XML stands for Extensible Markup Language and it is much like HTML. XML was designed to describe data. XML tags are not predefined but one must define tags depending on how the data has to be organized. XML uses a Document Type Definition (DTD) or an XML Schema to describe the data. XML with a DTD or XML Schema is designed to be self-descriptive. XML is a W3C Recommendation.
XML has been adopted by a large number of software vendors as a standard. It is believed that XML will be as important to the future of the Web as HTML has been to the foundation of the Web and XML will be the most common tool for all data manipulation and data transmission.
SOAP is a simple XML-based protocol to let applications exchange information over HTTP. SOAP (Service Oriented Access Protocol) is a communication protocol and is for communication between applications. It is a format for sending messages and is designed to communicate via Internet. SOAP is platform independent & language independent. SOAP is based on XML. It is simple and extensible. SOAP allows you to get around firewalls.
SOAP was created to enable communication between applications over HTTP, because HTTP is supported by all Internet browsers and servers. SOAP provides a way to communicate between applications running on different operating systems, with different technologies and programming languages.
HTNG stands for Hotel Technology Generation Next, a trade association that facilitates the development of next generation, Customer-centric technologies to better meet the needs of the Global Hotel community.
HTNG is moving information technology in hospitality forward by bringing all industry constituencies - Hoteliers, Vendors, Consultants & others -together to address the most pressing needs. HTNG sets up Workgroups who develop solutions to the technologies needed by the Hotel community.