Agenda
Schedule subject to change.
Monday, January 27
12:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Registration & Check-In
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
HEDNA University
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshop Track 1
In a jam packed afternoon, we’ll be hosting workshops on the following subjects: Parity and Parity Tech, Loyalty, GDS, Content, Data & Analytics, Payments and Fintech. Check back for more details, coming soon.
In a jam packed afternoon, we’ll be hosting workshops on the following subjects: Parity and Parity Tech, Loyalty, GDS, Content, Data & Analytics, Payments and Fintech. Check back for more details, coming soon.
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshop Track 2
In a jam packed afternoon, we’ll be hosting workshops on the following subjects: Parity and Parity Tech, Loyalty, GDS, Content, Data & Analytics, Payments and Fintech. Check back for more details, coming soon.
In a jam packed afternoon, we’ll be hosting workshops on the following subjects: Parity and Parity Tech, Loyalty, GDS, Content, Data & Analytics, Payments and Fintech. Check back for more details, coming soon.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Refreshment Break
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Networking Reception
Tuesday, January 28
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Registration & Check-In
9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Welcome Remarks (with special guests)
Chris Murdock, HEDNA President
9:25 AM – 10:05 AM
Expedia Presents: Navigating the Future of Hotel Distribution — Transparency, Compliance, and Cost Management
Julie Kyse will lead the discussion, beginning with a presentation highlighting key trends influencing hotel distribution, including the increasing demand for trust and transparency, the importance of maintaining compliance and rate integrity, the delicate balance between incrementality and dilution, and the growing concern around the cost of sale. Following the presentation, Julie will be joined by industry experts to explore practical perspectives from both the hotel and distribution sides of the industry.
Julie Kyse will lead the discussion, beginning with a presentation highlighting key trends influencing hotel distribution, including the increasing demand for trust and transparency, the importance of maintaining compliance and rate integrity, the delicate balance between incrementality and dilution, and the growing concern around the cost of sale. Following the presentation, Julie will be joined by industry experts to explore practical perspectives from both the hotel and distribution sides of the industry.
Julie Kyse, Expedia; Chinmai Sharma, Sabre; Matt Teixeira, Best Western, April Key, Mews
10:05 AM – 10:30 AM
Market Trends and OTA Performance Insights
Join Matt Varabkanich from Cleveland Research as we review pivotal market trends of 2024 and explore what lies ahead for 2025 and beyond. This session will unpack key trends in the hospitality industry and examine the strategies and performance of major online travel players.
Join Matt Varabkanich from Cleveland Research as we review pivotal market trends of 2024 and explore what lies ahead for 2025 and beyond. This session will unpack key trends in the hospitality industry and examine the strategies and performance of major online travel players.
Matt Varabkanich, Cleveland Research
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking & Refreshments
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Masterclass: Marketing — Drive Your Distribution Reach Further, Lessons from Marketing Experts
11:00 AM – 11:05 AM
Introduction
Eric Brackman, Koddi
11:05 AM – 11:35 AM
How Are Consumers Using Loyalty Programs
11:35 AM – 11:55 AM
A Hotelier’s Perspective on Marketing
Chi Chan, Sonesta; Eric Zaner, Adara
11:55 AM – 12:15 PM
Defining Marketplaces
A glimpse at marketplaces outside of hospitality.
A glimpse at marketplaces outside of hospitality.
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM
Moderated Speaker Discussion with Q&A
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Masterclass: AI and Innovation — Uncover and Discuss the Core Areas Impacting Distribution
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Introduction
Andrew Rubinacci, FLYR
2:10 PM – 2:30 PM
Payments in Hospitality: Harnessing AI and Innovation for Seamless Transactions
In an era defined by digital transformation, the payments landscape is undergoing rapid evolution. This session explores the critical role of AI and innovation in shaping future payment models, emphasizing seamless integration, security, and cross-border capabilities to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth.
In an era defined by digital transformation, the payments landscape is undergoing rapid evolution. This session explores the critical role of AI and innovation in shaping future payment models, emphasizing seamless integration, security, and cross-border capabilities to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth.
Lak Tripuraneni, Marriott International; Kathy Ploof, Marriott International; Adi Ghosh, Publicis Sapient
2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Turning Each Hotel into A Destination Money Maker
This dynamic panel brings together leaders from an experiences distribution company, a direct booking optimization expert, and a hotel on-property experiences booking engine to explore how hotels can go beyond selling rooms and transform into complete destination marketers. With a consumer-first approach, the discussion will delve into strategies for leveraging AI, optimizing direct bookings, and seamlessly integrating unique on-property and local experiences to drive revenue and guest satisfaction. Attendees will gain actionable insights into capitalizing on consumer decision-making trends and unlocking new streams of income through experiences.
