Join us in Miami
The GBTA is proud to host the 22nd Annual GBTA US Chapter Leadership Summit! This event brings over 200 US Chapter volunteer leaders from across the country for 2 days of learning including professional development, networking and collaboration to enhance GBTA’s 38 US Chapter organizations.
This event is open to all GBTA Chapter Board Members, Chapter Committee members, and invited guests. All registrants will be quality checked to ensure you fit within one of these categories Any Registrations not fitting these roles will be cancelled and refunded.
Venue
Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
1633 N. Biscayne Drive
Miami, FL 33132
Registration Rates
| Buyer member and non member | Supplier member and non member | |
| Now until December 31st, 2025 | $250 | $250 |
| January 1st, 2026 to onsite | $350 | $350 |
Attending the GBTA US Chapter Leadership Summit?
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Agenda
Agenda is subject to change*
More details will be coming soon
12:00PM – 4:00PM
Registration
Grand Ballroom Foyer
12:30PM – 1:00PM
Welcome/Kickoff Remarks
Join us for an opening message from the GBTA CPC President! This session will cover the strategy for 2026: provide insights, review the VITAL role you play in the success and the chapters so you can make the most out of Leadership Summit!
Grand Ballroom
Michelle Amos
Associate Director of Travel, Corporate Cards & Expense
Qualtrics
Cindy Lewis
Vice President, Customer Success
Cerebri AI
Shawnda Witterstaetter
Vice President, Customer Success
Cerebri AI
1:00PM – 2:00PM
Fireside Chat
Join Suzanne Neufang, GBTA CEO and Rosemary Maloney, the GBTA President as they review 2025, discuss trends and delve into the future of GBTA and all the exciting things that are in store for our association and the corporate travel industry.
Grand Ballroom
Suzanne Neufang
Chief Executive Officer
GBTA
Rosemary Maloney
Senior Director, Corporate Travel
Freeman Company
2:00PM – 2:10PM
How the GBTA Foundation can Help Chapters Lead the Future
Grand Ballroom
Discover how the GBTA Foundation is powering the future of business travel. This short session will spotlight the Foundation’s mission and the programs designed to support Chapter leaders and their members – advancing professional growth, elevating industry collaboration, and accelerating sustainability. Learn how you can leverage these resources to drive positive impact within your community and help shape a thriving, responsible future for our industry, its people, and the planet.
Delphine Millot
Managing Director
GBTA Foundation
2:10PM – 2:30PM
Igniting the Future: Launching the GBTA Ladders NextGen Toolkit
Grand Ballroom
The future of business travel starts now. GBTA Foundation is proud to introduce the GBTA Ladders I NextGen Toolkit — a ready-to-use package designed to help GBTA Chapters and regional partners attract, engage, and empower the next generation of industry professionals.
Bev Heinritz
Sr. Director, Foundation Programs
GBTA Foundation
2:30PM – 2:45PM
Robert’s Rules of Order
Grand Ballroom
Megin Dressel
Travel Manager
Keller North America
2:45PM – 3:00PM
Break
Grand Ballrom Foyer
3:00PM – 4:00PM
Find Your Rhythm: Turning Disruption into Direction
Grand Ballroom
Billy Brimblecom
Steps of Faith Foundation
CEO
4:00PM – 4:30PM
Business Travel Service Awards
Grand Ballroom
Recognition of a select group of experienced travel professionals who have distinguished themselves as industry leaders through devotion to their company, their Chapter, their fellow business associates and have contributed to the business travel industry in a meaningful way.
4:45PM – 6:00PM
Welcome Reception
5th Floor Skyview Terrace
Recognition of a select group of experienced travel professionals who have distinguished themselves as industry leaders through devotion to their company, their Chapter, their fellow business associates and have contributed to the business travel industry in a meaningful way.
