NETTRA 2026 Annual Conference: Showcasing the Northeast Through Special Events
Thursday, October 8th, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm on Zoom. Register here!
Speaker bios are available here.
Please note: agenda was updated on 10/7/26.
A downloadable agenda is available below.
Thursday, October 8th, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm on Zoom. Register here!
Speaker bios are available here.
Please note: agenda was updated on 10/7/26.
A downloadable agenda is available below.
Welcome Remarks (8:30 - 8:40 am)
Presented by Dr. Tanner C. Knorr, 2026 Conference Chair and NETTRA Co-Vice President
Presented by Dr. Tanner C. Knorr, 2026 Conference Chair and NETTRA Co-Vice President
Keynote Panel (8:40 - 9:40 am)
What We Learned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Speakers:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup provided an opportunity to examine how mega-events affect host communities, prompting destination marketing organizations nationwide to reassess their approaches to future international sporting events. Applying findings from a Resident Sentiment Index study commissioned by Visit KC (Kansas City), MMGY Travel Intelligence Research Analyst Cinthia Martinez-Cerna will kick off the panel with a presentation on strategies for assessing how residents perceived the social and economic effects of hosting World Cup matches. The study applies a survey-based methodology, drawing on a sample of 500 Kansas City residents and 1,000 residents across five comparison cities, including Philadelphia.
Cinthia will be joined by destination researchers and marketers from each of the three Northeast host cities – Boston, New York, and Philadelphia – who will each share what their city observed and experienced. A discussion will follow on key takeaways. How can destinations attract and plan for special events, and how can mega events be used to leverage tourism and local benefits?
What We Learned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Speakers:
- Cinthia Martinez-Cerna, Research Analyst, MMGY Travel Intelligence
- Joe Heller, Chief Marketing Officer, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Jason Meredith, Director, Research & Insights, New York City Tourism + Conventions
- Sathvika Reddy, Director, Data Insights & Analytics, Meet Boston
The 2026 FIFA World Cup provided an opportunity to examine how mega-events affect host communities, prompting destination marketing organizations nationwide to reassess their approaches to future international sporting events. Applying findings from a Resident Sentiment Index study commissioned by Visit KC (Kansas City), MMGY Travel Intelligence Research Analyst Cinthia Martinez-Cerna will kick off the panel with a presentation on strategies for assessing how residents perceived the social and economic effects of hosting World Cup matches. The study applies a survey-based methodology, drawing on a sample of 500 Kansas City residents and 1,000 residents across five comparison cities, including Philadelphia.
Cinthia will be joined by destination researchers and marketers from each of the three Northeast host cities – Boston, New York, and Philadelphia – who will each share what their city observed and experienced. A discussion will follow on key takeaways. How can destinations attract and plan for special events, and how can mega events be used to leverage tourism and local benefits?
Break (9:40 - 9:45 am)
Breakout Sessions 1 (9:45 - 10:40 am)
Session 1a:
Gen Z Brain Trust: What do Younger Travelers REALLY Want?
Presenters:
- Tina Valdecanas, Principal, Visitor Economy Optimization & Community Vitality Architect Clarity of Place/Longwoods
- Sean McLaughlin, Senior Lecturer, Recreation Management & Policy, University of New Hampshire
- Students from UNH course “Recreation and Tourism in Society”
Understanding the travel preferences and interests of Gen Z isn’t just a matter of impact current visitation and participation trends, but it also provides a glimpse into the future of what certain generations value and prioritize in terms of their leisure time and spending.
This interactive session pairs recent data from Longwoods on Gen Z travelers with a focus group style discussion with undergraduate students from the University of New Hampshire. Participants of all generations are encouraged to join this open Q&A format to better understand younger travelers’ interests and preferences. Whether you’re planning a special event, aiming to attract a broader demographic range of visitors to your destination, or testing out research questions, this session will connect you to real, younger voices and perspectives.
Session 1b:
The Experience is the Investment: How Baltimore is Building the Workforce Behind Special Events
Presenters:
- Carlee Wolfe, AVP, Talent and Org Effectiveness, Hyatt Hotels
- Mia Blom, Director of Government & Community Affairs, Visit Baltimore / Executive Director, Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation
Special events don't succeed or fail because of logistics. They succeed or fail at the human moment - the front desk agent, the volunteer, the server who either knows their city or doesn't. That moment is shaped entirely by what happened before the event arrived. Most destinations compete on amenities and marketing. The ones that win long-term invest in the people who deliver the experience.
Baltimore is doing that on purpose, and the data shows it. This roundtable will begin with an examination of intentional workforce investment across two scales: the CIAA tournament and its volunteer cohort through Charm City Certified, Baltimore's mobile hospitality credential, and the CTE Food, Beverage & Baking Competition, now in its fifth year.
