Guest Comment: The XML Revolution

Thursday, 10 Oct, 2003 0

By Michael Johnson, TravelOptions managing director

XML is becoming a powerful distribution technology in the travel industry, working to improve distribution and margins across our entire sector. In the past three years we have seen XML technology move into the mainstream as a tool for the distribution and booking of travel product.

XML bypasses the traditional charging models of the viewdata networks, where operators pay when their product is simply searched, and offers a ‘no-booking no-fee’ alternative.

Currently the main way that agents find and book tour operators’ and other travel suppliers’ product is by using systems that constantly poll viewdata for availability — expensive for operators — or by receiving availability and price files of data electronically, which are not bookable in real-time and therefore potentially offer out-of-date — or even worse, sold — holidays.

By nature these systems exclude UK and overseas operators without viewdata connectivity.

XML bridges this gap to create a stronger travel market. Our own solutions allow the content of overseas suppliers to be merged real-time into the reservations systems of TravelOptions’ own clients, and we’re also enabling UK operators without viewdata connectivity to export their products into agency search and book systems and travel portals.

Smaller operators who are not tied to expensive legacy systems are championing XML as a technology that levels the playing field for getting their product to the market, and are benefiting from the head start the industry has given them.

Bigger players are looking to come on board, and industry organisations such as TOWARD Europe and TTI are promoting standards for XML, which will quicken the uptake of the technology.

We believe this is the model that should be adopted by the travel industry for the future, as the ongoing costs of the viewdata networks are not supportable in the long term.

Read our previous guest comments:
29-Sept-2003 Guest Comment: Domestic tourism – agents or internet for growth?
26-Sept-2003 Guest Comment: Brochures reach next chapter
16-Sept-2003 Guest Comment: Roger Westwood, Hogg Robinson
12-Sept-2003 Guest comment: David Brown, Sabre