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Property Web Services Solution Workgroup

  HTNG Workgroup Information
 

Overview

This workgroup is charged with developing a set of Web Services designed to promote interoperability and information exchange among systems that service the needs of hotel properties.  The workgroup is platform-agnostic, and includes active participants using a variety of Microsoft, Java-based, and other toolsets.

Progress to Date

Click here to view the latest informational flysheet of the workgroup that was distributed at HITEC 2008 (PDF).

This workgroup released its first certification specification in February 2007 and several products are now certified.  For access to the specification and the register of certified products, please visit the certification site.

Many other specifications developed by participants in this workgroup have been published for reuse by members, but have not yet been developed into certifiable specifications.  These are available on the collaboration site.

Transport Layer:  The workgroup has created two successive versions of a standardized transport layer for XML messages.  The first version, developed in early 2004, specified a SOAP header that handled authentication and a secure transport mechanism.  In 2006, the workgroup has transitioned to a Web Services Framework, fully consistent with the latest W3C standards.  This specification, referred to as HTNG Web Services Framework v2.0, was released in early 2007.  The synchronous version of the specification is part of the HTNG Property Web Services 2007a certification specification.  The asynchronous version is being fine-tuned and is expected to be part of the 2007b specification.

Web Services:  The workgroup has also developed sets of XML services that have been used to exchange customer information and to handle routine hotel operations such as folio posting, guest lookup, guestroom device statusing, check-in, check-out, and coordination of guest itineraries across multiple systems (PMS, dining reservations, spa, golf, activities, etc.).  The single-guest itinerary specification is available for certification as part of the HTNG Property Web Services 2007a specification.

Current web service efforts that are active within this workgroup include:

  • Continued development of the Web Services Framework, finalizing the asynchronous communication specification

  • Integration of digital signage with sales & catering and other property-based systems

  • Integration of back-office systems with various front-of-house systems such as PMS, POS, and spa

  • Development of specifications for guest self-service devices, including but not limited to kiosks

  • Identity compliance services, providing centrally managed authentication and security for employees and guests across multiple systems

  • Development of an open web services standard for exchange of arbitrary data payloads, including legacy flat-file interfaces, statistical data, and any other data mutually agreed by sending and receiving systems.

Current Status

This workgroup is active.  The single guest itinerary initiative is considered complete; all other activities described above are ongoing.

Applications for Participation

This workgroup is actively accepting new members.  Interested parties should read the information on applying for HTNG workgroups and teams here. The workgroup as a whole meets only 3-4 times per year so it is recommended that new participants do not wait for the next meeting to become involved in a team. 

Participants

  • Accuvia Consulting

  • Agilysys

  • BearingPoint

  • Cox Business Services

  • Datavision Technologies Inc.

  • Delaware North Companies

  • FCS Computer Systems Sdn Bhd

  • Folio Exchange

  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

  • Four Winds Interactive

  • Graphic Systems, Inc.

  • IBM Corporation

  • Infor

  • Infosys Technologies Ltd.

  • InterContinental Hotels Group

  • Knowcross Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

  • KoolConnect Technologies

  • Marriott International

  • MenuLogic

  • MICROS Systems

  • Microsoft Corporation

  • Newmarket International

  • NxTV

  • OpenCourse Solutions

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems

  • Professional Accounting Solutions, Inc.

  • ResortSuite

  • SAP

  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

  • Swisscom

  • Symon Message-Link

  • TAC GmbH

Organization

This workgroup meets regularly in face-to-face meetings and teleconferences, but the majority of the effort is conducted by smaller teams focused on specific areas.  Teams currently include:

  • The Back-Office Integration team, which is integrating back-office systems with various property-based systems

  • The Digital Signage team, which is addressing the interface between catering and event management systems and digital signage systems

  • The Food & Beverage Ordering team, which is addressing message specifications for devices (such as a kiosk or guest's mobile device) to connect to a property's POS system and to manage payment methods for an F&B order. 

