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Overview

The New York City Technology Forum is where innovation meets impact!

Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this Forum empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Forum delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.

Winners of the 2026 Best of New York City Awards will be celebrated on Thursday, December 10 at the New York City Technology Forum in Brooklyn, NY. Please submit your nominations here. Nomination closes on Friday, October 30, 2026.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Michael Garner

Michael Garner

Chief Business Diversity Officer, City of New York

Michael J. Garner, MBA, was appointed New York City’s first Chief Business Diversity Officer on 2/16/2023.   Mr. Garner formerly served as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), State of New York. His tenure at the MTA spanned 14 years from February 2009 through February 2023 and prior to that served as the Senior Director, Business Development at the NYC School Construction Authority. Crain’s New York Business honored Mr. Garner in 2021, as its inaugural Chief Diversity Officer of the Year and referred to him as the Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky of MWBE. He is a diversity champion, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse business environment wherever he’s been.
By changing New York City’s/New York State’s Legislative Laws and creating new innovative Minority Business programming, Mr. Garner and his teams at the City of New York, the MTA and the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), have been responsible for more than $41 billion in contracts and payments to New York State/City Minority and Women-owned Businesses. In addition, during his tenure at the MTA, he and his team increased the hiring of Blacks, Hispanics and Asians by 20%, across the MTA’s six different operating agencies.
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Michael D’Ambrosio

Michael D’Ambrosio

Assistant Comptroller, Contracts and Procurement, Office of New York City Comptroller Mark Levine

Michael D'Ambrosio is the Assistant Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement in the Office of the NYC Comptroller Mark Levine. In this role, Michael oversees the Bureau's contract registration teams that review all contracts, contract amendments, leases and concessions between City agencies and vendors to confirm that procedural requisites have been certified by contracting agencies, funding exists to support the contract action and there was no fraud or corruption in the letting of the contract. Previously, Michael served in Agency Chief Contracting Officer and other procurement and legal roles with the NYPD, NYC Comptroller's Office, NYC Parks, and NYC Emergency Management. Michael received his B.B.A. and J.D. from Hofstra University.
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Chen Feng

Chen Feng LinkedIn

Institute Associate Professor, New York University

Chen Feng is an Institute Associate Professor at New York University, Director of the AI4CE Lab, and Founding Co-Director of the NYU Center for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence. He has also been an Amazon Scholar with its Frontier AI & Robotics team since 2026. His research focuses on active and collaborative robot perception and robot learning to address multidisciplinary, use-inspired challenges in construction, manufacturing, and transportation. He is dedicated to developing novel algorithms and systems that enable intelligent agents to understand and interact with dynamic, unstructured environments. Before NYU, he worked as a research scientist in the Computer Vision Group at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he developed patented algorithms for localization, mapping, and 3D deep learning in autonomous vehicles and robotics. Chen Feng earned his doctoral and master's degrees from the University of Michigan between 2010 and 2015, and his bachelor's degree in 2010 from Wuhan University. Chen is an active contributor to the AI and robotics communities, such as CVPR, IEEE RA-L, and ICRA, and he has served as an area chair and associate editor. In 2023, he was awarded the NSF CAREER Award. More information about his research can be found at ai4ce.github.io.
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Gabrielle Fisher

Gabrielle Fisher LinkedIn

Modernization Director, New York State Department of Education

Gabrielle Fisher is an accomplished public-sector technology leader with over 15 years of experience driving large-scale transformation across the private sector and New York State and New York City government. She currently serves as Director of Modernization for the State Aid Management System (SAMS) at the New York State Education Department, where she is leading a $50+ million enterprise modernization initiative to transform the legacy system responsible for administering and disbursing approximately $30 billion in school aid to nearly 700 school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) across New York State. This transformation integrates a low-code platform with a decision management system and leverages AWS cloud services, marking the first implementation of its kind at the Department. Gabrielle brings extensive experience leading complex, multimillion-dollar transformation programs, combining strategic vision, operational rigor, and disciplined execution to deliver results across highly visible, cross-functional initiatives. Her approach is grounded in the belief that technology, when paired with empathy and diligence, can drive meaningful, sustainable improvements in government services and deliver lasting value to the public.
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Amy Hurst

