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To Improve PMS Interface Consistency, MSI Joins HTNG’s ‘Distribution Solution Workgroup’

Acquisition brings over 450 Best Western properties to MSI’s growing portfolio

PHOENIX — OCTOBER 4, 2005— To foster better communications via the Internet and level the playing field across all distribution channels, Multi-Systems Inc., the hospitality industry’s leading provider of fully integrated property-management and marketing systems, is participating in a “Property/Distribution Solution Workgroup” formed by Hotel Technology Next Generation, that is creating consistent interface solutions across multiple applications from a wide variety of system providers.

“The HTNG workgroup approach to solving real life issues is unique within the industry, and we are excited to be participants,” said Teresa Galler, MSI VP of Operations. “HTNG brings industry leaders together from all sides of the equation and helps them focus on specific problems. MSI and other industry colleagues participating in this group are working toward standardized processes that solve communication issues, instead of each link in the chain developing their own individualized interfaces for each circumstance.”

The Property/Distribution Solution Workgroup is dedicated to achieving integration of the key systems that manage distribution for hotels, including: property-management, revenue-management, central-reservations, customer-relationship management, and contact-management systems. External distribution channels (GDS, Internet, and other) and intermediaries (switches, caches, representation companies, and the like) also are a part of the equation.

Doug Rice, HTNG’s Executive Director, said that it is the intent of the chartering companies and of HTNG that this workgroup utilize the message specifications previously created by the Open TravelTM Alliance (OTA). It is expected that to achieve integration, it will be necessary to adopt approaches for message transport, authentication, security, and other necessary elements not covered by the OTA specification.

Property/Distribution Solution Workgroup participants include: Agilysys, Cendant Travel Distribution Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Computer Sciences Corp., ComTel Resources Pty. Ltd., CTF Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Hilton International, Hogatex-Optims, Hospitality Technology Consulting, Hotel Booking Solutions, Hotel Information Systems, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, IDeaS, Maxim Revenue Management Solutions, MICROS Systems, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Multi-Systems Inc., Nirvana Technology, OpenTravelTM Alliance, Outrigger & OHANA Hotels & Resorts, PAR Springer-Miller Systems, Pegasus Solutions and Wipro Technologies.

Benefiting Hoteliers and Suppliers
“For MSI, the major benefit is that their property-management solutions will automatically work with other systems that implement the workgroup's solution,” Rice said. “It also means that they can concentrate their development efforts on value-added capabilities rather than re-inventing the wheel each time they need a new interface to a new distribution channel, CRS, or yield management system - often at significant cost. It also means industry wide adoption of a consistent interface, thus lessening the burden placed on support groups.”

For hoteliers, Rice said the major benefit is the potential for every distribution channel, both internal and external, to be able to handle the basics of sending and receiving simple reservations and opening/closing availability. It will greatly reduce the amount of manual labor many hotels need to devote to managing distribution channels, and ensure that hotels are able to control precisely which channels are open at which rates, in real time.

“MSI is committed to helping hoteliers and guests have the best online reservations experience possible – knowing that when they check in, their reservations will be up-to-date and not lost. Additionally, rooms will be available and not double-booked,” Galler said. “We support this HTNG initiative 100 percent and look forward to achieving significant results.”

HTNG workgroups meet face-to-face every two to three months, and conference calls are orchestrated at least once a month. For periodic updates on the progress being made by the various workgroups, visit www.htng.org.

About MSI
MSI, founded in 1990, is a leading supplier of hotel technology and property management systems. With an installed customer base of more than 2,800 hotels and resorts throughout North America, MSI is one of the lodging industry’s largest providers of fully integrated property management, sales, marketing & catering, point of sale, centralized corporate services, and wireless PM systems. MSI specializes in "total system solutions" for management companies and hotel chains by providing central reservation and property system integration. MSI's customer support team has been recognized as one of the best in the industry and is the key to the success of their products and services. For additional information about Multi-Systems, Inc. technology solutions, please contact Bridget Oliva at 800-331-7890 or info@msisolutions.com. For more information on MSI, visit www.msisolutions.com.