  • The Guest Self-Service team, which is addressing interfaces between hotel-based systems such as PMS and POS, with kiosks and other guest self-service devices

  • The Guest Status Messaging team, which is defining messages to provide alerts or updates to systems when a guest’s state or status has changed, such as to personalize a guestroom device when a guest checks in.

  • The Identity Compliance Services team, which is addressing management of user rights across multiple systems

  • The Open Data eXchange (ODX) team, which is developing a standardized approach for the exchange of unstructured data between systems

  • The Protocol & Message Architecture team, which is overseeing the HTNG Web Services Framework version 2.0 development


Back-Office Integration Team

  • Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
  • Birch Street Systems
  • Cox Business Services
  • DataWorks, Inc.
  • Delaware North Companies
  • Folio Exchange
  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  • Global Hyatt Corporation
  • HCL Technologies
  • IBM Corporation
  • Infor
  • Infosys Technologies Ltd.
  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

  • MICROS Systems

  • Microsoft Corporation

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems
  • Professional Accounting Systems, Inc.
  • SAP
  • TAC GmbH

Digital Signage Team

  • Agilysys

  • Four Winds Interactive

  • Graphic Systems, Inc.

  • JANUS
  • Marriott International

  • MICROS Systems

  • Microsoft Corporation

  • Newmarket International
  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems
  • Symon Message-Link
  • TAC GmbH

Food & Beverage Ordering Team

  • Delaware North Companies
  • Extenway Solutions Inc.
  • Global Business Center, Inc.
  • IBM Corporation
  • MenuLogic
  • MICROS Systems
  • Newmarket International
  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems
  • TAC GmbH

Guest Self-Service Team

  • Agilysys
  • Cox Business Services
  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  • Global Business Center, Inc.
  • Hilton Hotels Corporation
  • IBM Corporation
  • Infosys Technologies Ltd.

  • InterContinental Hotels Group

  • LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
  • Maestro PMS
  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
  • Marriott International
  • Media Communications S.A.
  • MenuLogic
  • MGM Mirage

  • MICROS Systems

  • Microsoft Corporation

  • Newmarket International

  • OpenCourse Solutions

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems
  • Swisscom
  • TAC GmbH

Guest Status Messaging Team

  • Accuvia Consulting

  • Asvan Technology LLC

  • BearingPoint

  • Delaware North Companies

  • DoCoMo interTouch Pte Ltd.

  • Extenway Solutions Inc.

  • FCS Computer Systems Sdn Bhd

  • Guest-Tek

  • IBM Corporation

  • INNCOM International

  • LodgeNet Interactive Corporation

  • Lorica Solutions

  • Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.

  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

  • Marriott International

  • MICROS Systems

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems

  • Saflok

  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Identity Compliance Services Team

  • Delaware North Companies

  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

  • InterContinental Hotels Group

  • Marriott International

  • MICROS Systems

  • Microsoft Corporation

  • OpenCourse Solutions

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems

  • ResortSuite

  • TAC GmbH

Open Data Exchange Team

  • Agilysys
  • Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
  • Delaware North Companies
  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  • Knowcross Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
  • MICROS Systems
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • SAP
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
  • TAC GmbH

Protocol & Message Architecture Team

  • Agilysys
  • IBM Corporation
  • IDeaS
  • KoolConnect Technologies
  • MICROS Systems
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • MTech
  • Newmarket International
  • OpenCourse Solutions

  • PAR Springer-Miller Systems

  • Percipia Networks
  • Symon Message-Link
  • SynXis
  • TAC GmbH
  • Trust International

Single Guest Itinerary Team

  • BearingPoint
  • Delaware North Companies
  • Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  • GoConcierge.net
  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
  • MICROS Systems
  • Newmarket International
  • OpenCourse Solutions
  • TAC GmbH
  • The Irvine Company

 

 

 

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