GROUP
HOTEL SPECIALISTS
Founded in 2005, TravelAdvocates is a travel services company focused on booking hotels and ground transportation for groups all over the world. Our passionate team of group hotel specialists guarantees the lowest group room rates and the most flexible contract clauses - at no cost to you.
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Known in the industry as a travel planner’s "secret weapon," our group travel experts negotiate the lowest room rates to ensure your group stays in the best possible hotel for their budget. We have built strong unique relationships with every major hotel chain and small independent boutique hotels to offer the most flexible contract clauses in the industry (typically 30 days to cancel with no attrition). We proudly assist tour operators, DMCs, corporate meeting planners, athletic teams, and a variety of other group travel planners.
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Whether you are booking a 1-night stay or a series of dates, for 5 rooms or the entire hotel, you will benefit from our industry knowledge, buying power, and legal expertise which sets us apart from our competitors.
Robert Miller, Esq.
President/Owner
Before founding TravelAdvocates in 2005, Robert worked for the tour operator Starr Tours and the publicly traded hotel company Prime Hospitality. It is estimated that Robert has personally booked over 1 million group hotel room nights. He has planned meetings and conferences of all sizes for over 25 years. He practiced law in New York and New Jersey and was elected to his local Board of Education. Robert’s meeting planning experience coupled with his legal expertise makes a powerful combo enabling his customers to have the sharp negotiating skills of an attorney and the street smarts of a group travel planner. Robert lives in Henderson, NV.
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Jason Wood
VP of Strategic Partnerships
A former hotel GM and Director of Sales with IHG, Starwood, and Wyndham, Jason has been booking hotels for groups for over 30 years. As TravelAdvocates' primary hotel sourcer, Jason personally sends out over 3,000 group hotel RFPs annually. He was born and raised just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jason earned his MBA in Finance from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and chemistry from Ripon College. Jason lives in Jersey City, NJ.
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Natalie Matusiak
Vice President of Operations
Natalie started working in the hotel industry in 2002 as a front desk agent at a full service hotel in New Jersey before working her way up to become a Group Sales Manager with Wyndham. Since joining TravelAdvocates in 2013, Natalie personally processes over 2,000 group rooming lists each year. Our operations queen, Natalie ensures our groups have a smooth check in experience and overall great hotel stay. Natalie lives in New Jersey.
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Chris Massie
Director of Strategic Development
Chris joins us after 11 years with the Titanic Museum in Branson ​​and Pigeon Forge, and 6 years with the beloved NC-based tour operator Christian Tours/Burke International Tours prior to that. Chris serves as the Chair of the State of Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism and brings over 25 years of tourism experience to our team. Chris is the proud father of 2 daughters and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Keith Saddler
Director of Operations
Keith was born and raised in the upper west side of Manhattan. He started working in the hotel industry in 2012 and advanced from front desk to Assistant GM with Hilton properties. Keith joined TravelAdvocates in 2016 and works alongside Sally Altman to ensure group operations are executed flawlessly. In his free time, Keith has a passion for buying and flipping houses in the Philadelphia area. Keith is a proud father and lives in North Bergen, New Jersey.
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Cayleigh Heitsmith
Account Manager
Before joining TravelAdvocates in 2024, Cayleigh worked in hotel procurement/operations for five years at EF Education First, where she was solely responsible for booking and contracting group hotel stays in 100+ locations around North America. She brings her expertise of client relations, contracting, and negotiation to her role of Account Manager at TravelAdvocates. Cayleigh's passion for travel, cultural exchange, and language-learning has brought her all over the world. She lived abroad in France and Germany for three years before moving back to the US in 2019 to pursue a career in the travel industry. In her spare time, she enjoys road biking and skiing. Cayleigh is based in Washington, DC.
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Lynn Miller
Executive Vice President
With over 45 years of human resources experience, Lynn is responsible for all health benefits, workers comp, the 401k profit and pension plan, and various insurance items. She also assists with accounting. Lynn joined TravelAdvocates full time in 2014 but had been consulting part-time for us since 2005. Prior to 2014, Lynn was the Senior VP of Human Resources and Safety Director for tour operator Starr Tours for 25 years. Lynn is Robert’s proud mother and lives in Hamilton, NJ.
