ALEXANDRIA, Va. / Sept. 10, 2001--The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) appointed Ellen Galant to serve as its new Executive Director.

In this position, she serves the most influential players in the hospitality industry. Advancing the vision of this booming association, she identifies new business opportunities and establishes strategic alliances around the world on behalf of the HEDNA leadership.

As the former Director of Affiliate Services for the Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA), Ms. Galant provided comprehensive organizational management to include establishing customer service protocols and metrics, projecting market trends and offering guidance to staff responsible for serving organizations associated with DISA, including HEDNA.

Prior to joining DISA, Ms. Galant served from 1989-2000 as the Director of Meetings and Administration for the Animal Health Institute (AHI), the trade association representing major pharmaceutical companies that produce animal drugs and veterinary biological products.

She was solely responsible for every facet of meeting administration: budgeting, content and program planning, contract negotiations and on-site trouble-shooting.

Before joining AHI, she spent more than seven years in the hospitality industry where she served in sales and conference services capacities.

Ms. Galant holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Delaware and resides in Alexandria, Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys dabbling in such artistic endeavors as designing jewelry for friends and colleagues.

About HEDNA

The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose worldwide membership includes executives and managers from over 200 of the most influential companies in the hotel distribution industry.

Founded in 1991, all of HEDNA's activities are intended to stimulate the booking of hotel rooms through the use of GDS, the Internet and other electronic means. HEDNA brings all segments of the hotel industry together to evolve systems and services into electronic distribution that is easy and efficient. For additional information, please visit www.hedna.org.

Julia O'Brien (DISA)
703 837-6155
HEDNA