SailPoint’s Navigate 2025 an Austin Success Story
A global cybersecurity company successfully hosted one of its major conferences in Austin without the use of the Austin Convention Center. SailPoint Technologies’ campus-style Navigate 2025 conference, which took place Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, featured more than 175 sessions and 100 speakers over four days at two main venues: the Fairmont Austin and Austin Marriott Downtown. Cybersecurity professionals attended master classes, networking events, Expo Hall showcases and keynote addresses — all within a five-minute walk along West Cesar Chavez Street that separates the two hotels.
Campus-Style Model
With the Austin Convention Center closed until 2029 for its $1.6 billion expansion and redevelopment, meeting planners are leaning in to the campus-style event concept in collaboration with the city’s hotels, venues and vendors to meet their conference needs.
Navigate’s organizers worked with the Visit Austin team and local partners to capitalize on Austin’s compact, walkable Downtown, creating a seamless, high-impact conference experience. It was a plus that attendees — ranging from C-level executives to developers, engineers and administrators from industries such as financial services, healthcare, higher education and manufacturing — were close to exciting shops, restaurants and entertainment options.
Visit Austin’s Christina Ogle, Senior Destination Services Manager, offered planning and logistics support to the SailPoint team. She acted as a liaison between the City of Austin and local businesses to ensure a cohesive and memorable event across the venues.
“A large part of my work involves identifying and coordinating with local partners that bring the Austin energy to life — whether that’s arranging activations like a snow cone trailer, working with our Music Office to provide live music, screen printing or other unique entertainment,” Ogle said. “These collaborations showcase the creativity and vibrancy of Austin’s festival culture while enhancing the overall attendee experience.”
SailPoint Technologies Navigate 2025. Credit to Arts + Labor.
Venue & Program Highlights
With Navigate 2025’s agenda of tailored sessions, breakouts, interactive opportunities and demonstrations, the conference aimed to equip attendees with tools to reimagine identity security for future industry challenges. Those attending could peruse the online agenda and design their own schedule to match their interests. The hotels alternated morning and afternoon hosting duties, so attendees could stay at one venue for several keynotes, breakouts, master classes, exhibitions and social events, then make their way to the other hotel.
For example, on opening day afternoon teams competed in the Navigate Hackathon challenge in the Waller Ballroom at the Austin Marriott Downtown. Afterward, they walked to the Fairmont Austin for either an evening welcome reception or learning sessions in the Expo Hall.
On other days, the Fairmont’s breakout rooms — Marigold, Iris, Poppy, Indigo and Lantana — were the places to be for expert speakers and peer discussions, with themes such as Mastering Lifecycle Events. Swapping hosting responsibilities, the Marriott sessions featured The Future of Identity Intelligence in the Waterloo Ballroom, while numerous other topics were discussed in the Waller Ballroom and smaller breakout rooms.
As conference participants walked between the hotels, the Downtown Austin Alliance provided extra Downtown Ambassadors to help guide attendees to and from the venues. The red-shirted Ambassadors are on duty from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to help beautify Downtown and offer a safety presence.
SailPoint Technologies Navigate 2025. Credit to Arts + Labor.
Collaborating with Visit Austin & Venues
Long before attendees arrived in the city, Visit Austin’s Ogle worked to help facilitate the campus layout, coordinate logistics and align hotel teams for a cohesive Navigate 2025 experience.
“I provided the SailPoint team with a variety of promotional resources to get attendees excited about Austin and boost engagement and registration,” Ogle said. “From destination imagery and local storytelling to partner highlights and recommendations for dining and local experiences, these materials helped spark interest and build anticipation for the event — especially as their conference continues to grow year after year.”
She offered suggestions for other planners aiming for a similar model, especially focusing on collaboration, local flavor and early planning.
“Work closely with city departments to secure permits, branding opportunities and clear directionals for campus-style events,” she said. “Bring local businesses into the mix to highlight the city’s authentic personality and create experiences that really stand out — this also helps boost registration. Start the planning early and involve everyone from the beginning so all partners can see the big picture and feel the impact of their contributions.”
For most teams I connect with, the excitement isn’t just about the venue — it’s all about Austin. With walkable entertainment districts, unique venues and beautiful scenery just steps from major hotels, the city offers so much for campus-style events.
Christina Ogle
Visit Austin