Alexandria, Va., - The OpenTravel Alliance (OTA) released Version 2001B of its specification for public review. Unifying what is traditionally a fragmented industry, OTA harmonizes global travel processes by developing specifications using Extensible Markup Language (XML). Immediately following the public review period, version 2001B will be ready for industry-wide implementation. By creating the XML schema documents to validate XML-based messages, OTA provides for:

• The ability to search for specific hotels, check for availability, and make a reservation
• The components for checking the availability of car rentals and simplifying the steps to making that reservation
• A way to book an air reservation (simple booking)
• The capacity to get and book quotes on travel insurance that best fits a traveler's needs

Version 2001B also includes supporting XML schema documents that streamline the creation of OTA messages, sample XML instance documents and complete text description of the XML content. To view and comment on Version 2001B, visit www.opentravel.org/opentravel/2001b.cfm. The public review period closes Dec.12.

Looking ahead, OTA will be releasing the 2001C specification for public review by December 2001. This specification will include best practices, the mapping of OTA message sets to the ebXML Messaging Service specification, and the introduction of additional travel-specific messages. Additionally, by spring 2002, OTA will release a specification that incorporates best practices and provides enhancements to OTA messages for the ever-evolving travel industry.

In concert with OTA specification development initiatives, OTA is reaching out to help its members during these challenging economic times. OTA recently established a 60-day honorary membership being offered to members in all sectors of travel, which are feeling the aftermath of September 11. Ultimately both OTA and individual members benefit from this offer. It enables members to maintain their connections with like-minded colleagues in the industry, and OTA reaps the benefits of maintaining momentum on its specification's development.

About OTA

The OpenTravel Alliance (www.opentravel.org) develops communications specifications to allow for the efficient and effective exchange of travel industry information via the Internet. With over 150 members representing influential names in all sectors of the travel industry, OTA is comprised of representatives from the airlines, car rental agencies, hotels, leisure suppliers, non-suppliers, tour operators, and trade associations. These travel industries, together with an OTA interoperability committee to coordinate their efforts, are developing open Internet-compatible messages using XML data terms.