S.
Dont get offended – I am just trying to justify a big expense in though times like the ones now.
I am not offended at all. We welcome your feedback and we appreciate it. You can’t imagine how difficult it is to get constructive criticism. It’s valuable and we try and do our best to “take requests” 
and to do what we can to fulfill them.
Your account of $1,500 for 3 days in Amsterdam would not even touch it. In May I will be shocked if you find a decent hotel for less than 200 euros a night (one bed),
I honestly belive that my budgeting makes sense. I frequent Amsterdam and would be happy to send you some more info on your hotel options.
Your company has provided very good speakers for other types of affiliate conventions, as far as I see, even “Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy (Chairman, House Committee on Corporations for the Rhode Island House of Representatives)” for your pharmaceutical conference for example. And yet, you have failed to do so for our industry.
Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to get influential or controversial speakers to commit to or even to consider to speak, especially those who are in government positions and this was difficult even before the new legislation. You can imagine then, I’m sure, how much harder it became for us to find law makers and decision makers after October 13. Those who were weary before were the ones who could have possibly been persuaded. Now it’s much harder. We do have some politicians on our side though just FYI and we did have a state representative from North Dakota speak at our Poker Expo in Costa Rica in December. He is a strong voice in legislating and legalizing online poker rooms in his state. We work really hard to get the top dogs to come and speak to our attendees. We do this in part because we have a big voice in this industry and also because we believe in it and want to succeed and want you to succeed as well. Believe me when I tell you that everyday we are contacting the big dogs for this event but in the end it is only they who make the ultimate decision to come. After all, by participating, they publicly acknowledge their support of this industry. Unfortunately, in these times, this is a very risky move. Unfortunate but understandable.
As far as the other sessions and topics, I can promise you a line up of the best of the best in their fields.
Also, I see only one company which provides sports betting, and it’s a well known fact that in Europe sports betting is 10 times more popular form of gambling than casinos and poker rooms…
We have many sports betting companies that will be in attendance at this event. As a matter of fact the 3 biggest UK sports books are exhibiting and have taken 3 of the major sponsorships. With William Hill as a Bronze sponsor and Ladbrokes and Victor Chandler as the 2 Gold sponsors.
You have to understand that times are really, really tough right now, and you have to work much harder than usual to bring people to one of the most expensive cities in the world
We do understand that times are tough right now…we feel it too and we are working 5x harder than before, just like everyone else to pull through this. I have to say that the one thing I don’t agree with you about is that Amsterdam is an expensive city. It’s really not and I would be more than happy to help you with finding a hotel and getting you or anyone else to Amsterdam on my proposed budget. Really, if that is your concern or anyone else’s, as one of the people who help put this event together I don’t mind helping anyone to figure out an inexpensive way to attend.
Last year I may not have been able to offer you such a detailed argument for why you should attend CAC, but then, we all know that last year was a very different time. Perhaps last year you may have not thought twice about attending as your travel costs may not have been an issue. But it is what it is…here we are…all of us, one way or another affected strongly by the recent changes in this business. I guess though, that in the end, THAT is my final argument as to why you should come to CAC this May. We all need to work together here and find alternatives, solutions, and brainstorm as an industry so that we all come out of this on top.
But, just like the speakers of which I spoke above, whom have to weigh their decision on participating, you too have to make the ultimate decision. With them it may be their careers that they worry about and with you perhaps it is a question of cost yes, but more so you question the benefits which you may or may not get. What will you really get for your money? I can’t honestly answer that.
What I can tell you is that CAC Amsterdam promises to be a huge success and the chance that you will make a new business connection is quite high…the future of this industry is what is on everyone’s mind…perhaps the key to that door lies in Amsterdam.
Kind regards,
Marketa