Washington, DC – February
2018 / Newsmaker Alert / The HEDNA
Global Distribution Conference concluded its annual event in Austin, Texas
with a record number of attendees, captivating keynotes, educational sessions,
interviews and engaging discussions. The overwhelming sentiment from all
at the event was how relevant and important HEDNA conferences are for hoteliers
to participate in if they want to stay informed, understand and compete
in today’s dynamic landscape.
“We are extremely happy with
the turnout and the amazing content that we were able to deliver to such
a large crowd,” said Sarah Fults, President of HEDNA. “The success of the
Austin Conference bodes well for the upcoming event we will be hosting
this June in Lisbon,
Portugal where we will tackle ‘a conversation with tomorrow’s guest’
– which is also the theme.”
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Austin 2018 Conference takeaways
and highlights included:
Current and relevant Data
and Insights everywhere:
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Keynote speaker, Harper Reed
Harper, shared his insights on demystifying big data.
-
Justin Rao from HomeAway clarified
the competition between VR and Hotels.
-
The fast-paced State of the
Industry sessions portrayed and analyzed the different perspectives of
distribution (Guest, Property, Distributor).
Cutting Edge Technology and
Innovation:
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HEDNA’s first Hackathon proved
that HEDNA can hack - generating compelling concepts over a weekend only.
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The Innov8ers presented exciting
new ideas and solutions challenging the status quo.
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Blockchain technology has arrived
in Hospitality through Payment and Digital Identity.
Passionate debates included:
-
How Austin regulates the sharing
economy without slowing down innovation.
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How soon until AI (artificial
intelligence) applications replace humans?
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Why is there still a reception
in the hotel and what is the guest experience of the future?
“I always clear my schedule
to attend this conference,” said Chris Murdock, Director, Distribution
Operations, AccorHotels. “The content was engaging and educational providing
me and my company valuable insights and a clear advantage. Great Return
on Investment.”
The next HEDNA Global Distribution
Conference will be held in Lisbon,
Portugal from June 4 - 6, 2018 at the Sheraton Lisboa Hotel. Registration
is set to open Spring 2018.
About Hotel Electronic
Distribution Network Association (HEDNA)
HEDNA (Hotel Electronic
Distribution Network Association) is a not-for-profit trade association
whose worldwide membership includes executives and managers from the most
influential companies in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1991, HEDNA’s
mission is to be the leading global forum for advancing hospitality distribution
through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Its vision calls for HEDNA
to be known for creating an environment that fosters strategic collaboration
toward business development in the global hospitality industry. For more,
visit www.HEDNA.org.
Contacts:
HEDNA
Sarah
Fults
President of HEDNA
or
Ann
Crampton
HEDNA Associate Director
202-204-8400 |