Valyn Perini recently moved into the OTA executive role after a successful career spanning more than fifteen years in hospitality and travel operations, sales and marketing, systems, consulting, and software development. She has worked for the hospitality industry in areas including revenue management, distribution, groups and information technology, in the US and abroad. As a principal consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, she focused on a wide array of initiatives including business plan development, systems strategy, selection and implementation for cruise lines, hotel companies, technology vendors and the federal government. At Newmarket International, a software solutions provider, Ms. Perini oversaw the company’s new product definition and development.

The OpenTravel™ Alliance is passionate about solving the problems inherent with connecting multiple systems within the complex travel distribution arena. The OTA's mission is to engineer specifications that make data transmission flow smoothly throughout travel, tourism and hospitality. The OTA 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, OTA is comprised of representatives from the airlines, car rental firms, hotels, cruise lines, leisure suppliers, service providers, tour operators, travel agencies, and trade associations. OTA working groups develop open internet-compatible messages, which are currently in use by companies across the travel spectrum. For more information, visit www.opentravel.org.