Amy Hurst

Professor of Occupational Therapy and Integrated Digital Media, New York University

Dr. Amy Hurst is a Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development and the Department of Technology, Culture and Society in the Tandon School of Engineering. She is the director of the NYU Ability Project, an interdisciplinary research space dedicated to the intersection between disability and technology. https://ability.nyu.edu
Dr. Hurst is passionate about understanding current social problems and identifying opportunities for technology to empower individuals impacted by those problems. She uses qualitative methods to analyze a current environment, design and build technology that fits within the constraints of that environment, and evaluate this technology in situ with target users.
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Lee Ilan

Lee Ilan

Chief of Planning, Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation, New York City

Lee Ilan is the Chief of Planning at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation, which operates the largest city-run environmental cleanup program in the nation. Her focus is on community engagement, environmental justice, intergovernmental issues, and communications. She oversaw the development of the SPEED environmental mapping portal (www.nyc.gov/SPEED). Lee has worked on brownfields for the City for over two decades, overseeing participation in state and federal grant programs, supporting community groups, and advancing the City’s goals locally and nationally. She is an active steering committee member of the National Brownfields Coalition and serves on the advisory boards of the New York City Brownfield Partnership and the Center for Creative Land Recycling. Previously, Lee worked as a commercial recycling consultant and a parks advocate in New York City. She holds a BA in Political Science from Columbia College, Columbia University.
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Preston Miller

Preston Miller LinkedIn

Senior Consulting Director, Palo Alto Networks

Preston Miller, a Senior Director at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with deep subject matter expertise in digital forensics & incident response, and experience leading high-level, complex investigations. He has co-authored several books on digital forensics, including The Python Digital Forensic Cookbook, which was named Digital Forensics Book of the Year by Forensic 4:cast.
Preston joined Unit 42 in 2021 after six years at Stroz Friedberg, where he managed complex incident response and digital forensic matters for clients across a wide range of industries. He helped establish Stroz’s mobile device working group and provided expert testimony on forensic analysis in the cases he worked.
As a graduate student, Preston worked with the West Virginia State Police Digital Forensics Unit, where he developed a digital evidence database and assisted analysts by inventorying evidence, preparing evidence for preservation and analysis, and maintaining case logs.
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Razwan Mirza

Razwan Mirza

Chief Information Officer, Department of Probation, New York City

Razwan Mirza is a public-sector technology leader with over 25 years of experience turning complex government challenges into practical solutions. As Chief Information Officer at NYC Department of Probation followed by Chief Innovation Officer in the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety he champions smarter, more connected government through technology, data, and responsible AI. From breaking down agency silos to automating workflows and building innovative in-house solutions, his focus is simple: make technology work for people, not the other way around.
Throughout his career, Mr. Mirza has held technology leadership roles across multiple city agencies, including the NYC Department of Social Services, the Department of Homeless Services. His work has focused on modernizing enterprise systems, strengthening technology infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and developing scalable solutions to support complex government operations.
He is passionate about transforming how government operates and delivering meaningful results for New Yorkers.
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Maurizio Porfiri, PhD

Maurizio Porfiri, PhD

Institute Professor, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University

Maurizio Porfiri is an Institute Professor at New York University Tandon School of Engineering (Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Center for Urban Science and Progress, CUSP, and Civil and Urban Engineering). He is currently Director of CUSP and founding Director of the Urban Institute. He received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech; a “Laurea” in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Toulon. He conducts and supervises research on complex systems, with applications ranging from mechanics and robotics to urban science and behavioral biology
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Leigh Sheldon

Leigh Sheldon

Partner, Guidehouse

Leigh Sheldon is a Partner at Guidehouse and leads the AI and Data practice across the Communities, Energy, and Infrastructure (CEI) segment. She brings 16 years of federal, state and local, and commercial experience across the AI and Data lifecycle ranging from data science, AI implementation, data governance, and implementation of large scale data lakehouses.
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Carrie Smith

