One San Diego distributor of semiconductor products, Insight Electronics, has been experimenting for the past two years with computer-based training programs that take the place of some travel, said marketing director Lew Boore. And, because of what's happened in the economy, we have looked closely at our expenses this year. But we've also found that Web-based training gives us greater flexibility. If you have to spend a day traveling to a seminar and a day coming back, that's two days you've lost. It makes sense for us to do that training over the Web if we can.
Conventions are fairly stable since they make plans two years to seven years out.
Believe me, going to a convention is usually the last thing a smart businessperson will cut out. When we spend more of our time dealing over the phone and through e-mail, this is one time of the year we can see those people face to face. The expansion, which will double the size of the Convention Center, is scheduled to be completed in September. There is no telling how many conventions steered away from us without talking to us just because of the uncertainty. But even with the Convention Center nearing completion, San Diego tourism officials say filling it may be difficult because new hotels to serve the Convention Center have not been built as planned.