The OpenTravel Alliance has been working on an XML specification (tags, DTDs, infrastructure etc.) for use across the widely-defined travel industry since May 1999. Several political, organizational, and technical challenges had to be overcome to enable it, working with its over 100 member organizations (airlines, hotel chains, travel agencies, Global Distribution Systems, software companies, companies with large numbers of ‘managed’ travelers, etc.), to publish Version 1 of its specification for public review in February 2000. The challenges and the solutions to them are discussed.