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THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS TRAVEL STARTS HERE |
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GBTA NEW JERSEY TECH SUMMIT 2026 |
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New Tech. New Ideas. Limitless Possibilities. |
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Join GBTA New Jersey on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metro Campus, Dickinson Hall for a full-day Tech Summit focused on the technology, ideas, and conversations shaping the future of business travel.
This is not just another technology conversation. The summit is built to help travel professionals understand what is changing now, what is actually useful, and how emerging tools can support smarter programs, better traveler experiences, stronger supplier partnerships, and more informed decision-making.
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EVENT DETAILS |
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Date |
Thursday, September 17, 2026 |
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Time |
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM |
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Location |
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metro Campus, Dickinson Hall |
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Address |
140 University Plaza Drive, Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
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Tickets |
$75 Member Registration | $100 Non-Member Registration |
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Register now |
https://njbta.starchapter.com/meet-reg1.php?id=129 |
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WHY ATTEND? |
· Hear straight talk on the technology trends reshaping corporate travel, including AI, automation, NDC, open APIs, virtual payments, hotel tech, ground transportation, and predictive duty of care.
· Connect with buyers, suppliers, TMCs, mobility partners, technology providers, educators, and industry leaders from across the New Jersey business travel community.
· Take away practical ideas that can support your travel program, supplier strategy, traveler experience, internal partnerships, and future planning.
· Explore new solutions and real-world examples from exhibiting suppliers and featured presenters throughout the day.
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND? |
This event is built for corporate travel buyers, travel managers, procurement professionals, suppliers, TMCs, meeting professionals, mobility partners, technology providers, students, educators, and anyone interested in the future of managed travel.
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FEATURED TOPICS |
AI & Automation: What is hype, what is real, and how AI can become an intelligence multiplier for travel teams.
NDC, Content Fragmentation & Open APIs: How next-generation platforms are connecting fragmented content while protecting servicing, reporting, and traveler experience.
Dynamic Pricing & Continuous Retailing: How travel buyers can think about value, benchmarking, auditing, and program performance as pricing models evolve.
Ground Transportation, Hotel Tech & Payments: The innovation story does not stop when the plane lands. We will explore tools improving ground mobility, hotel check-in, virtual cards, mobile payments, and expense reconciliation.
Predictive Duty of Care: How real-time data and risk intelligence can help travel teams move from reactive alerts to proactive traveler support.
Traveler Experience: A roadwarrior-style discussion focused on how technology is actually showing up for travelers before, during, and after a trip.
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MEET OUR PANELISTS & PRESENTERS |
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PANEL 1: TECH TALK — WHAT’S NEW IN CORPORATE TRAVEL TECH? |
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Ethan Yaros — Regional Sales Manager, Enterprise Solutions, Cvent Ethan works with organizations to bring corporate travel, meetings, and events together through technology that simplifies sourcing, improves program visibility, and supports better attendee and traveler experiences. He partners with travel managers, meeting professionals, and hospitality suppliers to create more connected approaches to hotel programs, event travel, and strategic meetings management. |
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George Gadebush — Director of Channel Sales, Deem George is a seasoned travel professional with over 20 years of experience in technology management and sales. His background includes leadership roles at World Travel Inc. and Frosch Travel, and he joined Deem in 2025 to help drive growth through innovation, channel partnerships, and global expansion. |
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Mike Fitzgerald — Senior Manager, Digital Sales, United Airlines Mike is an accomplished travel technology veteran with more than twenty years of experience focused on corporate travel and distribution technology. As part of United’s Distribution and Digital Sales team, he helps bring United’s most desired content in front of customers through efficient distribution systems. |
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Mike Daly — Chief Revenue Officer, Cerebri AI Mike leads global sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships at Cerebri AI. With more than 30 years in travel technology and prior leadership roles at Serko, Freebird, Rearden Commerce/Deem, GetThere, Travelocity, Sabre, and United Airlines, he brings deep expertise in booking technology, procurement, and AI-powered solutions. |
Panel 1 Key Session Themes:
1. Autonomous AI Agents & Conversational Concierges: Proactive flight monitoring, automated rebooking, and governance boundaries for autonomous travel spend.
