distribution specification development organization, will host its annual Advisory Forum in Montreal, Quebec on April 17-18, 2007.

The event promises to be the most productive two days of the year for planning, developing, and implementing e-commerce for travel industry distribution professionals from every vertical – air, car, cruise, hotel, rail, leisure and destinations.

“Why pick the OpenTravel Advisory Forum over the myriad other travel distribution events out there?” asked John Turato, chair of OpenTravel and Vice President, Technology, for the Avis Budget Group. “To become a more valuable employee, to make a few industry friends, to have a good time and learn something in the process.”

Who Should Attend, and Why?

E-commerce and distribution business executives

• To book business
• To understand how OpenTravel creates credibility and success in the travel marketplace
• To educate the marketplace on their company’s distribution capabilities

E-commerce and distribution business analysts and project managers

• To find solutions
• To become more fluent in the existing OpenTravel messages and how to use them
• To understand how current projects will benefit from the implementation of OpenTravel messages

E-commerce technologists, architects, and software developers

• To get the code right
• To get up to speed quickly on software technology stacks and techniques
• To learn about the available development resources and meet the people behind the OpenTravel architecture team

Agenda Highlights

The agenda will cover e-commerce and distribution topics ranging from real-life (not wishware) examples of mobile device distribution to using OpenTravel messages in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) environment to the always-popular OpenTravel workgroup presentations and interactive round-table discussions.

The Board Question: The Future of OpenTravel
The travel industry is evolving, so how should OpenTravel evolve to meet the industry's business and technology needs?

Emerging Distribution Trends
Electronic distribution is making inroads into historically voice- dominated segments like cruise, adventure travel and tour operators, and these segments are now embracing electronic distribution and OpenTravel messages.

OpenTravel Outside the US
Travel companies outside the US are implementing OpenTravel specifications at an ever-increasing rate. How do business models outside the US affect the implementation of OpenTravel messages, and how should OpenTravel evolve to meet the needs of non-US travel business?

Beyond XML: Service Oriented Architecture
Increasingly, travel companies are using SOA as the platform for information exchange. How do Opentravel specifications support SOA? How should Opentravel evolve to facilitate this approach to IT development?

Mobile Applications and OpenTravel Specifications
Travel companies, especially outside the US, are embracing mobile devices as a new distribution channel. How can OpenTravel facilitate the growth of this not-to-be-ignored channel and meet the needs of travel companies who are utilizing these devices?

As always, each OpenTravel workgroup will present its current and upcoming work and solicit input from attendees on the most pressing messaging needs in the industry.