Washington, DC, June 15, 2012 - Attendees at HEDNA's Spring Conference grabbed distribution by the horns, gaining insight into electronic distribution trends and strategy. Packing the conference rooms at the Hotel Meliã Castilla in Madrid, Spain during the June 5-7, 2012 meeting, attendees learned from innovators, thought leaders and top e-distribution experts.
 
Linda Kent, Vice President of HEDNA and SVP Electronic Distribution for Wyndham Hotel Group, kicked off the meeting by welcoming attendees and reminding them of HEDNA's vision and mission. "HEDNA is known for fostering strategic collaboration," Kent said. "We are proud to be the leading forum on hospitality distribution and we hope you'll learn, be inspired and network with your colleagues while here in Madrid."
 
From emerging trend setters to experienced professionals, presenters at HEDNA's Spring Conference looked at hospitality industry trends, successful distribution strategies and best practices being used in the hospitality industry today - and what's on the horizon. Among the hot topics discussed were keeping your business focused on people, not the channel; managing travel costs while driving incremental revenues to hotels; changing your customers' behavior by making the travel experience fun; and why having a mobile booking strategy is imperative for every hotel. Presenters included Yves Galimidi, Global Travel Purchaser for IKEA; Tim Peter, Managing Director, Tim Peter & Associates; Albert Barra, CEO of HotelJuice; and Guillaume de Marcillac, Chief Operating Officer of FastBooking.
 
HEDNA welcomed back some of the key hospitality innovators introduced to HEDNA conference attendees in 2011 who continue to drive the industry in a new direction. These innovators - TAXEO's Jean Cazès, ReviewPro's R.J. Friedlander and TravelTripper's Gautam Lulla - discussed how their businesses have fared in the past year and what lies ahead.
  
The HEDNA Forums on Standards, Leisure Wholesale, and Payment Technologies continue to be an important component of the conference, allowing members to meet and discuss the challenges faced by the industry. HEDNA's new Connectivity Working Group is tackling key issues surrounding existing connectivity models, including large messages with redundant content and increasing volume. The workgroup is addressing content definition and will be working with OpenTravel to ensure the output is incorporated in the industry specifications.
 
The Knowledge Workshop Tracks at the Spring Conference were focused and informative with a wide variety of topics and speakers, giving attendees not only key insights into Emerging Models, Payments and Marketing but arming them with tactics and strategies they can put in place in their own companies.
 
In closing the Spring Conference, Kent said, "We're leaving Madrid with new ways to connect and grow our businesses from using social media to innovative ways of looking at our customers. We look forward to HEDNA's Winter Conference in December in Las Vegas where we will continue to learn, network and be inspired."
 
About HEDNA
The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose worldwide membership includes executives and managers from the most influential companies in the hospitality distribution 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. Additional information on HEDNA is available by calling +1 202-204-8400 or by visiting www.hedna.org.