Mia Blom, Director of Government & Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Visit Baltimore Education and Training Foundation, built that infrastructure. Carlee Wolfe, AVP of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness at Hyatt Hotels, brings the employer perspective. Both serve on the City of Baltimore Workforce Development Board. Together, they will make the case that workforce investment is destination strategy - and invite practitioners to examine what that looks like in their own markets.
Break (10:40 - 10:45 am)
Breakout Sessions 2 (10:45 - 11:40 am)
Session 2a:
Navigating "Kidfluence," Multi-Generational Dynamics, and Inclusivity in Contemporary Family Travel
Presenters:
This roundtable examines the shifting behavioral, economic, and structural dynamics shaping contemporary family tourism. Grounded in empirical data from the U.S. Family Travel Survey—conducted by the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality, the Family Travel Association, and Good Housekeeping—the session explores how modern families navigate travel planning amid evolving decision-making roles, digital influence, and cost pressures. This session applies findings from the 2025 survey to spark group discussion and will also provide an early look at results from the forthcoming 2026 survey of nearly 1,600 parents and grandparents. This roundtable will consider themes including youth co-decision-making, value and multi-generational models, and inclusivity and accessibility.
Session 2b:
The Travel Researcher of the Future: Supporting Destination Organizations in Management and Stewardship
Presenter:
As destination organizations expand beyond promotion into destination management and stewardship, the role of tourism research must expand with them. Organizations increasingly need evidence to guide resident engagement, workforce development, community partnerships, accessibility, visitor management, product development, and decisions about how tourism’s benefits are distributed.
This roundtable will explore the role of the travel researcher of the future: not only reporting what happened, but helping destination organizations determine what should happen next. To maintain relevance, researchers will be providing insight into destination readiness, identify community priorities, anticipate unintended consequences, broaden participation, and evaluate what remains after an event ends.
This session will challenge researchers and tourism leaders to reconsider what gets measured, whose knowledge counts, and how research can help destinations become better through thoughtful data.
Session 2a:
Navigating "Kidfluence," Multi-Generational Dynamics, and Inclusivity in Contemporary Family Travel
Presenters:
- Anna Abelson, Adjunct Assistant Professor, New York University, Tisch Center of Hospitality
- Peter Bopp, Advisor for Research, The Family Travel Association
This roundtable examines the shifting behavioral, economic, and structural dynamics shaping contemporary family tourism. Grounded in empirical data from the U.S. Family Travel Survey—conducted by the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality, the Family Travel Association, and Good Housekeeping—the session explores how modern families navigate travel planning amid evolving decision-making roles, digital influence, and cost pressures. This session applies findings from the 2025 survey to spark group discussion and will also provide an early look at results from the forthcoming 2026 survey of nearly 1,600 parents and grandparents. This roundtable will consider themes including youth co-decision-making, value and multi-generational models, and inclusivity and accessibility.
Session 2b:
The Travel Researcher of the Future: Supporting Destination Organizations in Management and Stewardship
Presenter:
- Roni Weiss, Executive Director, Travel Unity
As destination organizations expand beyond promotion into destination management and stewardship, the role of tourism research must expand with them. Organizations increasingly need evidence to guide resident engagement, workforce development, community partnerships, accessibility, visitor management, product development, and decisions about how tourism’s benefits are distributed.
This roundtable will explore the role of the travel researcher of the future: not only reporting what happened, but helping destination organizations determine what should happen next. To maintain relevance, researchers will be providing insight into destination readiness, identify community priorities, anticipate unintended consequences, broaden participation, and evaluate what remains after an event ends.
This session will challenge researchers and tourism leaders to reconsider what gets measured, whose knowledge counts, and how research can help destinations become better through thoughtful data.
Quick break - reconvene in general session (11:40 - 11:45 am)
Student Research Spotlight and Closing Remarks (11:45 - 12 pm)
Analyzing Ski Resort Experiences Through Online Reviews: A Data Analytics Approach to Customer Satisfaction in Pennsylvania Tourism
Presenters:
Our 2026 NETTRA Student Poster Competition Winner is Neylla Josep from East Stroudsburg University. Following a brief research presentation (see poster here), the researchers will welcome questions from the audience in this short session leading into our closing remarks.
Closing Remarks
Presented by Dr. Tanner C. Knorr and Elizabeth Pike (TTRA)
Conclude at noon - Thank you for joining us!
Analyzing Ski Resort Experiences Through Online Reviews: A Data Analytics Approach to Customer Satisfaction in Pennsylvania Tourism
Presenters:
- Neylla Joseph, Student, East Stroudsburg University
- Dr. Yongwook Ju, Assistant Professor, East Stroudsburg University
Our 2026 NETTRA Student Poster Competition Winner is Neylla Josep from East Stroudsburg University. Following a brief research presentation (see poster here), the researchers will welcome questions from the audience in this short session leading into our closing remarks.
Closing Remarks
Presented by Dr. Tanner C. Knorr and Elizabeth Pike (TTRA)
Conclude at noon - Thank you for joining us!
A 2-page downloadable agenda is available below.
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