WASHINGTON, The OpenTravel(TM) Alliance announced today that its annual election cycle is now completed with the elections of its Work Group and Sub-committee leadership.

Among those companies holding positions in the OTA are: America West Airlines, Cendant Car Rental Group, Delta Air Lines, Expedia, The Hertz Corporation, Hotel Information Systems, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, IBM, Marriott International, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, United Airlines, Travel Technology Initiative and Worldspan.

"The companies represented in our organization and the individuals from the membership selected by their peers to lead the OTA for the next year are outstanding. We could not wish for a team of stronger and more dynamic professionals to continue the success of the OTA," said Mike Kistner, OTA Chair and Best Western, Senior Vice President and CIO.

  Interoperability Committee:
  Chair: Lisa Fues                          Marriott International
  Co-chair: Paula Heilig                    Worldspan
  Air Representative: Robert Beiersdorfer   Delta Air Lines
  Air Representative: Samuel Liyange        America West Airlines
  Car Representative: David Rosenberg       Cendant Car Rental Group
  Car Representative: James White           The Hertz Corporation
  Hotel Representative: Jennifer Ginty      Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
  Travel Integration Representative: Tony
   Williams                                 TTI

  Subcommittees of the Interoperability
   Committee:
  Architecture Chair: David Morley          Marriott International
  Architecture Co-chair: Roberto Girolami   Expedia
  Adoption Chair: Alan Young                Hotel Information Systems
  Adoption Co-Chair: Brian S. Bowerfind     Hotel Information Systems
  Data Content / Best Practices Chair:
   Paula Heilig                             Worldspan
  Data Content / Best Practices Co-chair:
   Sandy Angel                              Marriott International

  Air Work Group:
  Chair: Rick Apeland                       United Airlines
  Co-chair: Robert Beiersdorfer             Delta Air Lines

  Car Work Group:
  Chair:  Becky Merriman                    The Hertz Corporation
  Co-chair:  David Rosenberg                Cendant Car Rental Group

  Hotel Work Group:
  Co-chair: Ken Kuhn                        Marriott International
  Co-chair: Joyce Saiki                     Starwood Hotels and Resorts

  Travel Integration Work Group:
  Chair: Tony Williams                      Travel Technology Initiative -
                                            TTI
  Co-chair: Amitava Chatterjee              IBM

The OpenTravel(TM) Alliance will celebrate 5 years of specification development at its annual Advisory Forum - September 20 & 21, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, USA.