After a day of talking shop in Baha Mar’s conference center, executives attending Future City cut loose, hitting the beach for dinner and cocktails al fresco.
Over cocktails and the three-course meal, conversations at the dozens of tables grew more boisterous as guests shared tales of humorous happenings and unlikely triumphs in their respective C-suites.
One story in particular, relayed by a prolific New York-based architect and an executive at a proptech startup to their tablemates, seemed to embody the spirit of Future City, The Real Deal’s annual executive retreat in the Bahamas.
The event brought together technology companies and startups focused on disruption in real estate with some of the largest investors, operators, owners and developers in New York City and Miami to talk about the challenges and opportunities in the industry.
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Execs dish on proptech on Day 2 of Future City
The architect had just arrived in his room at the five-star Baha Mar hotel, which has switched its key card system over to bracelets to replace the need for guests to carry room keys or wallets. He decided to hop in the shower to freshen up before the conference.
Meanwhile, the proptech executive was checking in and heading up to his room. He appreciated the fact that the hotel had embraced the new technology.
He arrived at his hotel room, waved his bracelet in front of the door’s sensor and upon opening the door came face-to-face with a naked man, the architect, who had just emerged from the shower.
The proptech executive backed out of the room and the hotel quickly reprogrammed his bracelet, as the architect, perturbed yet entertained, continued with his day.
It wasn’t until Future City kicked off hours later that the two men came face-to-face again, this time in full business attire. Upon recognizing one another, they realized they had the mother of all party stories to share with their peers.
All panels and gatherings at the event were off the record, but both the architect and executive wanted to anonymously share their encounter with TRD.
The story’s irony wasn’t lost on their audience, which included a major technology company and top attorney, and it garnered hearty laughs all around.
Swipe above to see highlights from the final night of Future City 2020.
Photos by Evan Gutierrez
Write to Erin Hudson at ekh@therealdeal.com