19 Miles of Meaning at ICSC

Tim Dillon on the move at ICSC 2025

According to my Apple Watch, I logged 19 miles in just two and a half days last week at my first ICSC conference in Las Vegas. Sure, it felt like marathon training. But the real test? Being present. Showing up. And connecting—with customers, partners, and everyone building the future of retail together. ICSC is a whirlwind. It’s where real estate pros, dealmakers, and innovators gather under one roof. But what really stuck with me wasn’t the size of the show. It was the quality of the conversations.

Partnership Over Product

As I walked the show floor and sat through meetings, one thing kept coming up. Our value isn’t just in what we build—it’s in who we are to our clients. The trust. The relationship. That’s what matters.

We felt that deeply at the MAXI awards on Sunday night. We were lucky to sit with our incredible partners at Imaginuity, where we celebrated our new unified wayfinding partnership. The shout-out we got? Pure joy.

Even better, we got to cheer on our customers—especially Tanger, who took home the “Best of the Best” award for their hurricane relief efforts in Asheville. Also our friend Ashlyn Booth, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Marketing at JLL Retail was a nominee for her amazing work with shopping centers around the country. What a proud moment.

The Real Differentiator

Let’s be honest. You can have the slickest tech and smartest software. But without trust, you’re just another vendor in the noise. The best conversations weren’t about specs. They were about stories. Real challenges. Real ideas. Real moments that shape a business. People buy from people they trust. And trust? That’s built over time. In hallway chats, over lunch, and in the follow-ups that come long after the handshake.

Every Step Mattered

Those 19 miles weren’t just footwork. They were moments—meeting longtime clients, greeting new faces, hearing bold ideas from fellow innovators. I didn’t just leave with sore feet. I left inspired. Recharged. Grateful.

One Final Thought

In a business ruled by ROI and foot traffic, it’s still the human connection that moves us forward. If we keep showing up—with empathy, clarity, and care—we’ll stay on the right path. Even if it’s another 19 miles next year.