And the answer is that while it shares a real-time schedule, it's very different. Unlike the traditional conference where you can be in only one room at a time, virtually, you can participate in various forums simultaneously, along with other participants from all over North America. To simplify the discussion, the majority of the posts will be in English. Posts in Spanish and French are welcome, but please include a brief synthesis in English. Facilitators will keep the discussion on topic.
Conferences are often as expensive as they are boring.
Ecotourism conferences particularly fit this mold as participants travel around the world with barely enough time to take in the locality. Sessions were conducted via email and then archived on the web. The costs were low. The networking was fantastic.