Message Structure

Learn how SOAP messages must be structured when using the SiteConnect API, including formatting, headers, and authentication requirements.

Soap Message Structure

All messages (Requests/Responses) exchanged between SiteMinder and the booking channel must:

• Adhere to the SOAP message format.

• Encapsulate the OTA message within the SOAP Body.

• Requests must include a SOAP Security Header for authentication purposes.

• Responses must be returned in a SOAP envelope. However, the SOAP Header should be empty.

Version

SiteConnect is using SOAP 1.1

Header

Name	Value
Content-Type	text/xml; charset=utf-8
Authorization	Basic <credentials>

Security Header

The Security Header structure conveys authentication information.

<wsse:Security soap:mustUnderstand="1"
	xmlns:wsse="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-secext-1.0.xsd"
	xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
	<wsse:UsernameToken>
		<wsse:Username>USERNAME</wsse:Username>
		<wsse:Password Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-username-token-profile-1.0#PasswordText">SECRET</wsse:Password>
	</wsse:UsernameToken>
</wsse:Security>

The only acceptable value for the Password @Type attribute is http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-username-token-profile-1.0#PasswordText. Plain text passwords are acceptable as all communication is done over encrypted HTTP (HTTPS).

Credentials

Partners must provide SiteMinder with a single username and password to be used for authentication. These credentials must be global for all hotels using the connection.

Examples

Request

<SOAP-ENV:Envelope
	xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
	<SOAP-ENV:Header
		xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
		<wsse:Security
			xmlns:wsse="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-secext-1.0.xsd"
			xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" soap:mustUnderstand="1">
			<wsse:UsernameToken>
				<wsse:Username>USERNAME</wsse:Username>
				<wsse:Password Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-username-token-profile-1.0#PasswordText">SECRET</wsse:Password>
			</wsse:UsernameToken>
		</wsse:Security>
	</SOAP-ENV:Header>
	<SOAP-ENV:Body
		xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
		<OTA_HotelAvailRQ ... >
			<!-- ... other elements and attributes have been omitted for brevity ... -->
		</OTA_HotelAvailRQ>
	</SOAP-ENV:Body>
</SOAP-ENV:Envelope>

Response

<SOAP-ENV:Envelope
	xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
	<SOAP-ENV:Header/>
	<SOAP-ENV:Body>
		<OTA_HotelAvailRS ... >
			<!-- ... other elements and attributes have been omitted for brevity ... -->
		</OTA_HotelAvailRS>
	</SOAP-ENV:Body>
</SOAP-ENV:Envelope>