IMO the programs are ill advised not to show.
For one thing, they need to listen to and ask questions of Chris Rusch urgently! To not show up for something that can clarify a lot of things regarding payment solutions is downright – well – I am not going to say the word that comes to mind.
Secondly, the caliber of affiliates that attend this event is the caliber that has reach and can successfully enter new markets. If you miss the opportunity to collaborate on this you are throwing away good business. This is the time to secure your positions.
And thirdly, affiliates remember things for years to come. And I am willing to bet you that the US market will recover, more and more things are pointing to that. IGUEA is an ill conceived law, enforcement will slack off. Read about what happens behind the scenes like here: http://www.point-spreads.com/content/view/1665/2/ . Whether it is repealed or not (and there is increasing hope every day that it will) is not the issue if it is not enforced.
Last not least, I want to see all my friends there, and that includes my affiliate manager friends. At this venue there is time to really talk and bond and devise plans for the future. It is what sets spring break apart from all other conferences, an unharried environment to network and plan for the future. If you are not there, one can’t talk with you. Many major affiliates did not make it to London and are not going to Amsterdam. But they always show up for spring break.
Those are some very good reasons to go to Atlantis, and I haven’t talked about the half of them yet.
That said, I will be happy to step up to the plate and partially sponsor one of the dinners.
