News for the Hospitality Executive |
Hotel
Technology
Next Generation Releases Interface Specifications
For Kiosks, Payment Systems
And Data Sharing
Chicago, December,
2010 - Hospitality technology buyers and providers now have
another strong series of specifications to improve
interoperability. Just-released standards from the working groups
of the nonprofit industry association, Hotel Technology Next Generation
(HTNG) add new features for kiosk interfaces, extend the functionality
of payment system interfaces, and enable complex data queries between
disparate systems. In addition, HTNG just chartered two new workgroups to address critical challenges facing hotels today in entertainment systems and cellular phone coverage. The newly released specifications are part of HTNG’s ongoing effort to improve the operations and connectivity of technologies throughout the hotel. The association’s software-related workgroups release new or revised web-service specifications about every six months. Vendors can certify their products to these specifications, so that hoteliers and partners know that such products conform to the highest standards of open-systems interoperability. Highlights from the new specifications include: Increased Kiosk Functionality
Payment Systems Interface Adds Security Functionality and Transaction Types
Easier Data Sharing Between Disparate Systems
Other workgroups continued the refinement of previous specifications. The Guest & Room Status Messaging and Product Distribution workgroups updated their respective specifications with operational revisions. For copies of any of the specifications mentioned in this release, visit http://collaboration.htng.org/specs/ and choose the heading 2010B. For older specifications, select earlier versions. Alternatively, information about these and other HTNG specifications is also available on the association’s website at www.htng.org or its wiki that provides more details on the latest status of any of workgroup. Cellular Coverage and Entertainment Content Workgroups Chartered In addition to the newly released specifications, the HTNG board of directors just approved the charters of two new workgroups to address other ongoing technology challenges for hotels. Cellular Coverage
Hosted Entertainment Content Delivery Solution
About Hotel Technology Next Generation The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, non-profit organization with members from hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, and other industry members including consultants, media, and academic experts. HTNG’s members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems. HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards. Where necessary, it also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry. Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others. Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including most of the world’s leading hotel companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. HTNG’s Board of Directors alone represents more than 2.3 million guest rooms. Workgroup proceedings, drafts, and specifications are published for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. Specifications are released to the public domain as they are ratified by the workgroup. For more information, visit www.htng.org. |
Contact: Hotel Technology Next Generation Brian Larson, Marketing Consultant +1 847 303 5560 www.htng.org |