OCTO standard surpasses 130 users, now live and transforming travel experiences industry

SAN DIEGO, CA. – OCTO, the not-for-profit association advancing a connectivity standard for the tours, activities, and attractions industry, announced that it has exceeded 130 resellers and technology providers using its open specification.  This milestone marks a significant step forward in the organization’s mission to simplify and standardize distribution connectivity for the entire sector.

OCTO is a not-for-profit group, formed in 2022 by a consortium of technology providers, distributors and other organizations to make connectivity easier and more efficient for the tours, activities, attractions and experiences sector.  Now with 75 members, it provides an open source specification that allows seamless connectivity between different systems used by experience providers, tour operators, activity providers and resellers.  Its API specification can be used as a template for new API connections or as an add-on to an existing API.

“Surpassing 130 users is a testament to the industry’s recognition of OCTO’s value proposition and the urgent need it addresses,” said Carrie Keplinger, Executive Director of OCTO. “The current fragmented landscape of booking systems and APIs creates unnecessary friction and complexity.  OCTO is changing that by fostering a unified standard, enabling businesses to connect effortlessly and focus on delivering exceptional experiences.”

Arival, the leading events and intelligence platform for the in-destination experiences sector, has been instrumental in facilitating OCTO meetings at its events.  The upcoming Arival 360 San Diego conference, to be held at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego from September 30 to October 3, 2024, will provide another valuable forum for industry leaders to discuss and collaborate on OCTO’s continued development.  Arival 360 is designed to connect solution-focused creators and sellers in the tours, activities, attractions, and experiences industry, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities.

“We are proud to have Arival support OCTO’s mission of simplifying connectivity,” said Keplinger. “The Arival 360 event in San Diego will be an ideal opportunity for the industry to come together and explore how OCTO can further enhance the experiences sector.”

OCTO’s open-source specification is free to use, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.  By fostering collaboration and promoting the adoption of a common standard, OCTO is poised to revolutionize the way the tours, activities, and attractions industry operates.  And, by adopting the OCTO standard, businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and enhance the customer booking journey.

The article OCTO standard surpasses 130 users, now live and transforming travel experiences industry first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.