My sister did not work in the hardware areas. She planned and coordinated all the big meetings. Many of the foreign meetings were used as employee bonuses. She arranged the locations, agendas, transprtation, etc. Usually there were 3-4 in the US and one international session per year. Once, at the last minute, she flew from Boston to Austraila for just a 3 day stay. Told them she would only go if she traveled 1st class and they went for it. $6,000 round trip. No wonder the companies went belly-up.