6:00PM – 10:00PM
Yacht Networking Event Presented by GBTA South Florida Chapter
Seafair Miami
7:00AM – 8:00AM
Breakfast
Grand Ballroom
8:00AM
Welcome to the Day
Grand Ballroom
Presented by our GBTA Chapter Presidents Council President
Michelle Amos
Associate Director of Travel, Corporate Cards & Expense
Qualtrics
8:15AM – 9:00AM
Star Chapter: Essentials
Salons A&B
Introduction to StarChapter, the association management software that all GBTA Chapters use to run their website, membership, and events. Beginning with how to log into the Admin Area and ending with how to access additional training materials.
Becky Schlereth
Global Mobility, Travel & Expense Manager
Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co
Angela Swoveland
Manager, Volunteer Relations
GBTA
Beyond Business: Community, Connection, and Giving Back
Salons C&D
In this session, we will explore what it truly means to lead with purpose. “Beyond Business” highlights how meaningful connections, community engagement, and intentional acts of giving can strengthen your GBTA Chapter and deepen its impact.We’ll discuss practical ways chapters can give back supporting and uplifting the communities where we work, travel, and thrive. Attendees will gain insight into initiatives that align with both our industry and our communities, along with examples that inspire action and connection.
This session will empower leaders and members to move beyond business as usual and embrace service, collaboration, and purpose-driven engagement.
Pamela Blakely
Manager
Fragomen Nomadic
Dana Fischbeck
Senior Sales Executive, Busines Rental
Enterprise Mobility
Igniting the Future: GBTA Ladders NextGen Toolkit Workshop
Salons H&G
“The future of business travel starts now. Join us for an interactive workshop introducing the GBTA Ladders I NextGen Toolkit — a ready-to-use package designed to help GBTA Chapters and regional partners attract, engage, and empower the next generation of industry professionals.
This session will showcase how the Toolkit provides everything you need to activate local NextGen programming, including event templates, marketing materials, mentorship frameworks, and engagement strategies. Participants will explore best practices from successful pilot programs, share ideas for local adaptation, and learn how to build connections between rising leaders and seasoned mentors within their own communities.
Walk away inspired and equipped to bring the energy of GBTA Ladders NextGen to your Chapter — fueling growth, innovation, and a stronger future for the global business travel industry.”
Bev Heinritz
Sr. Director, Foundation Programs
GBTA Foundation
Melody Haislip
Vice President of National Sales
Island Hospitality Management
Changing the Narrative: Building Real Connections between Buyers & Suppliers
Salons K&J
“This session explores how buyers and suppliers can move beyond transactional interactions to build stronger, more collaborative partnerships.
Learn practical strategies to improve communication, deepen trust, and create shared value that elevates the travel program and benefits the traveler.
The travel industry is evolving—and so must the way buyers and suppliers work together.
This interactive session challenges old perceptions, breaks down communication barriers, and highlights the importance of authentic partnership.
We’ll explore:
- What buyers really need
- What suppliers wish buyers understood
- How both sides can create mutual value
- The role of transparency, trust, and feedback
Dallas Campos
Senior Analyst Travel Services
Toyota
Sponsorships
Watson Island
Jeff Burba
Travel & Expense Manager
West Monroe
Michael Morrison
Director of Business Development & Marketing
Travel Leaders
9:15AM – 10:00AM
StarChapter Boot Camp: Survive & Thrive
Salons A&B
Ready to tackle the toughest drills in chapter management? Welcome to StarChapter Boot Camp—where we turn confusion into confidence! This session is your training ground for mastering the quirks of StarChapter without breaking a sweat. We’ll cover survival tactics, quick wins, and pro tips to help you march past common obstacles and unlock the platform’s hidden value. Whether you’re a new recruit or a seasoned veteran, you’ll leave battle-ready to thrive with StarChapter—because thriving beats just surviving!
Becky Schlereth
Global Mobility, Travel & Expense Manager
Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co
Amy Hunke
Sr. Manager Travel & Meetings
AMETEK
Hey!!! Get your Bylaws in Order!
Salons C&D
This engaging and dynamic session will guide you in aligning your chapter’s bylaws with its actual operations, ensuring consistency and compliance with current laws rather than leaving you to wonder about legal adherence.
