HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association)
is holding its first University in Asia. The two-day
seminar is being held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront,
Singapore, on September 13-14. Sid Sattanathan,
director-distribution and revenue management for Millennium
& Copthorne International, said that more than 50 hotel
executives had signed up, but that the group size would
have to be limited to 50 to ensure maximum impact of the
course content. The seminar is jointly organised by HEDNA
and HSA International, one of the leading hospitality
training institutes in the US. It will be conducted by
chief executive officer of HSA, Mike Hampton. HEDNA is
stepping up its activities in Asia following a drive led by
Bernadette Dennis, vice president-worldwide sales of
Marriott International, to form a chapter in Asia. HEDNA
has also embarked on an initiative in Asia to encourage
non-IATA agents to become TIDS members so that their
bookings via GDS would enable commissions to be paid. This
would "prevent the current practice of each hotel company
providing these agents with different ID numbers," said
Sattanathan. He said the HEDNA University was timely
because "maximising distribution reach via GDS and the web
is critical and the course will assist hotels to clean up,
widen and polish the so-called distribution pipes and
channels." 8 June 2001 The September seminar,
"Understanding Distribution Marketing for Hotels through
the GDS & Internet", trains hoteliers on current and
emerging technologies in electronic hotel distribution. The
two-day course is comprised of learning modules that focus
on electronic distribution and electronic marketing. HEDNA
University training modules include workshop PowerPoint
presentations, a trainer's handbook with detailed speaker
notes, suggested case studies and other exercises. In
addition, reprints of selected articles are available for
distribution to workshop participants. For more
information, contact:
sid.sattanathan@millennium-hotels.com.sg