I was a conference director for seven years, and everything you say is true. In addition to what you mentioned, conference organizers are forced to estimate th

I was a conference director for seven years, and everything you say is true. In addition to what you mentioned, conference organizers are forced to estimate the number of attendees and reserve blocks of hotel rooms to ensure availability. In most cases, you're doing this eight months in advance - before any of the speakers have been selected. If you fail to hit your room night reserve, you pay out the nose.