The CIO Initiative®
Summit Information

CIO Initiative Summit
Philadelphia 2026

Everything you need to know before you arrive. Travel details, frequently asked questions, and what to expect from the experience.

Date
September 23-24, 2026
Venue
The Notary Hotel
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Registration
$900 includes 2 hotel nights
Format
1.5 days, peer-led
Getting Here

Travel information.

The Notary Hotel is located in Center City Philadelphia, easily accessible by air, rail, and car. Your two hotel nights are included with your registration.

The Notary Hotel
Our summit venue and host hotel. Check-in is Wednesday, September 23. Check-out is Friday, September 25. Both nights are included with your registration.
21 N Juniper Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
View on Marriott.com
Flying In
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the closest airport, approximately 20 minutes from the hotel by taxi or rideshare.

Newark Liberty (EWR) and New York JFK are alternatives for those with connecting flights, approximately 90 minutes by car.

Rideshare from PHL to The Notary Hotel typically runs $25-$40 depending on traffic.
Arriving by Train
30th Street Station is Philadelphia’s main Amtrak hub, approximately 10 minutes from The Notary Hotel by taxi or rideshare.

Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Acela services connect Philadelphia directly to New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and other Northeast cities. The hotel is also convenient to City Hall Station on SEPTA.
Driving and Parking
The Notary Hotel offers valet parking. Nearby self-park garages include ABM Parking at 1515 Arch Street and Parkway Garage at 1420 Arch Street, both within a short walk.

Philadelphia is accessible from I-76, I-95, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Allow extra time during peak hours on weekday afternoons.
Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions, honest answers.

What is the dress code?
Business casual is the standard. We recommend comfortable, professional attire. There is no need for a suit or formal wear. The Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening follows the same standard.
Why do I have to pay if I am speaking?
At the CIO Initiative Summit, everyone speaks. There is no distinction between speakers and attendees. Every participant contributes to the dialogue, whether on a panel, in a roundtable, or through facilitated discussion. The registration fee covers your participation, two hotel nights, and all meals. Our partners participate as equals in the room, not as vendors selling from the floor, which keeps the conversation honest and peer-led.
What does the $900 registration include?
Your registration includes full summit access, two hotel nights at The Notary Hotel (check-in Wednesday, check-out Friday), all meals including the Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening and the Thursday dinner, and all summit materials. There are no hidden fees or add-ons.
Who else will be in the room?
Attendance is limited to senior technology executives, primarily CIOs and technology leaders from organizations of all sizes and sectors. Every attendee is vetted. You will not encounter vendor sales representatives or sponsor personnel in the sessions.
Can I send a colleague in my place?
Registrations are personal and non-transferable without prior approval. If your plans change, please contact us as early as possible. We will do our best to accommodate a qualified substitute from your organization, subject to approval.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made 30 or more days before the event are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable. Because the hotel room and meals are reserved and charged regardless of attendance, we are unable to apply a credit toward future events. Please contact us as early as possible if your plans change.
Are there any vendor presentations?
No traditional vendor presentations. Our partners are invited to contribute to a panel discussion as peers and equals, but there are no sponsored keynotes, exhibit floors, or sales presentations at any point during the summit.
How is the agenda structured?
The agenda combines peer-led panel discussions, facilitated roundtables, and open dialogue sessions, all focused on the challenges technology executives are navigating now. Topics are shaped by participant input before the summit begins. The full agenda is available on the Summits page.
What Attendees Say
“CIO Initiative Summits provide a unique opportunity to network with other IT executives and learn from their experiences. The Summits are small enough to promote direct personal interaction with other IT leaders and yet broad enough to encompass a wide variety of views and opinions. Unlike many other meetings, I’ve obtained information and advice at past Summits that is substantive, actionable and directly applicable to the challenges facing my IT team.”
Mark Settle
Author and CIO
“The CIO Summit provides an intimate platform to share successes and failures as well as current initiatives with a peer group that covered many industries outside of the Silicon Valley bubble. The format was a great way for the attendees to both present and participate in the discussions around each of the poignant areas of focus. CXO attendees were honest and open, we forged friendships outside of our common role related challenges.”
Aaron Gette
CIO, EoS Fitness
“Unlike a typical conference, this was an intimate gathering of technology executives whose primary objective was to advance the role of the CIO as a business leader. Everyone in attendance was there to share insights with one another in what could be best described as a servant leadership think-tank.”
John Doherty
CIO, Columbia Forest Products
“Out of all the opportunities to plug in and discuss IT industry trends, I have made it a priority to attend this event for past few years. The Executive Initiative has done a great job gathering CIOs, authors, and industry leaders to share knowledge and insights. Logistics have always been first class and served as a great opportunity to informally network and build meaningful relationships.”
Steve Holt
Former CIO, Materion Corporation
“I find the CIO Initiative Summit to be a great, engaging forum for being able to interact with true experts and leaders in the industry and both learn and share ideas, experiences and improvement opportunities. The focused, more intimate setting and gathering enables tremendous interaction and synergies that is hard to get from other forums.”
Walter Yosafat
Global CIO

Ready to secure your place?

Attendance is limited. $900 per person includes 1.5 days of peer dialogue, two hotel nights, and all meals.

Register Now: $900