DEMOS SAVE THE COUNTRY, OR CRIPPLE IT?

The International Osteoporosis Foundation World Congress is the latest big name event to fall victim to the current demonstrations and closures of both of Bangkok's international airports.
The event alone was due to attract 4,000 leading experts from around the world at Queen Sirikit Center for the five day event this week. That's potentially 20,000 hotel rooms in Bangkok that will empty during this time, not to mention all the other associated revenues that have disappeared from this one event.
The French-based directors left the final decision until yesterday morning, but with no end in sight they had no choice other than to cancel.
I think official estimations for the amount of business that has last/is losing/will lose are far too low. I know of one company that was looking at Bangkok to hold a 20,000 pax event in late 2009 but are now switching their attentions to Singapore.
These demonstrations are truly hurting Thailand hard.