Global Distribution Conference

Together Again. Moving Hospitality Forward.


Miami, FL
October 11-12, 2021

Closing Offsite Reception
Tuesday, Oct. 12

Conference Agenda

Monday, October 11

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payments Working Group
11:30 am – 6:30 pm
Registration
12:00 – 5:00 pm
HEDNA Networking Lounge
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Pillar Roundtables

  • Content Distribution
  • Revenue Optimization
  • Connectivity
  • Payments
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch — on your own
2:00 – 2:15 pm
President’s Opening
Sebastien Leitner, Cloudbeds
2:15 – 3:00 pm
Economic Recovery and Travel Outlook
Aran Ryan, Tourism Economics / Oxford Economics
3:00 – 3:45 pm
What’s on the Minds of Thought Leaders?
Philippe Garnier, IHG Hotels
Oral Muir, Hilton Hotels
Gianna Rivera, Wyndham Hotels
Frank Trampert, Sabre
Moderator: Sarah Fults, MGM Resorts
3:45 – 4:15 pm
Networking Break
4:15 – 5:00 pm
B2B Distribution in 2021 and Beyond: Is Wholesale Coming Back?
Steve Quan, Expedia Group
Gianna Rivera, Wyndham Hotels
Oral Muir, Hilton Hotels

Moderator: John Burns, Hospitality Technology Consulting

5:00 – 5:45 pm
Redefining Loyalty and Providing Instant Perks: Tripadvisor Plus
Dan Mitchell, Tripadvisor Plus
Sebastien Leitner, Cloudbeds
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Welcome Reception
Hilton Miami Downtown, Pool Deck

Tuesday, October 12

8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Registration
8:00 – 9:00 am
Breakfast and Networking
8:45 – 9:15 am
Arrival Coffee
9:00 – 9:15 am
Vice President’s Welcome
Chris Murdock, Accor
9:15 – 10:00 am
Engaging and Attracting Talent during the Great Resignation
Steve Anevski, UPSHIFT
Leonie Timothee, Hotel InterContinental Miami
Kimberly Dalius, MS CPC, Miami Dade College
Moderator: Wendy Kallergis, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association
10:00 – 10:45 pm
Networking Break
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
HEDNA Networking Lounge
10:45 – 11:15 am
Under Pressure: The Complex Balance of Managing Product Evolution and Content Technology
April Key, IHG Hotels
David Sgroi, Leonardo
Benjamin Mussler, Sabre

Moderator: Fred Bean, HotelPORT
11:15 am– 11:45 am
Solving Industry Challenges: Chatting with Hospitality Disruptors
Duncan Hall, TripActions
Archie Winesett, Triptease
Barbara McCollister, Uplift
Moderator: Natalie Kimball, Shiji Group
11:45 am – 12:00 pm
Updates from OpenTravel
Sandy Angel, American Hotel & Lodging Association
Greg Land, IBM
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch and Networking
1:00 – 1:15 pm
HEDNA Award of Excellence
1:15 – 1:45 pm
Shaken or Stirred: Crafting the Optimal Commercial Mix
Tom Buoy, Radisson Hotel Group
Ankur Randev, Highgate

Moderator: Chinmai Sharma, RateGain
1:45 – 2:15 pm
Why Do Hotels Continue to Pay Way More than They Should?
Mike Carlo, Xanderpay
Jeff Gallo, IHG Hotels and Resorts
2:15 – 3:00 pm
Networking Break
3:00 – 3:15 pm
Monsters Under the Bed: Sneak Peek into Upcoming Speedbumps in Hospitality
Sean Nygren, Hilton Worldwide
3:15 – 4:15 pm
Hotel Performance Trends: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
Chelsea McCready, CoStar Group

4:15 – 4:30 pm
Closing Words from HEDNA President
Sebastien Leitner, Cloudbeds
6:30 – 7:00 pm
Transfer to Evening Event
7:00 pm
Closing Offsite Reception
Nikki Beach
10:00 pm
After Party Event
South Pointe Tavern

Conference Speakers

Aran Ryan

Aran Ryan
Tourism Economics / Oxford Economics

Chelsea McCready

Chelsea McCready
CoStar Group

Sebastien Leitner

Sebastien Leitner
Cloudbeds
HEDNA President

Chris Murdock

Chris Murdock
Accor
HEDNA Vice President

Dan Mitchell

Dan Mitchell
Tripadvisor Plus

Philippe Garnier

Philippe Garnier
IHG Hotels

Gianna Rivera

Gianna Rivera
Wyndham Hotels

Frank Trampert

Frank Trampert
Sabre

Sarah Fults

Sarah Fults
MGM Resorts

Fred Bean

Fred Bean
HotelPORT

Natalie Kimball

Natalie Kimball
Shiji Group

Chinmai Sharma

Chinmai Sharma
RateGain

Ankur Randev

Ankur Randev
Highgate

Mike Carlo

Mike Carlo
XanderPay

Duncan Hall

Duncan Hall
TripActions

Oral Muir

Oral Muir
Hilton Hotels

April Key

April Key
IHG Hotels

Benjamin Mussler

Benjamin Mussler
Sabre

Sean Nygren

Sean Nygren
Hilton Worldwide

Tom Buoy

Tom Buoy
Radisson Hotel Group

John Burns

John Burns
Hospitality Technology Consulting

Archie Winesett

Archie Winesett
Triptease

David Sgroi

David Sgroi
Leonardo

Jeff Gallo

Jeff Gallo
IHG Hotels and Resorts

Steve Anevski

Steve Anevski
UPSHIFT

Kimberly Dalius

Kimberly Dalius
Miami Dade College

Sandy Angel

Sandy Angel
American Hotel & Lodging Association

Steve Quan

Steve Quan
Expedia Group

Barbara McCollister

Barbara McCollister
Uplift

Wendy Kallergis

Wendy Kallergis
Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association

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