Kelly Ferrigno
National Account Manager
United
Amplifying Chapter Impact: Leveraging GBTA Foundation Sustainability Tools for Member Success
Salons H&G
“GBTA Chapters are uniquely positioned to help business travel professionals navigate the fast-evolving sustainability landscape. This breakout session will showcase how the GBTA Foundation’s Planet initiative and its suite of free tools, guidance, and resources can empower Chapters to deliver greater value to members, deepen buyer-supplier collaboration, and turn sustainability leadership into a competitive advantage.
Join us to explore practical ways your Chapter can integrate GBTA’s sustainability offerings into programming, education, and member engagement. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what’s available, how to use it, and how to elevate your community’s impact by supporting travel buyers and suppliers on their sustainability journeys.”
Mark Ziegler
Senior Travel Manager
NetApp
Delphine Millot
SVP Advocacy & Sustainability
GBTA Foundation
The Scholarship Advantage: How Chapters Can Build, Promote, and Maximize Scholarship Programs
Salons K&J
Scholarships are one of the most powerful ways chapters can support member growth when they’re understood, promoted, and designed with intention. This dynamic session gives leaders a clear look at the full range of GBTA scholarship opportunities available to both individuals and chapters, along with transparent insight into how recipients are selected. Attendees will also learn how to design and launch their own chapter scholarships, from shaping criteria to implementing best practices in promotion, scoring, and delivery. With practical tools, real examples, and peer-shared strategies, this session equips you to strengthen your chapter’s scholarship offerings and expand access to professional development for your members.
Melissa Johnson
Senior Business Travel Manager
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Jeremy Diederich
Vice President – Travel Management
GCaesars Entertainment, Inc.
Lena Sanok
Corporate Project Manager
Hilton Worldwide Business Travel Sales
Chapter Exchange
Watson Island
Jeff Burba
Travel & Expense Manager
West Monroe
Building a Foundation for Meeting Protocols
Salons A&B
An interactive session designed to provide meeting protocols using Robert’s Rules of Order to run a more productive and efficient meeting.
Isabella Rusike
President
Bella Global Group
Michele Wilson
Director, Program Management
Hunter World Travel
Continuing the Magic: Who’s Next? Success Planning for GBTA Chapter Leaders
Salons C&D
Succession planning is a gift to your organization. It protects your mission, honors your volunteers’ time, and keeps things running smoothly year after year.
• Volunteer organizations depend on continuity and consistency.
• Succession planning helps avoid burnout and “surprise vacancies.”
• Goal is not to replace people — it’s to protect the organization’s future.
Cindy Lewis
Vice President, Customer Success
Cerebri AI
Kristen Reeves
Head of Global Travel
Wellington Management
Empowering Chapter Engagement Through Mentorship
Salons H&G
“Mentorship that moves forward locally —building leaders, fostering connections, and driving engagement.
Interactive discussion on the power of mentorship in shaping leadership in our industry. We will explore what is the WINiT Mentorship Program and strategies to strengthen chapter participation in WINiT and foster meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. Drawing from experiences as mentors and mentees, Danielle and Terasa will share actionable insights to help the Chapter leadership cultivate talent, build inclusive communities, and drive engagement at every level.”
Danielle Bilbao
Executive Director, Global Corporate Clients
Accor
Terasa Tierney
Global Travel Manager
Atec, Inc.
Social Media 1 – Presenting the SAG Social Media Playbook
Created with insights from our expert chapter social media champions, this playbook gives you the tools & best practices to amplify your GBTA Chapter Brand, Grow Membership, and Spark Stronger Engagement in your local communities. Let’s level up our digital presence together!
Salons K&J
Season Moran
Business Development Manager
Serko Ltd.
Shalini Iyer
Director of Strategic Partnerships
hubli
Collaborate, Curate, and Connect: Using GBTA Committees to Elevate Your Chapter Programming
Watson Island
Learn how to collaborate with GBTA Committees to access fresh ideas, curated content, and expert speakers that elevate your chapter meetings and member experience.
