Las Vegas is built for spectacle, but for one week in June, it made space for something quieter yet just as powerful: connection. From June 23 to 27, nearly 50 members of Air Apps descended on the Luxor Hotel, not for a product launch or customer summit, but for something more intimate.
Set inside the angular black pyramid of the Luxor, the conference struck a balance between deep focus and light-hearted camaraderie. With staff flying in from Europe, North America, and Latin America, the physical gathering itself was a feat. The atmosphere was charged not just by the desert heat, but by the rare feeling of full presence, eye contact without a screen, and conversations without a lag.
Air Apps founders Filipe and Janina Ferreira shared: “The Air Conference came to life from a simple but powerful idea: to create intentional space for reflection, alignment, and connection. After the disruptions of COVID, we felt it was essential to bring everyone together to reconnect with our mission, values, and each other as people. Since then, it has become a recurring foundation for how we reset direction, reinforce our values, and stay connected across teams. It gives us space to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and strengthen trust.”
The choice of Las Vegas was not random. The U.S. is now Air Apps' largest market, and the timing coincided with the opening of its San Francisco Hub, a symbolic westward anchor for a company that's always been in motion. After Porto in 2022, Berlin in 2023, and Cancún in 2024, the 2025 edition of the Air Conference claimed the Southwest with both confidence and clarity.
A Clearer Vision Emerges from Shared Perspectives
Every year, the Air Conference serves as a mirror. Not just to assess what the company has built in the last 12 months, but to take a clear-eyed look at where it is going. Structured sessions across product, marketing, design, and technology were held during the mornings, while afternoons gave way to informal gatherings, one-on-ones, and shared meals that stretched long past sunset.
The week followed a thoughtful rhythm, blending moments of reflection, collaboration, and exploration. The team took time to revisit key milestones from the past 12 months, reflecting on what had been achieved, launched, and learned. Group activities encouraged fresh perspectives and teamwork, including problem-solving challenges and a clue-based exercise that brought out new dynamics within the group. The retreat also included time outdoors, with a kayaking trip on the Colorado River and a full-day visit to the Grand Canyon. These experiences offered both a change of pace and valuable opportunities to connect in a different setting.
As the event progressed, focus shifted to the future. Teams aligned on strategic goals for 2025 and 2026, building a shared direction across product, marketing, and design. Creative sessions gave individuals the chance to share their work styles and processes, leading to meaningful cross-functional insights. Evenings offered space for informal connection, including a Cirque du Soleil performance that sparked conversation and inspiration. The week concluded with a team dinner that brought everyone together, reinforcing a sense of alignment and renewed momentum for the months ahead.
A Space for Gratitude, Growth, and Grounded Truths
Despite the ever-present Vegas buzz just outside the doors, the energy inside the conference spaces was different, quiet, focused, and at times emotional. This was a company that knew itself, but was still daring to ask hard questions.
"One of the biggest highlights during the conference is spending time in person with our amazing team. We come from all corners of the world, each bringing a different perspective, background, and set of strengths. And that’s exactly what makes us successful,” shares Marsel Zaripov, Monetization Specialist at Air Apps.
There was no keynote bombast, no celebrity cameos. The stars were the people who had weathered product cycles, timezone coordination, and personal milestones, often in silence, often unseen. The Air Conference made room for gratitude. It marked individual growth, celebrated collective wins, and honored every member of the team.
Culture, Not Corporate
What sets the Air Conference apart is its resistance to typical corporate choreography. The event builds rituals that feel lived in. Whether that is through collaborative design challenges, impromptu karaoke nights, or long walks under neon skies, the event creates the conditions for something rare in tech: genuine belonging.
The conference featured a rich mix of professional development and cultural connection. Strategic planning sessions were balanced with creative workshops that encouraged out-of-the-box thinking. Knowledge-sharing sessions enabled team members to present their expertise and learn from colleagues across various disciplines. The blend of structured learning and informal interaction created an environment where both professional growth and personal relationships could flourish.
“The conference was a great chance to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new team members. It offered plenty of opportunities to share knowledge and form new friendships. The shared experiences and memories brought us closer together, making it a truly enjoyable and meaningful event,” says Zah Chahil, Air App’s Creative Designer.
The Road That Leads On
The Air Conference does not end when the lights in Vegas dim. Conversations that started over coffee or conference slides carry on often more clearly once the team is back behind their screens. Strategies sharpen, trust deepens, and Slack threads shift in tone. There is a shared rhythm that echoes long after the jet lag fades.
The impact of the week's intensive collaboration continued to resonate as team members returned to their distributed work environments. The connections forged through face-to-face interaction and shared experiences created a foundation for more effective remote collaboration. The insights gained from workshops and strategic sessions provided clear direction for the company's continued growth and innovation.
Air Apps has always been built for a global audience, but its strength lies in the way it honors its global crew. From Porto to Las Vegas, each edition of the Air Conference marks a moment, a checkpoint on a much longer journey. Each city, each year, becomes a kind of archive, a tangible record of who they were and what they dared to build next.
“This [Air Conference] is always one of the most anticipated moments of the year for me! It’s amazing to catch up and connect with everyone, hanging out together, sharing knowledge, and creating fun memories. This year had a special flavor, with all the changes happening at Air Apps. It felt really inspirational to be part of it all. It made me feel like we’re pioneers, all in the same boat, setting the course for this exciting new stage of Air Apps. Looking forward to what's coming next,” André Oliveira, People Operations Manager, anticipates.
In 2026, the conference will once again find a new home. But wherever it lands, the same principles will carry through: celebration, reflection, and the bold simplicity of being together on purpose. It will tell a story that words can only begin. But for those who were there, the story is already written in laughter shared, questions asked, and bonds formed across oceans and ideas.