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. With offices throughout the US and UK, our passionate team of group hotel specialists guarantees the lowest group room rates and the most flexible contract clauses within 24 hours of your request - at no cost to you.
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.
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.
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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 for up to 1,500 people. 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 Asbury Park, 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 2,000 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 Asbury Park, NJ.
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Natalie Mandzy
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.
Danny Lewandowski
Director of Operations
With over 20 years of group travel experience, Danny Lewandowski joined TravelAdvocates in 2022. Most recently, Danny held the position of Director of Business & Talent Development at the student tour operator Hemisphere Educational Travel where he worked for 17 years. Prior to Hemisphere, Danny worked for The John Hancock Observatory and Chicago Southland CVB. Danny served as an elected member of the SYTA Board of Directors. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in tourism management from Indiana University. Danny currently resides in Richmond, VA.
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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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Jason Wood
Vice President 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 25 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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Floyd Morris, Esq.
Vice President of Contracting
An expert in contract law, Floyd is responsible for reviewing and executing over 2,500 group hotel contracts annually on behalf of our customers. 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 Hoboken, NJ.
Sally Altman
Director of Global Sales
Before joining TravelAdvocates in 2020, Sally spent 26 years as the Director of Sales at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. Her loyal customers think of her like family. 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 in Robbinsville NJ.
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Ellen Claycomb
Special Events Coordinator
A Kentucky native, Ellen coordinates special experiences for TravelAdvocates’ clients. With over a decade of marketing and development experience, Ellen’s events are always memorable and fun. Ellen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Louisville. Ellen lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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.
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