2. Unified Multi-Source Aggregation & Open APIs: Bridging NDC, GDS, and direct connects into seamless online booking interfaces without traveler friction.
3. Predictive Duty of Care: Shifting from reactive disruption maps to proactive, predictive risk alerts powered by real-time intelligence.
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SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION 1: TRAVEL RISK & PROTECTION |
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Melissa Isman — Chief Growth Officer, Amval Insurance Solutions Melissa is a business growth and risk strategist with expertise at the intersection of business, technology, cybersecurity, and risk. She is known for translating complex and often overlooked risks into practical strategies that help organizations strengthen operations, protect growth, and respond to emerging exposures. |
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PANEL 2: TRAVELER EXPERIENCE PANEL |
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Michael Ramos — Founder, SingleTask.AI Michael is an AI strategist, marketing executive, and founder of SingleTask.AI. He helps organizations apply artificial intelligence and automation to real business challenges, with experience spanning logistics, healthcare, aerospace, and supply chain. His work focuses on applied and agentic AI, intelligent workflows, and AI-powered customer experiences. |
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Donald Hoover — Senior Lecturer, International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University Donald is a strategic leader with more than 20 years of experience in talent acquisition, sourcing strategy, and academic ecosystem development. He is especially focused on early-career talent, university relations, internship coordination, and helping bridge the gap between academia and industry. |
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Larry Goodin — Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University Larry is a global changemaker, educator, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of higher education, advanced technology, and venture creation. He teaches finance, entrepreneurship, and global issues across FDU’s New Jersey and Vancouver campuses, and is widely recognized for mentorship and international youth development. |
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SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION 2: NEXT-GEN BOOKING INFRASTRUCTURE |
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Seth Anagnostis — Senior Director, Content & Distribution, Spotnana Seth leads Spotnana’s airline partnerships and previously helped launch the company’s first technology partnerships. Before Spotnana, he worked with Routehappy and later ATPCO on content strategy and retailing initiatives, bringing a strong perspective on modern booking infrastructure and airline distribution. |
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OFFICIAL EVENT SCHEDULE |
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07:30 AM – 08:30 AM | Registration & Morning Networking Check in, connect with peers, and visit supplier exhibits. |
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08:00 AM – 08:30 AM | Continental Breakfast & Networking Dickinson Lobby. |
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08:30 AM – 09:20 AM | Welcome & Opening Keynote Doors open and tradeshow hallway welcome. Opening remarks begin at 9:00 AM with Diane Romano, President, NJBTA, followed by a welcome address from Michael Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University. |
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09:20 AM – 10:20 AM | Panel 1: Tech Talk — What’s New in Corporate Travel Tech? Moderator: Kathy Kaden, CMM, CCTE, Global Travel, Meetings & Events Manager, Okta, Inc. Panelists: Ethan Yaros, Cvent; George Gadebush, Deem; Mike Fitzgerald, United Airlines; Mike Daly, Cerebri. |
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10:20 AM – 10:45 AM | Spotlight Presentation & Morning Break Travel Risk & Protection spotlight presentation with Melissa Isman, Chief Growth Officer, Amval Insurance Solutions, followed by a networking and exhibition break. |
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10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Panel 2: Traveler Experience Panel Moderator: Jackie Lue Raia. Panelists: Michael Ramos, Founder, SingleTask.AI; Donald Hoover, Senior Lecturer, International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University; Larry Goodin, Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University. |
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11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Spotlight Presentation & Networking Lunch Next-Gen Booking Infrastructure spotlight presentation with Seth Anagnostis, Spotnana, followed by networking lunch, sponsor tables, and community initiative participation. |
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1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | Panel 3: Mythbusting Corporate Travel Panel Moderator: David Jonas, The Company Dime. Panelists: Greg Wilczek, Empath Travel; Ted Power, Versa; Gordon Milner, FCM; Melissa Isman, Amval Insurance Solutions; Peter Psaltakis, Navan. |
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1:50 PM – 3:00 PM | Afternoon Spotlight, Interactive Gamification & Wrap-up Spotlight Presentation 3, followed by interactive Q&A and trivia via Slido/Kahoot with sponsor prizes. |
