I'm interested in going but I've already allocated most of my conference budget for 2024 so if someone is going and you have a 2nd (free) ticket you're not going to use, I'd love to have it.  

Attend real estate conferences, join local investment groups, and participate in online forums to connect with like-minded individuals.

But if you're considering major real estate transactions in the near future and narrowed down your search to a couple of the top-notch experts, and those experts are somehow not available for a phone/video conference (I would not consider those, if it was me) - then maybe flying out to meet them passes the test.

Go figure with their current political leadership.

My wife and I are planning out our year and would like to get feedback on what conferences others plan to attend.

I may have time to network/socialize during the conference if there is interest.  

Listen to podcasts, go to conferences, find an attorney who does syndications etc. 

Through this I had leadership training and better still real world experience on how to run a team, I feel people under me like working for me and I am very strong at coaching/teaching (forward movement for all).

At industry conferences borrowers bemoan the fact that not only are rates higher, but spreads have increased as well, putting continued pressure on interest rates up and down the debt capital stack.Cap rate forecasts have been inching higher.

I brought it up to their leadership team, and I had answers back promptly.