OpenTravel Alliance Publishes Car Rental Specification
The new messages included in Version 2007B will allow rental car companies to provide more in-depth rate and rate rules information to OpenTravel Alliance distribution partners.
The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel) has published the latest version of its specification. It is the latest addition to the OpenTravel library of specifications adopted by travel companies worldwide.
“The new schema in this version will solve business problems for both the rental car and hotel industries,” said John Turato, chairman of OpenTravel and Vice President, Technology, for Avis Budget Group. “Speaking for the rental car industry, the two new messages included in this version will allow rental car companies to provide more in-depth rate and rate rules information to our distribution partners, which will mean better service to rental car customers.”
The specification also includes an enhanced rate plan message for hotels that allows any distribution partner (e.g. GDSs, third party travel sites, Property Management Systems or CRS) to request detailed rate plan information (availability and pricing). In addition, partners will now be able to more efficiently exchange pricing using rate calculations instead of daily pricing. The leader for this project team was SynXis, a leading provider of distribution technology and services for the hotel industry.
The specifications can be downloaded by clicking here.
More Rental Operations
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →
How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →