An Update on Interface Standards Last year, Microsoft announced a multi-vendor effort aimed at creating an open set of hospitality interface specifications, to be called WHIS (WindowsHospitality Interface Specification). In November, the WHIS group held a press briefing at the IH/M&RS in New York to demonstrate some earlyimplementations and outline its future plans. Interest in the WHIS initiative has been building rapidly ever since. Here are answers to some of the mostcommon questions people have been asking about WHIS lately.
Q: What progress has the WHIS group made since the November press briefing?
A: Since November, the WHIS team has completed draft specifications for a "Folio Posting" interface (enabling sub-systems to post charges in a guestfolio) and a "Check-In/Check-Out" interface (allowing a PMS to notify sub-systems when a guest checks in or out). In addition, work on "Reservation Transfer" and "Inventory Update" specifications is nearing completion.
Q: Where can I get copies of draft specifications?
A: Actually, we won't be publishing them ourselves. Instead, we will be submitting our specifications to HITIS (Hospitality Industry Technology InterfaceStandards), the new integration standards body launched last December by the AH&MA (www.ahma.com).
Q: What is the relationship between the WHIS group and HITIS?
A: Both organizations want to make integrating hotel information systems simpler and less expensive, but each is tackling a different part of the process.The WHIS group is creating detailed technical specifications; to do this quickly we've been keeping our meetings fairly small. HITIS will focus on openingup specifications proposed by the WHIS group and other organizations to review and discussion throughout the industry, in an effort to build the broadconsensus that must emerge before standards can evolve. Also, the range of standards HITIS plans to address goes far beyond the WHIS initiative'sscope.
In an effort to make the relationship between the WHIS group and HITIS as clear as possible, the WHIS group recently re-drafted its charter to makeexplicit that its mission is to submit proposed interface specifications to HITIS. Like the rest of the hotel and lodging industry, the WHIS group looks toHITIS to drive the standards process.
Q: Wasn't the WHIS group concerned about the creation of HITIS?
A: To the contrary, we were positively delighted! From day one, the WHIS group has been eagerly seeking an independent industry organization such asHITIS to which it could submit proposed specifications. We've always been more interested in solving the technical problems associated with interfacetechnology than in building industry-wide consensus on standards. Backed as it is by a recognized body such as the AH&MA, HITIS is far better qualifiedto lead this complex and difficult process. In fact, HITIS has already given WHIS many valuable suggestions resulting in significant improvements to ourdraft specifications.
Q: Won't the existence of two separate organizations, HITIS and WHIS, lead to the creation of dual standards?
A: Absolutely not. Creating multiple standards would be in no one's interest. The WHIS group is developing interface specifications, not standards. It'sHITIS that will develop standards.
Q: How long will it be before hospitality vendors begin using standards-based interfaces in their products?
A: We expect to see strong vendor support for standards at HITEC, this June. Even if HITIS hasn't officially ratified standards by then, we hope to demoseveral full-scale implementations of standards-based interfaces at that show.
Q: How can I get involved in the standards-setting process?
A: HITIS publishes proposed specifications on its web site (www.hitis.org), and we strongly encourage the entire hospitality community to check inregularly and offer detailed feedback. Now that HITIS has started the open consultation process, the key to success for the standards-setting effort is broad and active participation by vendors and hoteliers.
Solution developers interested in learning more can also attend the upcoming Microsoft hospitality industry developer's conference on April 9th and 10th inRedmond, WA. Among the presentations given at the conference will be one illustrating how developers can implement the HITIS interfaces in ways thatwill increase the power and flexibility of their products. For information about registering, contact Suzie Calabro at Microsoft (suzieca@microsoft.com).
Q: Who has been drafting the WHIS group's proposed interface specifications?
A: Though the vendor mix at any one meeting varies, depending on which specification we're discussing, here is a master list of the vendors and other organizations that have attended WHIS group meetings so far:
Anasazi, Inc.
Encore Systems, Inc.
Enterprise Hospitality Systems
Five Star Systems, Inc.
Global Resources, Inc.
Homisco\Voicenet, Inc.
INSI
Integration Technology Consortium
Lodging Touch International
MAI Hospitality
MCORP
Multi-Systems, Inc.
Places to Stay
Protocol Technologies
Sulcus Hospitality Group
Systems Design & Development, Inc.
TESA Entry Systems International
