Parent/Chaperone Guide to Global Youth Investment Summit

Download Parent/Chaperone Guide

Global Youth Investment Summit

MAY 27-29, 2026

New York City, NY

 

We are thrilled to have your student(s) joining us for our 

2026 YIS Global Youth Investment Summit. The Summit will include meaningful workshops and amazing speakers, panels, the case study competition, and three rounds of the stock pitch competition. 

This information will aim to answer any questions you may have before attending. If there is anything you still have questions about, please feel free to email Maria Miles (YIS Event Coordinator) at mariamiles@yis.org.

Date: May 27-29, 2026

Location: NYC (details in schedule section)

Travel: You are responsible for all transportation arrangements to and from GYIS. The closest airports are JFK and LaGuardia in NYC and Newark in NJ. You will need to build in travel time from venue locations to the airports. 

There are very limited parking spaces available on Roosevelt Island (really only a handful of spaces) so driving onto Roosevelt Island is NOT recommended. If you must drive, we recommend parking on the Manhattan or Queens side and then taking public transportation over to Roosevelt Island.

CLICK HERE FOR HOW TO GET TO CORNELL TECH

Hotels: There are many, many hotel options in NYC. Be sure to consider distance from the venue and travel times. Accessing Roosevelt Island and Cornell Tech is possible from Manhattan and Queens by tram and subway. Driving is not recommended.

We have secured a hotel block at THE WESTIN NEW YORK GRAND CENTRAL 212 EAST 42ND STREET. If you are interested in a discounted rate, book a room using THIS link.

On Roosevelt Island:

Graduate New York Hotel (on Cornell Tech campus, restaurant in lobby)

RECENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED. If it reopens in time for GYIS, we will update.

 

On the Manhattan side of NYC, options include:

Westin Grand Central

Element New York Times Square West

Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East

Hilton Garden Inn New York/Manhattan-Midtown East

Hampton Inn Manhattan Grand Central 

Pod 51 (options for bunkbeds)

 

On the Queens side, options include:

TownePlace Suites by Marriott New York Long Island City/Manhattan View

Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel

Safety:

Parents/ Chaperones: We appreciate all that parents/guardians and chaperones do to support YIS students. We could not hold this amazing event without you! It is extremely important to remember that you are responsible for the supervision and safety of your students when traveling to and from the event and anytime they are signed out of the event. When they are signed into each day’s events, you will not be required to remain onsite to supervise. We will need you to be on time for both drop off and especially pick up. If you do not remain on site, we do ask that you stay relatively close and be available by phone should a need arise to contact you.

New York City is a vibrant and exciting city, but it can also be overwhelming and like all big cities, even dangerous, especially for high school students. As an adult chaperone, it is your responsibility to keep your students safe and ensure that they have a positive experience. Here are some tips:

Plan ahead. Before you leave, research the areas you will be visiting and create a detailed itinerary. This includes identifying safe routes to and from your hotel and activities.

Be aware of your surroundings. Once you are in NYC, be vigilant and pay attention to your surroundings at all times. Avoid walking alone at night, especially in unfamiliar areas. If you see something suspicious, trust your gut and report it to the police.

Keep your students together. At all times, make sure that your students are within sight and earshot. This is especially important in crowded areas, such as the subway or Times Square.

Set clear expectations. Before your trip, talk to your students about the importance of staying safe and following the rules. Be sure to discuss the consequences if instructions are not followed.

Be prepared to handle emergencies. In the event of an emergency, know what to do and who to contact. Have a list of emergency contact information for yourself, your students, and their parents. 

Additional tips:

Use public transportation. The subway, tram, and buses are safe and efficient ways to get around NYC. However, be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to avoid pickpocketing.

Be mindful of your belongings. Don’t leave your bags or personal belongings unattended, even for a few minutes. Keep your valuables, such as wallets and phones close to your body.

Be respectful of others. New York City is a diverse city with people from all over the world. Be respectful of other people’s cultures and customs.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your students have a safe and enjoyable experience in New York City.

Schedule:

*Please note that the Summit is student-focused, and space at the venue is limited. We will have an overflow room for parents/chaperones to view live streams of events that are available to watch. Due to space constraints, it is not possible for anyone other than judges and competitors to be in the rooms for the first 2 rounds of the stock pitch. The final round will be open to all students, and parents and chaperones may watch from the overflow auditorium.

There is a cafe on Cornell Tech campus with WIFI. There are also off-site restaurants, museums, and many things to do/see. Thanks for your support!

Students will select individual sessions to attend through the Sched app. Below is a sample schedule, with drop-off and pick up times being the most important times to note.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026:

Optional site visits at various locations

  • Locations and times TBD
  • These are optional, but highly anticipated and valuable experiences. Past sites include Bloomberg headquarters, Goldman Sachs headquarters and NASDAQ.
  • Those who register for GYIS by February 1 will get priority access. Space is limited and attendance is NOT guaranteed by registering.
  • Only students are able to attend these visits. Parents and chaperones need to arrange drop off and pick up, but they are not able to join these visits due to limited capacity.

Thursday, May 28, 2026:

Cornell Tech, 2 W Loop Rd., Cornell Tech, Roosevelt Island 

  • 7:00am-8:15am: Students check in at Verizon building at Cornell Tech
  • 8:30am: Welcome and opening speaker
  • 9:30am: 
    • Student Workshops
    • Stock Pitch Round 1
    • Panels
  • 11am-1pm: Lunch breaks (either 11-12 or 12-1, depending on your schedule)
  • 1pm: 
    • Stock Pitch Round 1 (cont.)
    • Panel
    • Networking Session
  • 3:30pm: YIS Alumni Panel; Round up meeting
  • 4:30pm: Parents/Chaperones return to pick up students 

Friday, May 29, 2026:

Cornell Tech, 2 W Loop Rd., Cornell Tech, Roosevelt Island 

  • 8:30am: Welcome and Intro for the day 
    • Stock pitch Round 2 teams announced
  • 9:00am: 
    • Case study competition
    • Stock Pitch Round 2
    • Panels
  • 11am-1pm: Lunch breaks (either 11-12 or 12-1, depending on your schedule)
  • 1:00: Case study finals round (Parents/Chaperones invited to watch)
  • 2:30pm: Final Session (Parents/Chaperones invited to watch)
    • Awards
    • Stock Pitch Final Round
    • Keynote Speaker
  • 5pm: Parents/Chaperones return to pick up students

Map of Roosevelt Island with Cornell Tech buildings marked available here