Carrie Smith LinkedIn

Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies

Carrie is known for her out of the box creative thinking, problem solving skills, being an advocate for customer success and driving sales to enable Cities and States to operate more efficiently. As a Breast Cancer Survivor, she never shy’s away from a challenge and focuses on the specific goals of the agencies to provide holistic solutions to prove Dell is the best Technology Partner in the business.  
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Rob Vasquez

Rob Vasquez

Senior Solutions Engineer, T-Mobile

Rob Vasquez is a Senior Solutions Engineer at T-Mobile with more than 18 years of industry experience focused on advancing technology innovation and digital transformation for government and public sector organizations. His expertise includes secure connectivity, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, and enterprise modernization.
As a trusted advisor to government leaders, Rob connects complex technology challenges with strategic priorities, helping organizations manage evolving risks, strengthen operational resilience, and build scalable foundations for the future.
Rob is known for aligning technical innovation with a strategic vision. His work helps government organizations adopt emerging capabilities, modernize critical systems, and achieve meaningful, mission-driven outcomes in an increasingly connected world.
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Dr. Scott Webber

Dr. Scott Webber

Director, IT Budget and Procurement, Department of Correction, New York City

Dr. Scott Webber is a public-sector technology and financial management leader with more than 20 years of New York City government experience. As Director of IT Procurement & Budget at the New York City Department of Correction, he oversees technology procurement, contracting, and financial planning supporting one of the nation's largest municipal correctional systems.
His responsibilities encompass multimillion-dollar technology operating budgets, long-term capital investments, and the acquisition of mission-critical systems supporting public safety, institutional operations, and government modernization.
Throughout his career, Dr. Webber has championed operational efficiency, strategic sourcing, fiscal accountability, and practical innovation. His work focuses on navigating the intersection of rapidly evolving technology, complex procurement regulations, and the operational demands of essential government services.
He believes government procurement must evolve to match the pace of technological change without sacrificing transparency, competition, fiscal responsibility, or the operational readiness that essential public services demand.
Dr. Webber holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), and Master of Public Health (MPH). He brings a multidisciplinary, practitioner-focused perspective to the challenge of helping government acquire and deploy technology more efficiently while maximizing value for taxpayers.
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Joe Zilka

Joe Zilka LinkedIn

SLED Engineering Management, Snowflake

Joe has been supporting data platforms, governance, and advanced analytics in the federal, state and local governments, and education across the United States since 2000. He has helped agencies understand and accelerate insight generation to modernize and drive business outcomes. Areas of focus have included cyber security, health and human services, social services, labor and workforce, child protection, and education. His latest work has been helping agencies understand and securely leverage Artificial Intelligence.
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Agenda

Thursday, December 10

12:45 pm Eastern

Registration

1:30 pm Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

1:45 pm Eastern

Best of New York City Awards Program

2:15 pm Eastern

Networking Break

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: NYSTEC

2:45 pm Eastern

Workshop: Workforce Re(AI)magined: Transforming Work with AI Augmentation

(Open to registered NYC public sector attendees only.)
The modern workforce is undergoing constant change driven by resourcing gaps, legacy infrastructure, and tight budgets. While AI momentum is high, organizations often struggle to close the gap between experimental AI investments and real, scaled workforce value. This highly interactive, hands-on workshop is designed to help organizational leaders move past the AI hype. Using real-world scenarios and advanced orchestration platforms (like KPMG Mystro), participants will learn how to deconstruct traditional roles, identify high-impact AI opportunities, and design a balanced, multi-agent ecosystem where humans and digital teammates collaborate productively.

Presenter: Iris Tesfagiorgis, M.A., Change Management and Workforce Transformation Consultant, KPMG

3:25 pm Eastern

General Session

4:05 pm Eastern

End of Day One

Friday, December 11

9:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

10:00 am Eastern

Day Two Welcome and Opening Remarks

Michael Garner, Chief Business Diversity Officer, City of New York

10:10 am Eastern

Keynote – Think Like a Futurist: Turning Trends into Opportunities

Leaders must embrace futures thinking to see signals and trends shaping our world, and to anticipate how we can transform and uncover new opportunities. This session helps you develop foresight to address the most common challenges facing the public sector: evolving constituent expectations, emerging tech, sustainability, misinformation, privacy, security, global megatrends, and domestic shifts in economies, workforces, and societal movements. Nikolas Badminton will guide you through futurist tools and techniques, teaching you to identify signals and trends, harness strategic foresight, and unlock resilience by shifting your perspective from what is to WHAT IF...

