TTIcodes - Unique Hotel Identifiers
Why Unique Hotel Identifiers?
Through its members, TTI became aware of a common problem. With multiple electronic feeds serving-up identical properties, the same perennial questions are continually asked. ‘What is a property called on Channel XYZ? What is its reference or id? Is it the same property that is being offered on channel ABC?’ Research showed that there could be a surprising number of variations of a hotel’s name leading to the confusion that is currently rife in the industry as it struggles with hotel names that are misspelt, wrongly translated or simply incorrect.
TTI members were seeking a solution.
Thus the concept of TTIcodes was born as a method of providing a unique way to identify a property across a multiplicity of channels, service providers, tour companies, representation companies and third parties involved in the booking, administration and fulfilment of travel within the hospitality industry.
What is a TTIcode?
It was agreed at the outset that the sole purpose of a TTIcode should be as a unique hotel identifier, no more than that. Thus any thoughts of building regional or hotel information into the code were set aside. A TTIcode is a simple, random seven digit numeric number with an additional eighth check digit which uses a modulus 8 calculation. This straightforward format allows TTIcodes to be rolled out much faster than any other type of unique hotel identifier.
Service Partner
As TTI is a standards body rather than a fulfilment organisation, it sought a service partner to deliver the TTIcodes services. It selected GIATA GmbH as the ideal company for the task. GIATA has built a considerable depth of experience in managing coding databases from delivering its own MultiCodes data-set. It already has over 215,000 hotels on its database, which are cross referenced to over 250 Tour Operators, Hotel Brokers, Bed Banks, OTAs, 3rd Party Distribution Partners, Global Distribution Systems and Representation companies.
TTIcodes Services
Those wishing to use any of the TTIcodes services will contract directly with GIATA. Clients will be able to submit their hotel databases for an initial matching. These will be returned with the addition of TTIcodes and any other information purchased. Any hotels that did not already have a TTIcode will be added to the TTIcodes database and have codes issued to them. In this way, the TTIcodes database will quickly grow, with the aim of TTIcodes becoming the single unique identifier for all hotels across the globe.
After the initial submission of a client’s own hotels, there is access to the entire TTIcodes database via the web or an OpenTravel standard XML interface. On request, clients can be provided twice per year with the latest database information based upon their level of subscription i.e. Level 1 or Level 2.
There are three TTIcodes Services
- TTIcodes Module (Level 1) - This is the basic TTIcodes service that, for each hotel, will provide a TTIcode and detailed address information including contact numbers (if available).
- TTIcodes Module (Level 1) with Geo-coding - In addition to the above, hotels’ latitude and longitude coordinates will be provided together with an accuracy indicator.
- TTIcodes Plus (Level 2) - In addition to both of the above, this module will also provide hotel group and chain affiliations (where available) as well as GIATA MultiCodes – a unique GIATA code plus booking codes of approximately 250 tour companies, hotel brokers and other channels for each hotel.
Pricing
Prices are substantially discounted for members of Travel Technology Initiative and the European Tour Operators Association.
| Cost per month |
TTIcodes |
Geo-Code Option |
TTIcodes Plus |
| Tier 1 |
€202 |
+ €40 |
+ €499 |
| Tier 2 |
€269 |
+ €80 |
+ €599 |
| Tier 3 |
€337 |
+ €112 |
+ €699 |
Tier 1 - Turnover <£5million,
Tier 2 - Turnover between £5 million & £10 million,
Tier 3 - Turnover >£10 million
One off Implementation & Set–up fee from €699 (tier 1) to €1299 (Tier 3)
Hotel Participation
TTI is keen that hotels participate in the TTIcodes initiative and has devised a very simple low cost pricing structure for both individual properties and hotel chains that wish to participate in the TTIcodes services.
Hotels pay €12 per property per annum for the basic TTIcodes Module including Geocoding (Level 1), or €35 per property per annum for TTIcodes Plus (Level2) if the property requires access to their full set of GIATA Multi Codes.
NB: Fees are capped for large hotel chains.
For more information or to enquire about using TTIcodes, contact Pete Hazel, UK Co-ordinator
Call: +44 1442 825 408
