zlacker

>>Berisl+(OP)
Cynical voice:

Professional Development budgets can be hard to spend. Spluring everything on a conference gets you some half-decent benefits - something to put on your self-assessment for your review cycle; a couple of days out-of-the-office; some half-decent food, snacks, and corporate gifts; and finally the chance to travel to an interesting new city on your company's money.

>>NeoTar+wp
Cynical from an employer's point of view, conference trips are good perks to offer. More expensive than regular vacation days, but also more likely to improve employees. Also, employees still have to answer emails.