Inside OCTO: Solving the Experience Sector's API Problem | Arival

If connecting your reservation system to online travel agencies (OTAs) and other resellers (or vice versa) feels like it takes forever — months of back-and-forth with developers, stalled projects, and a different set of technical specs every time — you're experiencing exactly the problem OCTO was built to solve. In this interview during Arival 360 | Washington, D.C., OCTO Executive Director Robin Harnish breaks down what OCTO is, how the standard works, why the experiences sector has been slower than airlines and hotels to adopt a unified approach to API connectivity, and what it means for businesses at every stage — from startups just building their first API to established platforms rethinking their connectivity strategy. In this interview, Robin covers: 🐙 What OCTO is and the connectivity problem it was built to solve 🐙 Why the experiences sector has lagged behind airlines and hotels — and how it's catching up 🐙 The real-world business case: faster time to market, lower development costs, easier maintenance 🐙 Why companies that built their own proprietary APIs are now migrating to OCTO 🐙 The new OCTO certification program and what it means for platforms and resellers 🐙 Why adopting a shared standard doesn't mean giving up your competitive edge 🐙 And most importantly - why OCTO's logo is NOT an octopus! Whether you're an operator curious about how your booking system connects to the broader distribution ecosystem, or a technology platform evaluating your connectivity strategy, this conversation offers a clear and practical look at where the experiences sector is headed. Learn more about OCTO: octo.travel Join an OCTO information session at an upcoming Arival event: https://arival.travel/all-events-dash... ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arival advances the business of creating awesome in-destination experiences through events, insights, and community for Tour, Activity & Attraction providers. The Arival Event is the only event dedicated to In-Destination Experiences, what we call the Best Part of Travel. We assemble the brightest minds from companies large and small from our industry to network, share, learn, and grow their businesses. ✈️ Upcoming Events: https://arival.travel/all-events-dash... Arival Insights is an independent resource for research, news, and trends on all things in-destination, conducting consumer and industry research and covering essential industry developments to help advance businesses. 💻 Get on the List at https://arival.travel/get-on-the-list/ for the best industry-defining content! 🔗 Connect with Arival LinkedIn: LinkedIn: arivaltravel Facebook: Facebook: arivaltravel Instagram: Instagram: arivaltravel X: Twitter: Arivaltravel TikTok: TikTok: arivaltravel Threads: https://www.threads.net/@arivaltravel Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/arivaltravel...