Cultivate Key Hotel Industry Sources at the HEDNA 2002 Global Meeting 13-17 May, London

Business Wire, May 2, 2002

Business Editors

HEDNA 2002 Global Meeting

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2002

The upcoming Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) 2002 Global Meeting, taking place 13 - 17 May at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in London, reads like a Who's Who list of the world's most influential hotel technology experts.

HEDNA, in concert with its EMEA chapter, celebrates a decade of accomplishments and offers projections across all sectors of the hotel industry at the HEDNA 2002 Global Meeting.

A visionary in the complex travel arena, HEDNA keynote presenter Philip Wolf, President and CEO of PhoCusWright, Inc., provides analysis and insight into the booming online travel market. As the founder of PhoCusWright, Wolf and his company help businesses navigate today's economy via strategic consultation and ardent advocacy of online interactive travel, tourism and hospitality services.

In concert with engaging presentations, panel discussions, and HEDNA committee meetings, the 2002 HEDNA Global Meeting features such guests as HEDNA executive advisors Mr. Joseph (Bill) Nicholson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pegasus Solutions, Inc., and Dr. Lalia Rach, Associate Dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Administration at New York University (NYU).

Nicholson brings a wealth of connectivity expertise to the hospitality community. In his 10 years at Pegasus, he has designed, developed and implemented the hotel industry's first worldwide multi-chain, commission-clearing and settlement service offered to hotels and travel agents.

Nicholson also directed and implemented the hotel industry's first client-server-based reservation switching service.

Rach is an internationally recognized tourism industry leader. In addition to her HEDNA role, she serves on the boards of the Travel and Tourism Research Association, the New York Convention & Visitors bureau and is a member of the New York City Hospitality Council.

Prior to NYU, Rach held prestigious positions in tourism administration at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn., George Washington University in Washington, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonee, Wis.

In addition to the diverse network of the HEDNA Global Meeting participants, event sponsors and Tech Showcase participants include some of the industry's leading travel providers such as:

Galileo International; WizCom International, Ltd.; Newtrade Technologies Inc.; Pegasus Solutions, Inc.; Worldspan; TravelCLICK; Utell; MICROS Systems, Inc.; Hospitality Technology Consulting; SITE59

Additional organizations represented at the Tech Showcase include:

hubX; IATA; Innovata; Lanyon; Multimap.com; NORTHSTAR Travel Media, LLC; Sabre; SynXis; Travel Information Management Services, Inc.; WorldRes

The following is the agenda of engaging presentations that takes place during HEDNA's 2002 Global Meeting on the 15 May Information & Seminar Day:

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m Opening General Session: A Decade of Accomplishments HEDNA President Roland Tanner of Utell-Pegasus Solutions, Inc., along with Chapter representatives, provides an overview of and updates on HEDNA, and EMEA, ASPAC and Latin America chapters.

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Executive Forum: Technology Trends - Achievements, Casualties and Predictions Moderator: Lalia Rach, New York University Participants: Michael Ball, SRS-Worldhotels; Geoffrey Gelardi, The Lanesborough; Nick Price, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; and Jim Young, Six Continents Hotels The ever-popular Executive Forum explores the complexities of such issues as brand loyalty versus channel loyalty, ownership and control of inventory, and other narrowly defined distribution issues.

1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Two Concurrent Sessions) Emerging Technologies Session: Single Image Inventory - Is Seeing Believing? Moderator: Alyson Dombey, Partners in Marketing Participants: Brian Barth, SideStep; Brett Hartman, Carlson Hospitality; Michael Murray, hubX; and Connie Rheams, Trust International This session explores the possibilities surrounding Single Image Inventory, ADS, WAP and other future focused technology adaptations.

Strategic Planning Session: Direct Connect Isn't Enough Moderator: Anne Sommer, Accor Economy Lodging Participants: Henry Harteveldt, Forrester Research; Joan Lowell, Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Les Ottolenghi, AgentWare; and Chris Vukelich, British Airways Henry Harteveldt of Forrester Research presents his findings on today's model of distribution. In his research, Mr. Harteveldt states that "while suppliers hope to cut costs with direct connect, to boost cross-selling and win travel agency allegiance, suppliers must adopt Integrated Direct Connect." In concert with the panel participants, Mr. Harteveldt provides his insights into this recommended technology model.

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Industry Trends Session: Proactively Responding to a Rapidly Changing Environment - The Good, The Bad and the Unknown Moderator: Lalia Rach, New York University Participants: Rita Emmer, VIP International; Richard Lewis, WorldRes; Nick Pattie, KPMG; and Kostas Trivizas, Aeolus Hospitality This session provides a dynamic exchange of ideas and projections on travel trends, electronic booking patterns, booking statistics, shortened lead time, and mergers and acquisitions.