy Connect. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
📚 More about Ventrata connections
Partner Information
Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc.
445 County Line Road
Gilbertsville, PA 19525, United States
Ventrata Partner ID: 9b5b08c0-4e13-4b14-870a-26d36b0f4ea1