The OpenTravel Alliance Announces 2010-2011 Board of Directors
Unprecedented Number of Candidates On Ballot
The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel), the travel industry’s leading distribution specification/standards development organization, announces its board of directors for 2010-2011.
"The past year has proven that the OpenTravel community is strong, vibrant, and engaged. We had a record number of distribution professionals vying for seats on the board, and we have seen an increase in overall membership numbers and participation in every segment including air, hotel, car, rail, and tours/activities,” said Stephen Joyce, CEO of Rezgo and chair of the OpenTravel board of directors. “I am excited to work with the new Board of Directors to maintain and grow our momentum. As with any standards organization we will struggle to find our place in the distribution landscape, but I know that our history, our focus, and our ongoing collaborative approach to providing open messaging will continue to define us as a leader in the travel industry."
OpenTravel is especially pleased to have Datalex on the board, given that Datalex was founding member of the OpenTravel in 1998.
“Datalex are honored to join the Board of Directors,” said Gianni Cataldo, Vice President and General Manager of Datalex. “With our experience and visibility into both the airline and agency segments, we can help provide strategic direction and insight to OpenTravel as it broadens its reach into these segments. We look forward to participating with industry suppliers and distributors to drive efficient interoperability of distribution systems for the benefit of all.”
The 2010 board includes:
- Vincent Lextrait, Director Travel Services and Leisure, Amadeus
- Buddy Altus, Director Electronic Distribution, Online Marketing Group, Avis Budget Group
- Harold Dibler, Managing Director, Application Development, Information Services, Best Western International
- Vicki Bias, Manager of Technology, Continental Airlines
- Gianni Cataldo, Vice President and General Manager Americas, Datalex
- James White, Director Global Automation Marketing, Hertz
- Greg Berman COO and Managing Director, Hotel Booking Solutions, Inc.
- Andrew Rubinacci, Vice President, Distribution and Intermediary Sales, InterContinental Hotels Group
- Lisa Fues, Director of Reservations, Inventory and Distribution, Marriott International
- Stephen Joyce, CEO, Rezgo
- Lew J. Harasymiw, Esq., Director of Interface Solutions, Sabre Hospitality Solutions
- Eric Mason, Vice President Global Product Development, Wyndham Exchange and Rentals
For full bios on each board member, click here.
Recent and Upcoming Events
OpenTravel recently published its 2010B version of the schema. Click here for more information.
OpenTravel will hold an event in London on November 10, 2010. More information will be published soon.
About the OpenTravel Alliance
The OpenTravel Alliance is passionate about solving the problems inherent with connecting multiple systems within the complex travel distribution arena.
OpenTravel's mission is to engineer specifications that make data transmission flow smoothly throughout travel, tourism and hospitality. OpenTravel 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, OpenTravel is comprised of representatives from airlines, car rental firms, hotels, cruise lines, leisure suppliers, service providers, tour operators, travel agencies, and trade associations. Thousands of OpenTravel message structures are in use, carrying tens of millions of messages between trading partners every day.
For more information, visit www.opentravel.org.