Nik Badminton, Chief Futurist and Hope Engineer

Sponsored by: Vanguard VGD

11:10 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: NYSTEC

11:40 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

(Technology, Data and Governance)

AI Gets Real: From Experiment to Everyday Government

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond pilots and into the everyday work of government. From helping employees navigate information to automating routine processes and improving how residents access services, agencies are beginning to see where AI delivers meaningful value—and where it does not. This session explores practical AI applications across New York City, the lessons agencies are learning along the way, and what it takes to move from an interesting experiment to a responsible, scalable solution.

Moderator: Scott Strickland, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Strategy and Governance, New York City Public Schools

Michael Deutsch, Vice President of Infrastructure and Operations, New York City Housing Authority

Suvadip Sana, Ph.D. Candidate, Cornell University; 2026 Siegel PiTech PhD Impact Fellow, NYC Council

Alex Chohlas-Wood, Assistant Professor of Computational Social Science, New York University

The City as a Digital Twin: Seeing New York City in New Ways

What if city leaders could better understand what is happening above ground, underground, and across neighborhoods through an increasingly dynamic digital view of New York? Advances in GIS, 3D mapping, digital twins, sensors, and GeoAI are creating powerful new possibilities for planning and managing the world's most complex city. This session explores how location intelligence can help agencies visualize infrastructure, anticipate needs, coordinate resources, and make better decisions about New York's future.

Moderator: Lee Ilan, Chief of Planning, Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation, New York City

Chen Feng, Institute Associate Professor, New York University

David Parish, Chief Operating Officer, Department of City Planning, New York City

Beyond Legacy: Building the Technology Foundation for What's Next

Government cannot build tomorrow's services on technology that can no longer keep pace with today's demands. But modernization isn't simply about replacing old systems—it requires difficult decisions about architecture, cloud, applications, integration, technical debt, and where limited resources can make the greatest difference. This session examines how New York City agencies are modernizing mission-critical environments while keeping essential services running and creating a more flexible foundation for whatever comes next.

Moderator: Lydia Payne Johnson, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Gabrielle Fisher, Modernization Director, New York State Department of Education

Leigh Sheldon, Partner, Guidehouse

Joe Zilka, SLED Engineering Management, Snowflake

Trust by Design: Governing AI and Data in an Intelligent City

As artificial intelligence and data become increasingly embedded in government operations and decision-making, establishing clear rules for their use is becoming just as important as the technology itself. How can agencies encourage innovation while maintaining transparency, protecting privacy, and ensuring accountability? This session explores how New York City agencies are approaching AI and data governance—from establishing practical guardrails and defining appropriate use to strengthening data stewardship and building public trust as emerging technologies become part of everyday government.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, eRepublic

Anusha Anantharaman, Chief Innovation Officer, Office of Pupil Transportation, New York City Public Schools

Amad Sheikh, PhD, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Delaware

12:25 pm Eastern

Grab and Go Snack Break and Networking in the Exhibit Area

1:05 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

(People, Risk and the Business of Government)

Ready for Anything: Managing Risk in an Increasingly Digital City

As government becomes more digital, connected, and dependent on technology, the risks facing agencies are evolving just as quickly. Cyber threats, third-party dependencies, emerging technologies, and unexpected disruptions can all challenge the delivery of essential public services. This session explores how New York City agencies are taking a more proactive approach to risk—strengthening cyber resilience, preparing for disruption, managing technology dependencies, and building the capabilities needed to keep government operating when the unexpected happens.

