Agenda & Speakers

Chad Nikola, Director of Customer Retention, American Eagle Outfitters

Chad Nikola is a customer first leader with a record of evolving and optimizing loyalty and personalization programs. He is currently serving as the Director of Customer Retention at American Eagle Outfitters where he recently led the complete rebrand and relaunch of AEO’s loyalty program - Real Rewards by American Eagle & Aerie. Chad’s background (Target, CVSHealth, Catalina) has helped shape his unique perspective on Loyalty/CRM programs and his unwavering passion for the customer.

Jay Hubbs, VP of Advertising - Marketing - Innovation and Analytics, Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Jay Hubbs is the VP of Advertising, Marketing, Innovation and Analytics overseeing Best Western’s customer-facing efforts including online and offline advertising and Best Western Rewards.   

Jay has over 25 years of experience in hospitality, travel, and digital marketing.  Prior to Best Western, Jay was with Remington Hotels in Commercial Services and Digital Marketing positions, and before that worked at Expedia, Starwood Hotels as well as hotel operations roles early in his career.  Jay has also built startup companies with consulting firm Scient and online review company ReviewPro, as well as entrepreneurial ventures.  

Jay holds an BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University as well as an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  In 2018 Jay was named to HSMAI’s Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing and sits on HSMAI’s America’s Board.   

Kate Kasabian, Director, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

I am thankful to have the ability in my career to connect consumers and businesses to essential products and brands to satisfy their needs.  As a Director for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Retail and Promotional Strategy, I am able to see strategic plans come to fruition while having the chance to seek out opportunities to make a tangible impact in a person's (and/or business') everyday life.  It allows not only for growth within the market but personal growth in my career as well.
 
I have built a successful marketing professional career in the hospitality industry, with fifteen years of experience in leading strategic brand development. I have worked to deliver simple, attainable, and generous offers to our customer base at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, along with delivering on our promise to make travel possible for everyone.
 

Vanesa Jovanović, Marketing Manager, Galerija Belgrade

Vanesa Jovanović spearheads Marketing for Galerija Belgrade – the largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination located at the heart of the prestigious USD 3 Billion Belgrade Waterfront project in Serbia.

Armed with a degree in Political & International Sciences from the University of Belgrade, Vanesa has over 14 years of in-depth experience spanning real-estate, asset management, leasing and marketing within the retail sector with Serbia’s largest mall and retail operators.

Besides the key responsibilities of driving revenue and pushing the needle on innovation in Marketing and Customer Experience, Vanesa is one of Serbia’s youngest and upcoming talent playing a key role in shaping the future of malls in Serbia by re-inventing the traditional shopping experience and positioning Galerija not just as a destination that looks, feels or operates differently to its predecessors in a competitive retail landscape; but also create value and stay relevant to their 3 key stakeholders: the 21st century shopper, it’s business partners i.e. tenants, the business and its valuable shareholders.