Embark on a thrilling journey through the world of AI in Travel, where we'll uncover the exhilarating pros and daunting cons of this revolutionary technology! Join us as we navigate through the endless possibilities of personalized experiences, streamlined operations, and innovative solutions that AI offers to the travel industry. At the same time, we'll brave the challenges of job displacement, privacy concerns, and ethical dilemmas that come with embracing AI. Get ready for dynamic discussion that will shape the future of travel as we know it!

Sam Hilgendorf

CIO, Fox World Travel 

Sam Hilgendorf has served as the chief information officer (CIO) at Fox World Travel since 2018. He is responsible for the vision and execution of Fox’s technology portfolio, which includes IT, business intelligence, product development, and project management.

Under Sam’s visionary stewardship, Fox has integrated groundbreaking solutions, including a cutting-edge customer contact center, an enterprise data management platform, and an innovative cloud collaboration suite. These pioneering strides have garnered widespread acclaim within the travel industry, consistently acknowledged through prestigious accolades.

Under Sam’s direction, Fox has been awarded multiple Magellan awards from Travel Weekly and has also been recognized as a Distinguished Partner for SAP Concur for custom integration work with the Concur Travel platform. He’s also contributed on multiple occurrences to industry thought leadership on topics such as blockchain, AI, and many other tech topics.

Recently honored with the title of Wisconsin’s CIO of the Year, Sam exemplifies a passion for leveraging technology to catalyze positive change. He firmly believes in harnessing technology’s potential to unleash the latent talents of his team members, propelling them toward unparalleled achievements. Sam’s dedication extends to enriching customer experiences, fostering peak performance, and nurturing excellence.

Sam has been happily married for 20 years and is a proud parent of a wonderful pre-teen daughter. When it comes to hobbies, he describes his family as “a real-life version of the TV show The Big Bang Theory.” They love playing Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop board games, reading comic books, dressing up for Renaissance fairs, and indulging in just about every other nerdy hobby imaginable. These quirky interests bring them joy, excitement, and a whole lot of stories to tell!

Steven Harter:

CTO, CerebriAI

Steve is a true geek; his love of technology began in the US Navy where he wanted to operate nuclear submarines. However, because he’s color blind the Navy felt that having him being around big red buttons could potentially be an issue. Since his days in the Navy, Steve has spent the last 25 years helping organizations identify, understand, build, and leverage technology and specifically data into competitive advantages.  Steve has lead technology teams and initiatives with UnitedHealth Care, MetLife, IBM, CitiGroup, Amerigroup, Chase, British Airways, BCD Travel, and American Express. He is a published author and accomplished speaker. His current passion is tying large disparate dataset together to help companies understand the value of a holistic approach to data management. 

Key Meeting Topics:

Generative AI: From Theory to Travel

You can’t go a day without hearing something new about Generative AI and ChatGPT. We will explore this cutting-edge technology and discuss how it can be applied within the travel industry to enhance customer engagement, optimize operations, and unlock opportunities for personalization. This will be a journey of practical insights and innovative strategies that will revolutionize the traveler experience!

This session will include:

AI in Travel: Bone or Bane?

Let’s get ready to rumbbblllleeeee! Pack your arguments, the great AI in Travel debate is about to take off! Join us for a riveting debate on the future of travel as we explore the impact of artificial intelligence. Is AI a game-changer set to revolutionize the industry, or does it pose a threat to traditional travel experiences? Don't miss this opportunity to hear from some of the top industry experts who weigh in on the pros and cons of AI in travel. Who will be crowned the debate champion?!

Agenda:

9:15 – 10:00am – Registration & Networking

10:00am – Welcome & Introductions 

10:15am – Generative AI: From Theory to Travel

Sam Hilgendorf

11:15am – Break

11:25am – GBTAMI Business Meeting

            GBTAMI BOD & Committee Chairs

11:55am – Charity Presentation

             Freedom Center

12:15pm – Lunch & Networking

1:30pm – AI in Travel: Boon or Bane?

            Steven Harter

Happy Hour Reception: April 17

6:00pm - 8:00pm EST

Co Sponsored by: 

You're invited to an exclusive happy hour reception at the fabulous Dacey's Sportsbook at FireKeepers Casino! Join us for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and casino fun as we unwind and connect with industry colleagues. Whether you're feeling lucky at the tables or simply want to enjoy the ambiance, this is a networking event you won't want to miss. Don't forget to RSVP and bring your boss along for a night of excitement and networking. See you there!

Registration Information:

Registration must be received by 5:00pm on April 12, 2024. Registrations received after this time will incur a $10 late fee.

Guest Room Block:

FireKeepers has set aside a block of rooms at the special rate of $159 + tax. Please reserve your room at your soonest convenience to guarantee the group rate.

Event name: GBTA Michigan Meeting
Click here to reserve: MBTA Room Block 

Please note, reservations must be made by 5:00pm on Wednesday, April 3^rd to receive the discounted group rate of $159.00 + tax.  If you prefer to make your reservation by phone, please call at 877-352-8777 and mention your Group Block Code (041824MBTA)