What makes a good business conference?

Business conferences are big money. Many can cost between £500 and £1000 a day per attendee. And a short day at that — of little more than four hours’ chalk and talk (10.00–16.30). Senior executives are bombarded by ‘invitations’ to attend ‘ vital, crucial, state-of-the-art thinking events that are breakthroughs in achieving world class’ … blah, blah, blah. Enough people attend these events to maintain a small industry that booms in the good times. Famous speakers can command easily £10,000 for a ‘turn’ and hundreds can be guaranteed to pitch up to hear and see their favourite guru/media person in the flesh.