T4G Cancels Conference But Keeps It Going Via Livestreaming And Keeps the Millions of Dollars Too

So T4G says they had 12,500 registrants for the coming livestream/conference minus 100 requests for refunds. They charged $169/student, $299/everyone else (plus a process fee but I won't include that). That's:

$2,095,600 if everyone paid the student cost and

$3,707,002 if half the people were charged the full $299 fee.

You're looking at multimillion dollar conference which is now going to be livestreaming. Where did the money go? "Things like:

— Zero Dollar Books – 17 titles free of charge to all attendees

— 13,000 conference guides

— The mailer that delivered your wristbands

— Travel for nearly 100 speakers and volunteer team leaders

— Audio/video contracts

They call it "investing the money".

It begs the question, why not just have all the speakers speak via skypeing or just tape their message like they're all doing for their churches anyway and save the money they paid for hotel, airfare, food, transportation? If they're telling people they can get a refund, then THEY can get a refund, no?

Here's what they've told their customers:

Many airlines and hotels are accommodating refund requests due to the effect of COVID-19. Here are the latest updates from some of the airlines and hotels we work with:

Hotels

The Galt House Hotel: Free to cancel without penalty

Marriott Properties: Free to cancel without penalty

Omni Hotel and Resort: Free to cancel without penalty

Hilton Properties: Free to cancel without penalty

Hyatt Properties: Free to cancel without penalty

Airlines

American Airlines: Rebook without change fees

United Airlines: Rebook without change fees

Southwest Airlines: Rebook without change fees

Delta Airlines: Change ticket, one time, with no fee change

End quote.

But they're going to hold on to your millions. Their guilt trip (please don't request your hundreds of dollars back or we'll go bankrupt and no more conferences) worked.

On another note, isn't the desire to be at a conference or concert in person considered better than by video? Isn't there a dimension missing? The same is said about friends and family--that being together is better than skypeing or facetiming. So why aren't these people saying that about being with their local assembly. It's almost as if people don't really care whether they go for two months or not. Probably because they don't.