This dynamic panel brings together leaders from an experiences distribution company, a direct booking optimization expert, and a hotel on-property experiences booking engine to explore how hotels can go beyond selling rooms and transform into complete destination marketers. With a consumer-first approach, the discussion will delve into strategies for leveraging AI, optimizing direct bookings, and seamlessly integrating unique on-property and local experiences to drive revenue and guest satisfaction. Attendees will gain actionable insights into capitalizing on consumer decision-making trends and unlocking new streams of income through experiences.
Rachel Neal, Redeam; Mercedes Blanco, The Hotels Network
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
AI At Your Service – Elevating Hospitality through Innovation
We will explore practical AI use cases for hotels, including enhancing internal operations, guest interactions, and successful deployment of tech lead guest service.
We will explore practical AI use cases for hotels, including enhancing internal operations, guest interactions, and successful deployment of tech lead guest service.
Amy Read, Sabre
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
Moderated Speaker Discussion with Q&A
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Networking & Refreshments
4:00 PM – 5:20 PM
Masterclass: The Intersection of Legal, Compliance and Regulation in Distribution
4:00 PM – 4:05 PM
Introduction
4:05 PM – 4:35 PM
Legal Round Up
Brining you the latest in regulatory and compliance news.
Brining you the latest in regulatory and compliance news.
Greg Duff, Foster Garvey
4:35 PM – 5:00 PM
Who Owns Your Data? (Hint: It Should Be You)
Starting in 2026, the European Union will enforce a landmark regulatory change, considered as “GDPR 2.0,” with the introduction of digital wallets. These wallets will allow travellers to manage their digital identities through secure wallets, which simplifies and centralises the process of identity verification across different travel services, such as airlines, hotels, and car rentals. For travel companies, this shift offers both challenges and opportunities to improve customer trust and streamline experiences.
Starting in 2026, the European Union will enforce a landmark regulatory change, considered as “GDPR 2.0,” with the introduction of digital wallets. These wallets will allow travellers to manage their digital identities through secure wallets, which simplifies and centralises the process of identity verification across different travel services, such as airlines, hotels, and car rentals. For travel companies, this shift offers both challenges and opportunities to improve customer trust and streamline experiences.
Gillian Jones, Condatis
5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
Legal and Regulatory Fireside with Q&A
5:20 PM – 5:30 PM
Closing Remarks
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Future Leaders of HEDNA Reception (Invitation Only)
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Networking Reception
Wednesday, January 29
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration & Check-In
9:30 AM – 9:40 AM
Welcome Remarks
Natalie Kimball, HEDNA Vice President
9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
Travel Trends and Consumer Sentiments
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Phocuswright Executive Interview Series
Pete Comeau, Phocuswright
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
HEDNA’s Industry Experts Give Us A Look at 2025 Tech Trends
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Networking & Refreshments
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Masterclass: Capturing Demand — Learn How to Maximize Your Potential in New Ways
11:00 AM – 11:05 AM
Introduction
Phillipe Garnier
11:05 AM – 11:25 PM
Priceline Presents: The Transformative Power of B2B Partnerships
A presentation highlighting the types of partnerships and technologies that are driving significant change in the industry and how leveraging B2B channels can help meet the evolving needs of customers. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the future of B2B partnerships and how they can be harnessed to achieve your business goals.
A presentation highlighting the types of partnerships and technologies that are driving significant change in the industry and how leveraging B2B channels can help meet the evolving needs of customers. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the future of B2B partnerships and how they can be harnessed to achieve your business goals.
Matt Shutt, Priceline
11:25 AM – 11:45 PM
Decoding Demand: Why 2025 Could be the Most Dynamic Year on Record
We’ll explore the external forces shaping demand and how the hotel industry can and should adapt. Using real-world examples and data, we will dive into the need for hotels to rethink their distribution strategies and embrace a more unified approach to intelligence and revenue optimisation in response.
We’ll explore the external forces shaping demand and how the hotel industry can and should adapt. Using real-world examples and data, we will dive into the need for hotels to rethink their distribution strategies and embrace a more unified approach to intelligence and revenue optimisation in response.
James Bishop, SiteMinder
11:45 AM – 12:25 AM
Evolving Landscape of Corporate Travel: Strategies for Success
The objective of this session is to examine the evolving landscape of corporate travel, explore major challenges, and share strategies for overcoming them. We plan to focus on areas such as inventory sourcing, providing relevant and structured content, using loyalty as a pillar of personalization, and addressing payment challenges. This session aims to foster a collaborative dialogue that emphasizes the importance of working together as key stakeholders in the business travel ecosystem.
The objective of this session is to examine the evolving landscape of corporate travel, explore major challenges, and share strategies for overcoming them. We plan to focus on areas such as inventory sourcing, providing relevant and structured content, using loyalty as a pillar of personalization, and addressing payment challenges. This session aims to foster a collaborative dialogue that emphasizes the importance of working together as key stakeholders in the business travel ecosystem.
Sophie Hulgard, Accor; Byan Bachrad, Navan; Louis Bouchayer, Concur; Simon Fishman, American Express Global Business Travel; Ryan Pierce, Salesforce
12:25 PM – 12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Chris Murdock, HEDNA President
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch