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The OpenTravel Alliance Publishes Specification Version 2007B

December 13, 2007

The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel), the travel industry’s leading specification development organization, has published the latest version of its specification.  It is the latest addition to the OpenTravel library of specifications adopted by travel companies worldwide.

“The new schema in this version will solve business problems for both the rental car and hotel industries,” said John Turato, chairman of OpenTravel and Vice President, Technology, for Avis Budget Group.  “Speaking for the rental car industry, the two new messages included in this version will allow rental car companies to provide more in-depth rate and rate rules information to our distribution partners, which will mean better service to rental car customers.”

The specification also includes an enhanced rate plan message for hotels that allows any distribution partner (e.g. GDSs, third party travel sites, Property Management Systems or CRS) to request detailed rate plan information (availability and pricing).  In addition, partners will now be able to more efficiently exchange pricing using rate calculations instead of daily pricing.  The leader for this project team was SynXis, a leading provider of distribution technology and services for the hotel industry.

“Our customers at SynXis expect timely implementation and delivery of systems integrations.  Using the OpenTravel specification allows us to move quickly,” said Scott Alvis, president and general manager for SynXis.  “Participation in OpenTravel supports our ‘best-of-breed’ philosophy that enables hotels to select the systems that best meet their needs while letting the vendors work together to ensure interoperability and seamless functionality.”

OpenTrave2007BFinal.doc (54.50 KB)