OpenTravel Alliance Newly Elected Board Represents Even Greater Diversity Across the Travel Industry
ALEXANDRIA, Va.--July 25, 2002--The OpenTravel(TM) Alliance (OTA) is pleased to announce its newly elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is representative of the diversity within the travel industry and is comprised of companies from across many sectors. Members of the Board of Directors include:| - | Rahim Amlani, Director of Product Marketing for GetThere L.P. |
| - | Ron Anderson-Lehman, Managing Director of Technology for Continental Airlines, Inc. |
| - | John Charlesworth, Director Architecture/R&D/Infrastructure/Product Vision Planning for Worldspan |
| - | Anne Cole, Vice President of Distribution Systems Development for Hilton Hotels Corporation |
| - | Victoria Day, Director of Electronic Commerce for the Air Transport Association |
| - | Mike Keppler, Vice President, Sales and Distribution Systems for Marriott International, Inc. |
| - | Steve Reynolds, Director of Engineering for Innovata, LLC |
| - | Robert Robless, Chief Technology Officer for United Airlines |
| - | John Turato, Vice President of Technology for Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. |
| - | James White, Director of Global Automation Marketing for Hertz Corporation |
The OTA Board officers include:
| - | President: Michael H. Kistner, Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Best Western International |
| - | Vice President: James R. Peters, President & Chief Technology Officer for Datalex Communications USA, Inc. |
| - | Treasurer: Mark Smith, Manager of Business Planning for American Airlines |
"The increased representation of travel industry sectors on the OTA Board will help foster widespread implementation of the OTA specification," said OTA President Mike Kistner.
To view the latest version of the OTA specification - Version 2002A - visit http://www.opentravel.org/opentravel/ota_downloads_form.cfm?CFID=133490&CFTOKEN=26810734. This version enables the travel industry to perform such functions as book air reservations, car rentals, hotel rooms, comprehensive package holiday tours, golf course tee times, travel insurance, and much more. The final publication of the specification is scheduled for August 2002.
About OTA
The OpenTravel(TM) 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 firms, hotels, leisure suppliers, service providers, tour operators, travel agencies, and trade associations. OTA working groups, together with an OTA interoperability committee to coordinate their efforts, develop open Internet-compatible messages using XML.