2008 Advisory Forum Agenda and Presentations

Note: Some sessions were facilitated discussions so did not have presentations.

Agenda - Monday April 14, 2008

Introduction to OpenTravel
For those who are new to OpenTravel or those who just need a review of OpenTravel structure, processes and staff, join us for a presentation and introduction to work group and committee chairs and co-chairs.

Introduction to OpenTravel Schemas
This technical session provided a great overview of OpenTravel's schemas, including how they're structured, best practices for implementation and how to effect change to the existing schemas.

Introduction to the OpenTravel Wiki
This session provided an overview of how to get the most out of OpenTravel's primary collaboration tool.

John Turato, Chair, OpenTravel Board of Directors

Opening Keynote
What Role Do Industry Standards Play in the Future of Travel Distribution?
Henry Harteveldt, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
Mr. Harteveldt unveiled findings from a joint research project between Forrester Research and OpenTravel to understand attitudes within the travel industry towards industry standards-setting organizations and use of industry standards in XML development, and related those findings toward distribution trends in the travel industry.

The Board Question: What's Next for OpenTravel?
Using the Forrester Research's findings on the use of OpenTravel schemas, members of the OpenTravel board of directors discuss the future work of OpenTravel.
Moderator:
Henry Harteveldt, Forrester Research
Participants:
Sumeet Bahl, Director of Customer Technology, American Airlines
Brian Bowerfind, Vice President of Global Support, Softbrands
Gianni Cataldo, Managing Director USA, Datalex
John Turato, Vice President of Technology, Avis Budget Group

Multi-Lingual Websites using OpenTravel Schemas
This case study presented by three leading international travel companies shows how using OpenTravel schemas facilitates the distribution of multi-lingual content.
Participants:
Mark Lenahan, Product Manager, OpenJaw Technologies
Jennifer Ginty, Director of Electronic Distribution, Hyatt Hotels
Keith Brazil, Vice President of Technology, Translations.com

CIOs Look Beyond the Travel Transaction
Several C-level executives from travel companies discussed the future of online distribution from the top down and looking forward, including these questions: What are the challenges facing the travel industry from a business and a technical standpoint? What are the most critical issues now, and what will they be in three or five years? What will drive successful commercial partnerships, and where will travelers book their trips?
Moderator:
Henry Harteveldt, Forrester Research
Participants:
Ron Anderson-Lehman, CIO, Continental Airlines
Eric Mason, VP Global Product Development, Resort Condominiums International/Wyndham Worldwide
Sue Powers, CIO, Travelport GDS

The Impact of PCI Compliance on OpenTravel Schema
How does ensuring PCI compliance affect the implementation of OpenTravel schemas?  Should schemas be modified to allow more than the existing clear text fields, including encrypting field data or adding fields to pass information about encryption algorithms?  Do other payment standards, including WS-Security, supercede OpenTravel schema development?
Participants:
Branden Williams, Director PCI Practice, Verisign
Tom Murray, Vice President Techology, SynXis

Introduction to OpenTravel's Message Registration Program
This program explains OpenTravel's message registration program and its benefits to members.

This session reviews all projects from all work groups and project teams published in the 2007A and 2007B releases and scheduled to be published in the 2008A release. Future potential projects were discussed and evaluated, including vacation/tour/packages, payment, content distribution and cruise.

Ask the Experts - A Series of Case Studies
This session featured OpenTravel member companies who have successfully implemented OpenTravel specifications.  They discussed why and how they made the decision, tools they used to implement the messages, what they learned along the way and how they measured the success of their decisions.
Moderator:
Valyn Perini, Executive Director, OpenTravel
Participants:
Bonnie Lowell, Director of GDS Technologies, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Lew Harasymiw, Director of Interface Solutions, SynXis
David Rosenberg, Lead Application Architect, Avis Budget Group

The Global Travel Ecosystem
Web 2.0. The Long Tail. Web 3.0... The emerging global travel ecosystem comprises a virtual and increasingly dynamic agglomeration of adaptable travel companies that are linked to one another by internet technologies. Several OpenTravel member companies discussed how they are embracing these new technologies to market, sell and cross-sell their products to an increasingly fragmented travel-buying public.
Moderator:
Kevin Short, Client Industry Executive for Global Travel and Transport, EDS
Participants:
Scott Ahlsmith, Executive Vice President Global Technologies, Virtuoso
Mark Hoare, Senior Vice President for Travel, Cruise and Hospitality, IBS Software Services
James O'Leonard, CEO, Peak 15 Systems
Bill Peer, Director Enterprise Architecture, InterContinental Hotel Group

This session's conversation leaders and facilitators stirred up lively discourse with attendees on a variety of topics in a highly interactive, fluid session.

Thanks to This Year's Sponsors