Samatha Bean GTP, GLP
Vice President of Sales & LTD Culture
LTD Hospitality Group
Trish Earles, GTP, CCTE, GLP
Director , Business Solutions Global Commerical Services
American Express
11:15AM – 12:00PM
Growing Membership: A hands-on Session
In this session on membership, we’ll discuss different member personas and then build an avatar to help them through their membership cycle. Come prepared to participate in this session about retention and growth of your membership base!
Salons A&B
Rosemary E Maloney
Senior Director, Corporate Travel
Freeman
Mindy Owen
Travel & Expense Manager
ConnectWise
Politics stinks – How to add air freshener
Salons C&D
Join the Legislative Advisory Council and learn how to garner interest in government relations and advocacy.
How to convey the impact government actions have to your members
Best practices for meeting the Chapter Challenge
GBTA staff learning from you on what does and doesn’t work from the Chapter point of view
Shane Downey
Vice President, Government Relations
GBTA
GBTA | Legislative Advisory Council Members
Igniting the Future: GBTA Ladders NextGen Toolkit Workshop #2
Salons H&G
“The future of business travel starts now. Join us for an interactive workshop introducing the GBTA Ladders I NextGen Toolkit — a ready-to-use package designed to help GBTA Chapters and regional partners attract, engage, and empower the next generation of industry professionals.
This session will showcase how the Toolkit provides everything you need to activate local NextGen programming, including event templates, marketing materials, mentorship frameworks, and engagement strategies. Participants will explore best practices from successful pilot programs, share ideas for local adaptation, and learn how to build connections between rising leaders and seasoned mentors within their own communities.
Walk away inspired and equipped to bring the energy of GBTA Ladders NextGen to your Chapter — fueling growth, innovation, and a stronger future for the global business travel industry.”
Bev Heinritz
Sr. Director, Foundation Programs
GBTA Foundation
Melody Haislip
Vice President of National Sales
Island Hospitality Management
Social Media as a Leadership Tool
Salons K&J
Discover how today’s business travel leaders are using social media to amplify their voice, build trust, and shape industry connections. This workshop session explores personal branding, storytelling, and digital trends that turn online presence into real-world influence.
Season Moran
Business Development Manager
Serko Ltd.
Shalini Iyer
Director of Strategic Partnerships
hubli
AI Playbook for GBTA Chapters
Watson Island
“Equip GBTA chapter leaders with simple, practical, and immediately usable AI tools that save time, improve engagement, and elevate chapter operations.
This playbook helps you deliver a session that is:
Fun (your Chapter branding)
Practical (real tools they can use tomorrow)
Approachable (AI without the overwhelm)
Aligned with GBTA’s mission (stronger chapters → stronger global community)”
Discover how today’s business travel leaders are using social media to amplify their voice, build trust, and shape industry connections. This workshop session explores personal branding, storytelling, and digital trends that turn online presence into real-world influence.
Shawnda Witterstaetter
Vice President , Customer Success
Cerebri AI
Cindy Lewis
Vice President, Customer Success
Cerebri AI
12:15PM – 1:00PM
Treasurers Collaboration
Salons A&B
Based on your position on your Chapter Board for 2026, please join us ot workshop with your peers.
Content/Education Collaboration
Salons C&D
Membership Collaboration
Salons H&G
Marketing/Communication Collaboration
Salons K&J
Sponsorships Collaboration
Watson Island
1:00PM – 1:45PM
Lunch
Grand Ballroom
1:45PM -2:15PM
The AI Revolution Real and Upon Us…Welcome to the New World!
“Most “AI” in travel tech is still rules, scripts, and marketing language, but the landscape is about to shift. This session shows what fully autonomous AI agents can do when paired with a unified data and policy platform. You will see how real-time policy, spend and program optimization can occur using AI. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what is real, what is hype, and what is coming next.”
