Press Visits and Tours take an interesting turn

For years it has been a given that the major CAD vendors pay the way for press to their major events: many of my friends and colleagues are used to being provided full flight and hotel for Autodesk U, SolidWorks World, analyst events etc etc.

Now we are seeing an interesting trend: some of those vendors who always footed the bill are reducing their costs, or perhaps spreading the budget across a wider audience.

For example, one of the editors today told me that:
1) For Autodesk U he was happy to have his expenses covered by Autodesk.
2) However, for SolidWorks World (Feb 2007) he has to pay his own flight, although the hotel is being covered.
3) For the upcoming PTC press event, in Boston, he will have his flight paid for, but will have to pay his own hotel. (and he is balking at Boston big-city pricing for hotels, naturally.)

Is this a trend? Why is it occuring? We are not always sure but at a guess the Pr budgets may be getting thinned down, or perhaps the PR folks are spreading the money across a wider group?

maybe somebody would like to comment.

Comments

[Ralph Grabowski]

There are two kinds of reporters:

1. Those who work for publications, and so they have their expenses covered _and_ continue to be paid their salary while covering these events.

2. The self-employed reporters who would have to pay their own way (typical cost $1000 for airfare, hotels, meals, transporation) _and_ are unpaid while at the event (loss of another several hundred dollars).

I fall into category #2. Stories of CAD company's events are not worth $1,500 to me.

As well, with air travel becoming more difficult and more unpleasent, I am less keen to attend these events.

Perhaps CAD vendors think they can get by with fewer than 80 press in attendence. That's probably true.

And all the rest of us need is one impartial person blogging the event live -- as Roopinder Tara did for AU. We don't need to be there, either.

OTOH, the CAD vendor's cost of flying in a reporter is far less than a one-page ad in a trade publication, and does far more PR good.