TUI`s businesses in the UK and Thomas Cook have joined 11 other organisations including…
TUI`s businesses in the UK and Thomas Cook have joined 11 other organisations including My Travel, First Choice, P&O Ferries, Stena Line and Brittany Ferries as shareholders of Travel Technology Initiative. TTI is renowned for its work in setting standards for the exchange of electronic messages between travel companies. With TUI and Thomas Cook purchasing their shareholdings, all the major travel companies are now shareholders of TTI.
Apart from its shareholders, the organisation now has over 120 members, drawn from all sectors of the travel industry. Members include companies such as Advantage Travel Centres, Eurotunnel, Hilton International and Kuoni. This is the highest number of members since TTI`s foundation in 1989.
Recent TTI initiatives include the release of three XML specifications including one that will allow tour operators to distribute electronic brochure content to third parties such as high street and online travel agents.
Tony Allen, Chairman of TTI, stated In an increasingly electronic world, the work of TTI is essential to ensuring that the travel industry`s computer systems can talk to one another. I am delighted that TUI and Thomas Cook are joining TTI as shareholders alongside the other major travel companies. This means TTI is now perfectly placed to continue its work on unifying the travel industry`s electronic distribution.
Keith Newman, IT Director TUI UK, commented, By utilising TTI`s emerging technology we can keep driving the business forward, embrace new opportunities and continue to provide a market leading customer service.
Mark Foy, Head of IT Service Delivery, Airline & Tour Operations at Thomas Cook commented, Thomas Cook is convinced that industry wide standards for data exchange and message based communications are essential if we`re to conduct electronic business in an efficient and highly cost effective way. We believe that TTI is uniquely placed within the industry to facilitate the development and publication of these standards. We`re delighted to be able to join other key players in the industry as shareholders of TTI and look forward to making a significant contribution to TTI delivering its objectives.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