Grand Ballroom
Speakers:
Matt Beck
VP of Product
Cerebri AI
2:15PM – 3:00PM
“GBTA | Advocacy
Chapter Challenge”
Grand Ballroom
3:00PM – 3:15PM
Break
Grand Ballroom Foyer
3:15PM – 3:30PM
The Return of Volunteer Engagement – Get the Party Started
In this session we will discuss best practices for cultivating volunteers and how to get members involved and remain engaged with your Chapter.
Grand Ballroom
Denise Truso
Senior Manager, Global Travel
Illumina
3:30PM – 4:00PM
Political Welcome and Airport Trends/Local Update
Grand Ballroom
4:00PM – 4:30PM
Buyer Panel – Major Sports Teams and Leagues
Grand Ballroom
4:30PM – 4:45PM
Closing Remarks
Grand Ballroom
Presented by our GBTA Chapter Presidents Council President
Michelle Amos
Associate Director of Travel, Corporate Cards & Expense
Qualtrics
Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
1633 N. Biscayne Drive
Miami, FL 33132
305-374-3900
Hotel Website
A room block has been secured at the Marriott Biscayne Bay for the duration of the summit. Room accommodations can be secured through the reservation link or by calling the Reservations Department at 305-374-3900. Individuals must identify themselves as being with the group, GBTA US Chapter Leadership Summit 2026, at the time the reservation is made in order to receive the special group rate.
The reservation cut-off date is January 16th, 2026. Reservation requests received after this deadline date will be subject to availability and the prevailing rate.
Room Rates:
Single/Double: $200 (plus 13% Applicable taxes and fees)
The hotel offers special amenities for a $35 per night destination fee, which can be opted out of anytime prior to check in.
Hotel room, tax, incidentals, airfare and other expenses are the responsibility of the attendee.
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Room Cancellation Policy:
All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card, rooms must be cancelled 3 days prior to arrival to avoid any cancelation charges.
Parking:
Day Event rates: $25 Valet or Self Park
Overnight Rates: $47 Valet or $42 Self Park.
Oversized Vehicles are $58.00
This event is open to all GBTA Chapter Board Members, Chapter Committee members, and invited guests. All registrants will be quality checked to ensure you fit within one of these categories Any Registrations not fitting these roles will be cancelled and refunded.
Registration Rates:
| Buyer member and non member | Supplier member and non member | ||
| Now until December 31st, 2025 | $250 | $250 | |
| January 1st, 2026 to onsite | $350 | $350 |
Bulk Registration:
Registering multiple people, and prefer one payment? Please register yourself, and when you see the Registration Summary page, you can add members to a group reservation by clicking the box on the bottom left. Be sure to have all of their information available to register them correctly.
Cancellation Policy:
- All cancellation requests must be made in writing to GBTA at eventsupport@gbta.org
- Cancellations are accepted until January 19, 2026.
- A full refund less a $75 administrative fee will be given for cancellations.
- No refunds will be given after January 19, 2026.
- There are no refunds for “no shows.”
- Refunds will be credited back to the original credit card used for payment.
Substitution Policy:
- A GBTA attendee may transfer his/her registration to another eligible party if he/she is unable to attend.
- All substitution requests must be made in writing to GBTA at eventsupport@gbta.org and handled on the backend of the registration system.
- The substitute is responsible for any and all financial arrangements between the original registrant and the substitute.
GBTA US Chapter Leadership Summit 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus
Don’t miss this opportunity to increase your brand awareness, generate leads and network with more than 175 decision makers from GBTA Chapters. Attendees of these events represent Chapter leaders from across the country.
Interested in sponsoring? Contact our sponsorship team with any questions.
Sponsorship Opportunities
*If sponsor purchases multiple sponsorship opportunities at various tiers, sponsor will be recognized at the highest sponsor level tier purchased.
**Distribution of buyers-only registration list will be provided one (1) times:
– 1 week post – February 4 (Name, title, company)
Contact Us
Ready to become a sponsor or need expert advice on which opportunity is best for your organization? Fill out the form below and a member of our sponsorship team will reach out to you shortly.
More information coming soon
Check back closer to the event for additional information
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