PTC Hawaii, fourth time around

This year was my fourth time attending PTC in Hawaii, and each visit seems to bring a slightly different perspective. It’s not something I ever take for granted. It’s a big commitment of time, money and energy, and it’s a long way from home, but it remains one of the few points in the year where the digital infrastructure industry genuinely comes together in one place.
 
What stood out again this year was just how much investment continues to flow into the sector. How much optimism there is. And what was clearly palpable at PTC 26 was just how many businesses were there trying to understand the market more and gain a foot-hold within it. Businesses across the entire eco-system were there.
 
The energy within the market brings excitement but it also brings challenges that feel far more immediate now than they did even a couple of years ago. Power was a constant topic in conversations throughout the week, particularly in major markets where access and timelines are now shaping what is realistically achievable. These aren’t abstract risks anymore. They are real constraints that developers, investors and operators are actively working around.
 
Funding discussions were equally interesting, especially around neo-cloud and alternative compute platforms. There is still clear appetite, but the tone felt more considered and funding solutions seem to be evolving, they are becoming more collaborative to ensure risk is mitigated.
 
Despite all the talk of power and capital, the subject that came up most consistently was people. How businesses attract the right talent, how they keep good people engaged, and how leadership teams adapt as organisations grow. These conversations felt particularly open this year. There was a shared understanding that even with the right assets and funding in place, progress slows quickly if the people side of the business isn’t working properly.
 
The energy at PTC this year was on another level. It genuinely felt three or four times busier than in recent years. Schedules were packed from early morning through to late evening, and there was a constant buzz across the venues. We typically had five or six meetings lined up each day, but some of the most valuable moments came from unplanned conversations. A quick coffee, a chance introduction, or a few minutes between meetings often led to the most honest and useful exchanges.
 
Having been a few times now, I feel more comfortable with the rhythm of the week. You learn when to slow down, when to listen, and when to leave space rather than filling every slot in the diary. That familiarity makes a real difference. It allows you to step back slightly and connect the dots across conversations rather than treating each meeting as a standalone interaction.
 
Being in Hawaii for PTC for the fourth time also brings perspective. I know how fortunate we are to be there, and I’m very aware of the investment it represents for our business. But showing up consistently matters. Clients notice it. Relationships deepen over time. Being present year after year builds trust in a way that can’t be replicated remotely.
 
One thing that still surprises me is how few recruiters attend PTC. This is an industry full of firms that describe themselves as specialists, yet many aren’t present at its biggest global gathering. It’s not a judgement, but it does reinforce my belief that proximity matters. Being in the room, hearing concerns first-hand and understanding nuance gives context that’s hard to gain from a distance.
 
Looking ahead, the conversations at PTC suggest an industry that continues to grow but is becoming more thoughtful about how it does so. Investment remains strong, but execution feels increasingly important. 
 
For me, attending again reinforced the value of being present. Those present all said that they were extremely busy back at their respective HQ’s. Spending a week in Hawaii in such times has to be carefully considered for sure. There’s always a sense that there;s always something more productive to be doing. A hint of guild maybe. However, two things here stand out for me. The first being we have critical mass and a great team continuing the great work back in the office. The second being there will be nothing to rival building trust and relationships like in-person meetings. 
 
It's why we were there, it’s why our customers were there and it’s why we will be there again in 2027.