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Floyd Morris, Esq.
Senior Vice President of
Account Management
An expert in contract law, Floyd is responsible for the Company's overall operations including the department that reviews and executes over 3,500 group hotel contracts annually. Floyd earned his law degree from Seton Hall Law School and practiced sports and entertainment law in New Jersey. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Floyd earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken NJ where he holds the record for all-time assists in basketball. Floyd has worked extensively with professional athletes, entertainers, and venues on contract drafting, review, and negotiation. He is a high school football and basketball coach and lives in Union City, NJ.
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Michael Goonan, MD
Vice President of Finance
Michael is responsible for the company's finance, accounting, and employee payroll functions. He personally reconciles over 3,000 group hotel folios annually. Before joining TravelAdvocates full time in 2020, Michael practiced medicine and was a faculty member at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan for 8 years. Prior to medicine, Michael worked in the banking industry as a financial services consultant for Bank of America, State Street, and American Express. Michael earned a degree in chemistry from Harvard University where he graduated magna cum laude. He went on to NYU School of Medicine for his medical degree and residency training in pediatric medicine. A native of Rochester NY, Michael now lives in Henderson, NV.
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Elizabeth Hancock
Vice President of Administration
Liz brings almost 20 years of experience from Educational Testing Service (ETS) where she held a variety of leadership roles spanning Human Resources, Administration, and Communications. At ETS, she led global internal communications, modernized systems and processes to create operational efficiencies, engaged staff in major corporate rebrands and acquisitions, and implemented a more personalized and metrics-driven intranet. At TravelAdvocates, she leads efforts across finance and human resources. Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their dog—whether at home in NJ or off on an adventure.
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Sally Altman, CHSP
Director of Global Sales
Before joining TravelAdvocates in 2020, Sally spent 27 years as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights NJ. Her loyal customers think of her like family. Sally is responsible for new business development, nurturing relationships with clients and the correct site selection for our clients. Sally has strong negotiation skills and is an expert in group travel, meetings, business transient, sports, and the aviation market segments. She serves on the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Advisory Committee and the Teterboro Golf Scholarship Committee. Sally earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from James Madison University. Sally is based in New Jersey.
Nancy Reese
Director of Contracting
With over 30 years of group travel experience from the tour operator side, Nancy Reese joined TravelAdvocates in 2022. Most recently, Nancy held the position of Director of Product Development for 28 years at Starr Tours in Trenton NJ. Nancy started her travel career with Preferred Travel in Pennsylvania, an agency specializing in travel for top name entertainment groups. Nancy's travel expertise is grounded in developing group travel itineraries and contracting group hotel reservations. Over the years, Nancy has developed lasting partnerships with group travel professionals across the United States and Eastern Canada. Nancy currently resides outside Charleston, SC.
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Erik Warner
Contracts Manager
Before joining TravelAdvocates in 2024, Erik was the sales manager at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown Nashville. He has worked for some of the top hospitality brands in the world including Marriott, IHG, and Disney. Erik has a wealth of hotel knowledge from both the operations and sales side along with exceptional customer service skills. When not working, he enjoys traveling and making memories with his wife Amy and his dog, Rocket. Erik lives in Nashville, TN.
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Client Testimonials
When I enlist the services of a broker to secure hotel rooms, I'm looking for more than just someone who books the rooms at a competitive rate and pockets the commission. I'm looking for someone who will negotiate the contract AND advocate for me if there are any issues, at contract time or later. I'm looking for service. That's what I get from TravelAdvocates. Their name says it all.
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Mark Hoffmann
Former Chairman, National Tour Association
The experienced team at TravelAdvocates understands our commitment to our customers. They are extremely knowledgeable and recommend only suitable student group hotels. They have great relationships in many destinations, which allows Brightspark the peace of mind and confidence to book a hotel anywhere. I really enjoy working with Robert and Jason. They always provide me with excellent professional quick service.
Carole Carley
Brightspark Travel
Since our first ABA a few years ago, I have so enjoyed getting to work with you and your team on finding us the very best hotel properties that are great on location and value. You have been our secret weapon that has helped me close the deal over some of our competitor's rates and I can't thank you enough for that!
Lance Clay
TREK Travel Programs