Why Senior Living CXOs Are Choosing Small Retreats Over Large Conferences

You've sat through another keynote about 'digital transformation' while quietly answering your emails. Sound familiar?

Most conferences prioritize attendance numbers over actual outcomes. Packed halls, hundreds of vendors, dozens of sessions rehashing the same predictable topics—and you leave feeling more overwhelmed than when you arrived.

We built SLIF because we were tired of both the crowds and the predictable content.

This October, just 100 senior living leaders will gather at the Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach.  Not for another jam-packed agenda filled with surface-level panels, but for an intimate retreat focused on provocative, forward-thinking conversations—with actual time to process and strategize alongside peers who are wrestling with the same challenges you face every day.

The Right People, The Right Conversations

What makes SLIF different isn't just the size—it's who's in the room and what they're willing to share. Instead of the usual circuit of industry insiders rehashing familiar strategies, we’ve built a lineup designed to challenge assumptions.

You'll hear how Disney's Storyliving team is rethinking what community really means through design and storytelling, while Rodney Mullen, the godfather of modern skateboarding, will challenge how you think about failure, adaptation, and reinvention as core leadership skills. Joel Theisen and Dr. Bill Thomas from Lifespark will share their innovative, resident-centric approach to reinventing care through the integration of housing, health, and wellness. Kevin McCoy, CEO of Levande, one of Australia's largest senior housing operators, will share how they're rebranding retirement living—and the strategic thinking behind their approach. And best-selling author Ken Dychtwald will unpack what the longevity boom really means for leaders making decisions today.

Because SLIF is intentionally small, you won't just hear these thought leaders from the stage. You'll debate their ideas over breakfast, challenge their assumptions on the beach, or continue the conversation on the catamaran. These aren't sanitized keynotes—they're real exchanges with people who are willing to share what's actually working and what's failing.

Connections Done Right

Forget expo floors and ambush pitches. At SLIF, you’ll take part in pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with partners you actually want to explore. Every conversation is chosen by you, focused, and time-boxed so it respects your priorities.

No wandering through a sea of booths, no sitting through generic presentations that don’t apply to your challenges. Just targeted discussions that give you a clear view of the solutions worth considering—and the space to decide if they fit your strategy.

And because everyone across the table is senior leadership, the discussions happen at the right level—strategic, not surface.

Content That Goes There

The sessions tackle what's actually keeping you up at night, with speakers who aren't afraid to tell you the uncomfortable truths. AI implementation strategies that actually work—and the costly mistakes everyone's making. Value-based care models that survive contact with reality. What designing for healthspan really means. Why the middle market opportunity might not be what everyone thinks.

But here's the thing—the session ends, and the conversation keeps going. Over drinks. During our Halloween Beach Bash (with a live performance by the nation's top Queen tribute act). Walking along the beach at sunrise. That's where the real breakthroughs happen.

Why This Works

Here's what sets SLIF apart: there's no cost for senior living CXOs to attend. We cover accommodations, meals, and experiences—so you can focus entirely on why you came. No logistics to manage, no wondering where to grab meals between sessions. Just space to think, connect, and plan what's next.

The group is intimate enough that you'll actually remember people's names by Tuesday. Senior leadership only, so everyone's wrestling with the same kinds of decisions you are. And it's invite-only because the wrong mix kills the magic—we're not trying to fill seats, we're trying to create an environment where you can step back from fighting fires and think strategically about the next decade.

The Bottom Line

SLIF isn't for everyone. It's for leaders who want to pause, think deeply, and connect with peers who are building the future of senior living. If you're looking for another massive conference where everyone is competing for attention, this isn't it.

But if you want three days of provocative conversations that challenge how you think about what's next—with people who understand the weight of the decisions you're making—then this is exactly where you need to be.

October 26–28, Paséa Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach.
One hundred leaders. Limited Spots Remain.

👉 Request your invite here.