The working group is currently specifying the applications required to support each designated business process. HTNG's application architecture is expected to be approved during the second quarter of this year.

HTNG's industry architecture will provide a template for processes and applications that can be used worldwide. An industrywide architecture will improve interactions across the hotel industry, with benefits for stakeholders, hotel employees and, ultimately, hotel guests.

Moreover, this first industry architecture may inspire other industries by providing a model that standardizes communication and information-sharing among diverse industry participants.

is managing partner at Louisville, Ky.-based Leverage partners Inc., which helps organizations invest well in IT. Contact him at .