McLean, VA – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Hotel Electronic Distribution Networking Association (HEDNA) announce a partnership for the mutual benefit of their members and the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry will gain from the combined knowledge and expertise from each organization. The collaboration will elevate HSMAI’s distribution capabilities and expand the educational content and insights shared with their constituents.

This new partnership between HSMAI and HEDNA will focus in areas where the two organizations have synergy with our mutual hotel stakeholders in each HSMAI Region around the globe. HSMAI’s stakeholders who have sales, marketing, revenue, or any other commercial functions related to optimizing demand and profitability for hotels and hotel companies can benefit from the insights pertaining to distribution that HEDNA curates. Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO, HSMAI

With this integration of knowledge, HSMAI and HEDNA stakeholders will enjoy a broadening of resources, including:

• An expansion of shared educational assets between HSMAI and HEDNA, who will each create and share content tailored to each other’s constituents, including videos, webinars, articles, research, case studies, and more
• Session collaboration at each organization’s global conferences in North America, Europe and Asia, discussing trends, opportunities and best practices
• Educational sessions organized by HEDNA integrated into each of HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conferences and ROC events globally.
• A HEDNA U distribution workshop during HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Week on June 24, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina

As our Distribution professionals see more and more cross-over with Sales, Revenue and Marketing teams, this partnership is perfectly timed. Education is one of my top priorities for HEDNA and I can’t think of a better partner than HSMAI. Their experience in learning and certification modules will not only bring incredible benefits to our members, but the industry overall as we look to offer our respective expertise through content and engagement opportunities. Christopher Murdock, HEDNA President and Director of Distribution System Support and Strategy at Accor

The first event to benefit from this newly announced partnership will be HEDNA’s Global Distribution Conference which will take place in New Orleans from Jan. 16 to 18, 2024. The program will include a wide range of topics in hospitality distribution derived straight from industry headlines and recent news. To learn more about HEDNA and their vision, visit hedna.org.

About HEDNA

HEDNA is a global community of hospitality professionals, technology providers, educators, and consultants passionate about elevating the role of distribution. Through influence, collaboration, and networking, we elevate careers, harness new business opportunities, and drive the business of hospitality forward, together. Through our global conferences, local networking events and industry working groups, we help our stakeholders appreciate the nuances of today’s technologies, gauge the impact of today’s trends, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Learn more at hedna.org.

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Commercial Strategy Conference, Sales Leader Forum, and Adrian Awards. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.