HTNG's workgroups provide many opportunities to shape the industry's development.  We are always looking into new groups — or reactivating retired workgroups — to meet industry needs.  You can use the form below:

• To be included in the distribution list for initial discussions about a potential new workgroup
• To be notified if an existing group decides it wants to re-charter for additional work
• To propose your own workgroup.

NOTE: Non-members of HTNG are welcome during the planning phase when a new workgroup charter is being developed. If a workgroup is ultimately chartered to begin work, participation will require HTNG membership.  For information about joining our dynamic organization to become an active workgroup participant, visit our Join page.

If you are looking to join a current HTNG workgroup, use this form instead.

Prospective workgroups fall into one of three categories:

• A Potential Workgroup is basically an idea that one or more HTNG members have had for a future workgroup, that has been registered with HTNG - but nothing has really happened yet.
• An Incubation Workgroup is an informal group of members (and sometimes non-members) who meet, typically a few times by webconference, to agree upon and write a workgroup charter, which is then submitted to our board of governors for approval.
• Any Retired or Maintenance Workgroup is a candidate for potential re-chartering to update or improve on its specifications.  Those that are actively working on re-chartering are considered Incubation Workgroups.

Incubation Workgroups

Incubation workgroups are those with concepts that are currently under active development by a group of interested HTNG members (and sometimes nonmembers).  The members meet by webconference, typically between about one and five times, to agree upon and write a proposed charter.  Participation is generally open to both HTNG members and non-members, but may on occasion be limited to certain categories (such as hoteliers only).

Potential Workgroups

These are ideas that have been informally proposed by HTNG members, which we think may be good candidates for future workgroup efforts.  Descriptions  are based upon interest expressed by specific members and are often modified during the charter development process.

• Above Property Systems - Facilitate the migration of hotel-based systems to an above-property environment. Initial efforts might focus on the characteristics a system needs to have in order to be properly operated from a central data center, whether hosted by the hotel group, a vendor, or a third party.
• Enterprise Timekeeping – Develop a solution to standardize timekeeping records to be able to compare against sales and revenue data from the point-of-sale.  This would also allow for player tracking systems to be able to view trends, labor costs and productivity.
• Food and Beverage Ordering (Potential Re-Charter of retired workgroup) - Would use feedback from implementers of the original specification to review the specification with a goal of simplifying the spec so it can be more easily and widely adopted by both POS and device vendors.
• Mobile App Connectivity to Hotel Systems - Facilitate the connection and authentication of applications running on guest or staff mobile devices with hotel systems such as PMS, POS, environmental control, door locking, and others.
• Near Field Communications - Identify and develop solutions for the use of NFC technology in hotels, potentially including payments, door lock systems, location services, and other applications.
• Shared Global Network- Create a global managed network in which one (or more) vendor(s) would be able to provide end-to-end connectivity. Currently this is only available regionally, and not in all locations.

Potentially Re-Charterable Retired & Maintenance Workgroups

The following Retired or Maintenance Workgroups could re-charter at a future date to revise or expand specifications.  For more details about a workgroup's work, click on its name to link to the Wiki page with relevant information about the group.

• Back Office Integration - simplified how hotel accounting (back-office) systems talk with hotel systems (PMS, POS) so that hotels can more easily post batches to accounting systems.
• Cellular Coverage - addressed cellular phone coverage issues for hotels by creating a requirements document for an existing architecture (Remote Radio Head) and adapting it for indoor use by multiple Mobile Network Operators for in-building LTE coverage.
• Device Control Integration - made it easier for guest-room devices to talk to each other, by standardizing inter-device messaging (includes environmental controls, safes, minibars, door locks, lighting, and more)
• Digital Signage - addressed the interface between catering and event management systems and digital signage systems
• Distribution Content Management -  facilitated the collection, aggregation, management and distribution of descriptive and illustrative content for promotion of hotels online.
• Entertainment Device Control - created an interoperable solution for remote-controls with hospitality functionality, built on HDMI'S CEC standard.
• Folio Detail Exchange - standardized the extraction of folio line-item detail from PMSs, for use by VAT recovery, loyalty, expense reporting, and analytical programs.
• Food and Beverage Ordering - created message specifications for devices to connect to a property's POS system, and to manage payment methods for an F&B order.
• Guest & Room Status Messaging - reduced complexity and standardize interfaces between PMSs and guest-room systems, so systems can be easily personalized for each guest
• Guest Self-Service - addressed interfaces between hotel-based systems such as PMS and POS, with kiosks and other guest self-service devices
• Hosted Payment Capture Systems - designed solutions and standards for hosted capturing and processing of credit-card information, with secure application of the payment information back to hotelier systems.
• Kiosk Integration - Focuses on self check-in and check-out functionality and interfaces kiosks to property management systems
• Identity Compliance Services - Addressed management of user rights across multiple systems
• Open Data eXchange (ODX) - developed a standardized approach for the exchange of unstructured data between systems and worked to create a generic data push and pull model.
• Payment Systems & Data Security - defined alternative business processes and technical approaches related to the use of payment systems in hospitality, including specifications for secure data proxy and payment processing.  Note that the chartered Hosted Payment Capture workgroup will be continuing to build on the work of this original workgroup.
• Protocol & Message Transport - provided the “plumbing” layer of connectivity for all HTNG messages, the Web Services Framework (WSF) which allows systems to exchange any XML messages (HTNG or proprietary)
• Single Guest Itinerary - improved the interface that enables interconnectivity and exchange between specialized systems that book guest appointments - spa, golf, concierge, dining, ski, and others.