Adds Representatives from Emerging Travel Segments to Broaden Organization Scope
The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel), the travel industry's leading distribution specification/standards development organization, announced its board of directors for 2009-2010. For the first time, the board includes representatives from the timeshare/vacation rental and tour operator segments.
'The travel distribution world is changing, and OpenTravel is changing along with it. We know emerging travel segments like vacation rental, golf and tour operators are poised to explode their online distribution capabilities,' said Valyn Perini, executive director of OpenTravel. 'With representation on the board from companies in the vanguard of these emerging segments, we are well-positioned to provide to these segments the value of standard messaging and interoperability.'
Air Carrier Board Representatives
Michelle Aaron, Director Application Development, PSS Replacement, American Airlines
Hotel Company Board Representatives
Lisa Fues, Director of Reservations, Inventory and Distribution, Marriott International
Rental Car Company Board Representatives
John Turato, Vice President of Technology, Avis Budget Group
James White, Director of Global Automated Marketing, The Hertz Corporation
At-Large Supplier Board Representative
Eric Mason, Vice President, Global Product Development, Group RCI/Wyndham Worldwide
Non-Supplier Board Representatives
Greg Berman, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director HBSi, an IBS Group Company
Lew Harasymiw, Director of Interface Solutions, SynXis/Sabre
Stephen Joyce, Chief Executive Office, RezGo
Kevin Short, Client Industry Executive for Global Travel and Hospitality, EDS
International Board Representative
John Lambe, Chief Technology Officer, OpenJaw Technologies
"The travel community is made up of so many players, many of which have not been a part of the e-distribution landscape. I'm excited about the opportunity to help shape distribution standards for the tens of thousands of small businesses that make up the tour and activity segment,' said Stephen Joyce, CEO of RezGo. 'The impact standards will have on this emerging sector will be significant, will help drive local economies, and open up a world of distribution opportunities for enterprises, both large and small. OpenTravel has a big role to play in fostering innovation in this relatively untapped and under-represented sector of the travel community."
Upcoming OpenTravel Activities
OpenTravel will hold a half-day event in Chicago on September 15 2009. The Chicago Seminar will include an overview of OpenTravel processes and schemas, case studies of OpenTravel implementations, and panel discussions covering distribution innovation in a down economy and distribution trends in emerging travel segments. A range of distribution experts will discuss these topics and answer questions from attendees. Travel industry expert Susan Black, Managing Partner of Susan Black Associates, will act as moderator.
Click here for more information .
About the OpenTravel Alliance
The OpenTravel Alliance is passionate about solving the problems inherent with connecting multiple systems within the complex travel distribution arena.
OpenTravel's mission is to engineer specifications that make data transmission flow smoothly throughout travel, tourism and hospitality. OpenTravel creates, expands and drives adoption of open universal data specifications, including but not limited to the use of XML, for the electronic exchange of business information among all sectors of the travel industry.
With a diversified membership representing influential names in all sectors of the travel industry, OpenTravel is comprised of representatives from airlines, car rental firms, hotels, cruise lines, leisure suppliers, service providers, tour operators, travel agencies, and trade associations. Thousands of OpenTravel message structures are in use, carrying tens of millions of messages between trading partners every day.
For more information, visit www.opentravel.org.
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