Moderator: Demond Waters, Chief Information Security Officer, New York City Public Schools

Xandree Norville, Chief Information Security Officer, New York City Housing Authority

The Workforce Ahead: Preparing People for the Next Era of Government

The technology entering government is changing not only the tools employees use, but the work itself. AI, automation, cloud platforms, and new digital operating models are reshaping skills, roles, and expectations across the public workforce. How can government prepare employees for jobs that are still evolving? This session examines reskilling, attracting and retaining technology talent, developing future-ready leaders, and creating a workforce that can adapt as quickly as the technology around it.

Jackie Bellando, Program Director, CUNY Tech Prep

Nitin Patel, Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, New York City

Digital Government for Everyone: Designing Services Without Leaving Anyone Behind

A digital service is only successful if the people it was created for can actually use it. As more government interactions move online, agencies must account for differences in connectivity, ability, language, digital literacy, devices, and trust. This session explores how accessibility, digital equity, and human-centered design can be built into services from the beginning—creating experiences that are simpler and more inclusive for every New Yorker.

Moderator: Arthur Jacobs, Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities, New York City

Amy Hurst, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Integrated Digital Media, New York University

Faster Than the Future: Rethinking How Government Buys Technology

Technology can transform in months while government acquisition can take considerably longer. That mismatch becomes especially challenging when agencies are purchasing rapidly evolving capabilities such as AI, cloud services, and emerging digital platforms. This session explores how procurement can become an enabler of innovation through smarter requirements, flexible contracting, pilots, outcome-based approaches, and stronger partnerships between technology, procurement, program, and vendor teams.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, Government Technology

Michael D’Ambrosio, Assistant Comptroller, Contracts and Procurement, Office of New York City Comptroller Mark Levine

Carrie Smith, Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist, Dell Technologies

Dr. Scott Webber, Director, IT Budget and Procurement, Department of Correction, New York City

1:50 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsor: NYSTEC

2:20 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

(Collaboration and What’s Next)

One City, Many Agencies: Breaking Down the Data and Technology Silos

New Yorkers don't experience government as separate departments—they simply expect the City to work. Delivering on that expectation increasingly depends on agencies being able to share information, connect systems, and collaborate across traditional boundaries. This session explores what it takes to create a more connected digital government, from data sharing and interoperability to common platforms and cross-agency partnerships that turn individual agency capabilities into better citywide outcomes.

Moderator: Zach Patton, Chief Editor, Content Studio, Government Technology

Razwan Mirza, Chief Information Officer, Department of Probation, New York City

What If NYC…? Turning Signals into the Next Big Government Innovation

What if the biggest opportunity for government is something we're only beginning to see? Building on the Forum's futurist keynote, this conversation challenges technology leaders to look beyond today's priorities and consider the signals shaping New York's next decade. From emerging technologies and changing workforce expectations to new models for delivering services, panelists will each identify a trend worth watching, explore the opportunity it could create, and answer one provocative question: What if New York City actually did it?

Preston Miller, Senior Consulting Director, Palo Alto Networks

Brittany Montgomery, PhD, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute

Maurizio Porfiri, PhD, Institute Professor, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University

Rob Vasquez, Senior Solutions Engineer, T-Mobile

3:05 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3:25 pm Eastern

General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government ‘The Eras Tour’: How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved – and What Comes Next

In 2001, “digital government” meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real time, AI driven resident services, “whole of state” cybersecurity, and cloud native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG), celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the “waves” of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation.

Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

4:05 pm Eastern

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

333 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 246-7000

Get Directions To
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

Made Possible by Our Corporate Sponsors

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: December 10 and 11, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

Contact Information

Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:

Lee Vang
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1407
E-mail: lvang@erepublic.com

Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!

Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

333 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 246-7000

Show Hotel & Parking

Room Block  

Room Rate: $339 per night, single or double.
Rate Cut-Off Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026.
To Make a Reservation:  
   Phone: 888-436-3759 and reference New York City Technology Forum 2025    
   Online: Group Reservation Link 
If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodations with the hotel directly or at a nearby hotel. 

Map and Directions 

Hotels near Brooklyn Bridge | New York Brooklyn Bridge 

Event Parking  

Self-parking: $60/night 
Valet parking: N/A  

SUVs are subject to additional charges. 

Parking fees subject to change without notice.