Slightly off topic, on who sponsors the conventions.

The sponsors for the school choice conference are
“The Journal of School Choice and
The National Institute for Educational Options
Nova Southeastern University’s
Abraham S. Fischler School of Education
In collaboration with
The University of Texas at San Antonio of Business and the
E.G. West Institute for Effective Schooling”

“So, we seek assistance to:

1.    Keep the registration fee low; much lower than competing academic conferences. This is especially significant in these times of shrinking travel budgets;

2.    Include all meals in the registration packet;

3.    Fund honoraria for high profile speakers;

4.    Finance travel support for foreign scholars; and

5.    Advertise the meeting.”
http://www.cvent.com/events/inaugural-international-school-choice-and-reform-academic-conference/custom-18-54494e1c0b9c4b2eae95af4183bee354.aspx

Seems fair enough, but in the New York Times, there is questions being brought up on the jet setting public educators and who exactly is paying for their trips.

“New Questions About Trips Sponsored by Education Publisher”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/education/inquiry-into-school-officials-travels-paid-for-by-pearson.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=Education&st=cse

The education conferences that are international in scope, Below is a up and coming conference in Canada.
“The CICE seeks sponsorships for its upcoming conference to be held in Toronto, Canada. We have limited sponsorship opportunities available and it is first-come, first-served, so please act quickly! When you sponsor the event, you will:

Reach an unexpected target audience of attendees

Increase worldwide awareness of your organizations products and services

Gain access to decision-makers from governments, organisations and educational institutions “
http://www.ciceducation.org/Sponsors.html

My question is, are education conferences meant for the audiences who work in the public education field are more about the connections, and gaining access, than the actual academic work being put on display?  Where the conference for school choice, the emphasis is on the actual academic work, rather than the connections.