This committee is focusing their efforts specifically on content distribution to on-line distribution partners. The committee is striving to ensure that content is presented in a structure format to ensure proper display and maximization of hotel data in a consistent manner across channels.

There is an industry need to understand how, when and where and through which methods content is being distributed. The content committee’s current efforts are being focused on the following topics:

Channel Matrix – Understanding how content is collated, stored and distributed
Structure Content – Creating a best practice matrix that can be shared and offered as a recommendation for future development Multi-Lingual Content – Creating a best practice guide with recommendations on moving forward in this high profile area
Consistent Content – Are sites displacing hotels due to consistent content?

The committee will solicit feedback from the committee members on the proposed documents for further changes and preparation for presenting
to the board. As always the committee will be open to discussion of new topics for review as part of this committee.

Group - Co-Chairs: John Arenas, Worktopia and
Scott Harness, Group Travel Planet
Board Liaison: Edward Perry, WORLDHOTELS

The Group/Meeting Online Committee Session will introduce its report entitled "Enabling the Online Marketplace for Groups and Meetings: A Toolkit". The report, published in conjunction with Phocuswright research, is designed to be a guide for Hotel Electronic Distribution professionals, as a view into the current state of technology in the group on-line marketplace, to assess readiness for deployment of on-line group marketing and as a resource for practical consideration in planning an on-line strategy for small groups and simple meetings.

The Toolkit is be based on a draft report prepared by the Committee, Committee work-papers, Committee workshop findings and prior reports of the HEDNA group online committee. In addition, the work will include a brief epilogue of the 2006 HEDNA Report entitled “Online Group and Meeting Planning”, indicating material updates since the 2006 report along with additional data provided by independent third party research by Phocuswright.

Emerging Issues - Co-Chairs: Duane Overgaard, Sabre Travel Network and Gianna Rivera, Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. Board Liaison: Duane Overgaard, Sabre Travel Network

The emerging issues committee has been established to allow the membership a place to voice their concerns and share ideas currently affecting the electronic distribution arena. The committee’s goal is to:

-Serve as a forum to address concerns and exchange ideas on best practices
-Establish consistent electronic distribution practices used by all suppliers and distributors
-Solve small industry challenges within a defined timeline
-Escalate larger industry challenges to a formal working committee
-Solicit feedback from the entire membership and leverage the knowledge pool of the HEDNA membership

The emerging issues committee is also a forum for suppliers and providers to gather and share ideas and concerns currently affecting hospitality electronic distribution. The intent of the committee is to enlighten colleagues on best practices within the industry and address new issues since the last meeting. The committee’s goal is to have resolution by the next HEDNA meeting or consider making large enough issues into a formal sub committee.

The Online Distribution Balance: Demand vs Supply
With the increasing demand for good, accurate content, how can we create a sustainable balance between the supply (hotels) and demand (Online Travel Agents) when it comes to property information? How reliable is your data, both seamless and non seamless? Isn't it time this should be managed properly in our industry, once and for all?

Moderator: Steve Tipsword, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Chief Operating Officer, ICE Portal

Panelists:
Dee Thomas, Senior Product Director, Distribution Services, Pegasus Solutions, Inc.
Heiko Siebert, Vice President Distribution, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
Keith Harrison, Director of Operations, Hotel & Car, Travelport GDS

Committee Updates

Content Committee Chair: Jodi Gibson, Wyndham Hotel Group
Group Committee Co-Chair: John Arenas, Worktopia
Emerging Issues Committee Co-Chair: Duane Overgaard, Sabre Travel Network
Credit Card Committee Chair: Marion Hughes, OPEN Hospitality
Tour Committee Co-Chairs: Eric Barber, Realstar Hospitality and
Nancy Little, InterContinental Hotels Group
UGI Committee Chair: Laury Anne Behrens, WPS

Concurrent Committee Meetings
Credit Card Committee - Chair and Board Liaison: Marion Hughes, OPEN Hospitality

The challenges associated with collection of no-show and cancellation fees using credit cards not physically in the reservation team’s possession constantly arise. This money can represent a large amount of uncollected revenues especially for our members in EMEA region. HEDNA’s Credit Card Committee has worked over the past several years to facilitate understanding of the banking regulations in various countries, legislation involved in the various parts of the world and other technologies that are impacting this aspect of distribution. However as our recent HEDNA meetings have illustrated, laws evolve, consumer preferences become re-defined, and new scenarios are pointing to alternative payment options for electronic reservations. Where do we go from here? How can HEDNA stay on top of the question and should HEDNA have a committee which continues to meet on this topic? Participation in the Credit Card Committee this April in Lisbon will help define where we go from here. Help us help you. Make sure to weigh in on this milestone!

Tour Committee - Co-Chairs: Eric Barber, Realstar Hospitality and Nancy Little, InterContinental Hotels Group
Board Liaison: Linda Kent, Starwood Hotels & Resorts

The Tour Committee is continuing its quest to identify connectivity solutions for Tour Operators, Wholesalers, and Hotel Companies.

We would like to share with the EMEA HEDNA community the recent results of the tour survey that was presented during the December HEDNA meeting. In addition, HEDNA is partnering with USTOA for an open forum meeting in May to discuss automation of the RFP process and reservations. We welcome all members to provide input in these ongoing discussions.

UGI Committee Meeting - Committee Chair: Laury Anne Behrens, WPS Board Liaison: Tiffany Topcik, Lanyon & HEDNA President and Valerie Cooper, Executive Director, HEDNA Staff

Every industry player has core transactions to be managed. This committee has re-launched an idea of a unique global identifier (UGI) that would be used by our industry to leave footprints on transactions, such as sell/stay, content, financial, etc, and promote seamless and open identification allowing everyone to track these transactions throughout their life cycle.

We want to create the right framework in terms of identification to grow your business. The success of launching UGIs is not so much in the design and build of the systems, but rather the speed and adoption of the industry. Join us in our session on Wed to

• Review communications prepared to present UGI´s to other industry players
• Plan next steps for HEDNA´s participation
• Continue to brainstorm ideas how UGIs could be used to increase trade and revenue and become an identification standard in our industry.

Globalisation and emerging geographic markets open up a myriad of opportunities for hotels of all shapes and sizes. What are the trends and requirements of travel agencies in new hotspots, and how can hotels tap into this potential to grow their bookings?

Moderator: Majse Blackburn (née Gustavsson), Director, Business Development & Hotel Integration, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Jean DeDurfort, Head of Global Distribution, Amadeus
Toby Kubis, Director Hotel Relations, Sabre
Paul Adams, Manager of Hospitality GDS, Travelport GDS