On Monday, September 01, 1997 12:51 AM, Dr. Ferenc Nagy
[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote:

> You are absolutely right, let's pay the rich Americans pay the
> air fares.  And if they visited Europe, they would see
something else like always the
> same hotels and habits.

Actually Frank, I think that many of us in North, Central
America (collectively, the "Americas" - cannot keep out Canada,
Mexico, South of Mexico) and South America, would love to visit
the European conferences and have the same problem Europeans
have on the other side of the pond.  HPWorld, for someone here
on the East Coast of the US, for a conference in the Midwestern
US, was almost a US$2,500 to US$3,500 proposition (forgetting
the fact I flew my own aircraft - I was using the cost of a
discounted, round-trip commercial air ticket).  The registration
was US$895, the hotel room/taxes ran about US$1,000 at the
Sheraton and about US$850 at the Hyatt, meals, sightseeing,
take-home goodies (the bought ones, not the ones from the vendor
floor)...  I am always surprised to see folks from Europe, New
Zealand, Australia, and even South Africa, as well as Mexico and
Central America at these conferences.

I can sympathize at the cost from overseas, believe me.

[snip]

> Why in London, come here to Budapest. It is more beautiful and
> cheaper and
> friendlier than London. Believe it or not, we have excellent
> conference
> centers.

Frank - the country's cost may be cheaper, but a discounted,
round-trip airfare to London right now on British Airways is
about US$570 (Philadelphia to Heathrow).  To Budepest - after
all of the connections, the cost is US$2,590.  Given the choice,
I'd take London.  Again - I think it's cost.  It's a problem all
around.

One of these years (in the near future), I'm going to make it to
a European conference.  I wanted to make Midnight Lights last
year, but alas, could not.  One of these years though...

Best Regards,
Joe

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Joe Geiser
CSI Business Solutions, LLC
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Langhorne, PA 19047-3083 USA
P: +1(215)945-8100  F: +1(215) 943-8408
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