Like every June, Apartmentalize rolls around marking the 1/2 way point of the year that has already flown by, and this year it was Vegas style (along with every other conference this year)…a whirlwind of handshakes, coffee-fueled meetings, and Google Maps stress-testing for the best walking route as you dash from one hotel to the next. It’s only .25 miles, but you mysteriously have to walk 2 miles to get there??? It defies reality, lol.
I rolled into Vegas early Monday afternoon, full of the usual anticipation but with a new strategy in tow. For the first time ever, I ditched the back-to-back-to-back schedule. No marathon of 30+ meetings. Instead, I came in with a handful of intentional meetings on the calendar and a mindset that left room for the unexpected between those meetings.
And let me tell you, it was amazing.
By freeing up my schedule, I finally had space to breathe…and more importantly, to listen. I had genuine, unhurried conversations with people I might have otherwise sprinted past on the way to my next meeting slot that I’m already 5 minutes late for. Whether it was reconnecting with longtime friends or catching up with new faces who are shaping the future of multifamily, the quality of the conversations far outweighed the quantity.
That said, the layout this year made things… interesting. The conference was more spread out than I ever remember in Vegas, spanning multiple hotels surrounding the convention center. It felt less like a single, unified event and more like several overlapping ones happening in parallel. There was no real “gathering point” where everyone congregated, and that made spontaneous collisions…those magic hallway moments—a bit tougher to come by unless you were at the convention center.
Still, this shift in approach reminded me of something I often preach but rarely practice at these types of events: sometimes less really is more. Fewer meetings gave me more perspective. A looser schedule gave me stronger connections. And slowing down helped me actually enjoy the experience—not just survive it.
So, here’s to being intentional. Here’s to conversations that aren’t just strategic—but meaningful. And here’s to maybe making this slower, more purposeful approach the new normal… even in a city built on excess.
Until next year, Apartmentalize. I’m leaving with less exhaustion, more inspiration, and excitement to expand this tactic next year. See you in New Orleans!