While there have been many advances and innovation in the distribution channel, payments have not evolved at the same pace due to their intrinsic complexity. There are many forms of payment used in the indirect sales channel and each one of them has different payment and processing instructions. This hinders hotel reservations and front of desk operations causing inefficiencies and overhead costs; ultimately affecting the traveler's experience at the property.

The Open Payments Alliance (OPA) is introducing the concept of a Payment Manager. The Payment Manager provides a travel industry specific payment solution. The specification defines the role of a Payment Manager, a solution that transforms payable data into instructions that automatically initiates and settles payments between two parties. These solutions are expected to streamline and automate processing as well as reconciliate payments used in indirect sales channels.

It is expected that the adoption of these specifications will standardize the way payments are processed today, improving operational efficiencies for hotels while providing a better check-in experience to travelers.

The Open Payments Alliance Workgroup included participants from HEDNA, HTNG and OpenTravel, and was led by co-chairs Xavier Ginesta of Voxel Group and Dee Thomas of Onyx CenterSource.

Download the OPA Specification.

About Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG)

Part of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), HTNG the premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG serves members from hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, 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 and also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.

Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including world leading hospitality companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. HTNG's Board of Governors, consisting of 22 top IT leaders from hospitality companies around the world, itself has technology responsible for over 3 million guest rooms and world-leading venues. HTNG publishes workgroup proceedings, drafts and specifications for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. HTNG releases specifications into the public domain as soon as they are ratified by the workgroups.

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