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3:00 PM | Closing Remarks & Summit Adjournment Final takeaways and closing remarks. |
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FEATURED MODERATORS |
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Kathy Kaden, CCTE, GLP, CMM — Global Travel Manager, Okta Kathy brings more than 30 years of travel industry experience spanning agency operations, corporate travel management, airline sales, meetings, and sustainability. She has a strong track record of launching and scaling travel, meetings, and events programs through strategic planning, recruitment, and staff development. |
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Jackie Lue Raia — Founder & President, ALEXENA Consulting, LLC Jackie leads a Minority/Women Business Enterprise specializing in workforce development and stakeholder engagement. Her career spans nonprofit, higher education, and workforce leadership, and her work focuses on building empathetic, inclusive professional environments that strengthen employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and organizational impact. |
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David Jonas — Co-Creator, The Company Dime David in 2006 co-founded business media firm ProMedia.travel with Jay and other partners after ten years as a journalist with Business Travel News. David rejoined BTN in 2010 as executive editor when its parent company acquired ProMedia, and in 2014 co-created The Company Dime. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cornell University. |
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COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: HELP SUPPORT THE FDU STUDENT FOOD BANK |
Because the summit is being hosted at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJBTA will be collecting donations for the FDU Student Food Bank. Attendees are encouraged to bring shelf-stable food or basic kitchen items to help support students facing food insecurity.
Suggested donations include grab-and-go snacks, protein bars, oatmeal, cereal, crackers, rice cups, pasta, canned goods, peanut butter and jelly, shelf-stable milk, juice boxes, bottled water, utensils, pots, and pans.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS |
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY |
The Future of Business Travel Starts Here GBTA New Jersey Tech Summit 2026 New Tech. New Ideas. Limitless Possibilities.
September 17, 2026 | 8:00 AM
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY - DICKINSON HALL
140 University Plaza Drive
Hackensack, NJ 07601
https://www.fdu.edu/campuses/metropolitan-campus/maps-directions/
Registration is open for the GBTA New Jersey Tech Summit 2026. Join business travel professionals, industry leaders, suppliers, partners, and technology innovators for a full day of learning, networking, and real conversations about the tools and trends s
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
Message From The President
Dear NJBTA Members,
I am honored to step into the role of President of the New Jersey Business Travel Association, and I do so with deep appreciation for the community that makes this organization so special. NJBTA is more than a professional association—it is a network built on relationships, shared purpose, and a genuine commitment to supporting one another and the New Jersey business community we serve.
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Zorian Ricks, our outgoing President. He remains on our board as Past President/Treasurer and continues to be the steadying force and knowledge base that we all look to for support. Because of his efforts, NJBTA has grown over the last four years in both membership and purpose. Thank you, Zorian.
As we look ahead, I believe our greatest strength lies in how we show up for one another. Growth does not happen in isolation—it happens through collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility. With that in mind, our focus will be on continuing to expand our membership, deepening our fundraising impact, and strengthening our voice by intentionally advancing the following priorities:
• Being visibly present and engaged within the New Jersey business community, offering thoughtful perspectives on issues that matter, and sharing meaningful, accessible content across our social platforms.
• Supporting career growth by advocating for fair opportunity, professional development, and pathways for advancement for all members.
• Cultivating purposeful partnerships and sponsorships rooted in authenticity, mutual respect, and real value for our members and the communities we touch.
• Creating experiences that are informative, inclusive, and enjoyable—because learning and connection should feel energizing, not transactional.
My vision is for NJBTA to be a place where people feel seen—truly seen. I invite each of you to participate in a way that feels meaningful to you and to share your ideas, perspectives, and hopes for our chapter. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly by email, text, or phone as we move forward together.
Thank you for your trust and engagement. I am truly honored to serve and look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events.
Warm regards,
Diane Romano
President
GBTA New Jersey Chapter
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