Altitude 2026 brought together senior leaders from across student housing and BTR to focus on a single, practical question: how AI is shaping the future of the Living sector, today, not in theory.
With around 60 operators, owners and partners in attendance, the Summit centred on real-world application, operational readiness, and the infrastructure required to turn ambition into impact.
From experimentation to execution
Across the Summit sessions, the conversation quickly moved beyond the hype. Key themes emerged:
- AI as an operational capability, not a substitute for expertise, with strong emphasis on combining automation with human judgement.
- The environmental footprint of AI, and the role of smarter design and efficiency in reducing long-term impact.
- Portfolio-scale use cases, including faster pricing updates and smoother building onboarding, as data volumes increase and synthesis becomes a cost bottleneck.Â
- Living as a Service, examined pragmatically through ROI, organisational culture, and long-term resilience.
- The expectations of Gen-AI-native renters, spanning personalisation, privacy, wellbeing, connectivity and smart amenities.
- Together, these discussions pointed to a sector moving from experimentation into execution, where infrastructure, data quality and integration are now critical enablers.
Together, these discussions pointed to a sector moving from experimentation into execution, where infrastructure, data quality and integration are now critical enablers.
The value of space beyond the agenda
Altitude has always been about bringing people together, creating a space for connection as well as structured discussion. Time on the slopes, visits to Aiguille du Midi and shared dinners created opportunities for deeper conversations, sharing ideas and peer exchange.
These informal moments often surface the most honest insights, and shape how ideas translate into action once people return to their portfolios.
Take a look at the highlights from the 2026 event below.
Leaving a positive footprint
This year, ASK4 partnered with FOEHN (Fund for the Environment and High Nature), supporting initiatives to protect the natural environment around Chamonix. Alongside sustainability discussions during the Summit, this reflected a deliberate intent to contribute positively to the places we visit.
Looking ahead
Planning for Altitude 2027 is already underway, which will mark the fifth year of the event. If you are a senior leader in student housing or BTR and would like to register your interest, complete the form below.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors who made Altitude 2026 possible: GSL, Lavanda, Evolution Sustainability Group, Utopi, Huawei and Edgecore.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Natalie Williamson at natalie.williamson@ask4.com for more information.
