Inside look at AIPAC policy conference logistics

AIPAC, which wrapped up its 2011 Policy Conference on Tuesday, is always closed mouthed about what the huge and lavish event costs.

But Bizbash, a business convention publication offers some inside dope on what’s involved in mounting such a vast operation – including kosher meals for 9500, a 500 foot projection screen, custom built information kiosks and cafes and 176,000 square feet of carpeting. The banquet on Monday required more than 700 servers.

Then, of course, there are the huge costs of screening 10,000 participants for security and keeping the wait on security lines to managable proportions.

There are no dollar figures, but I’m guessing the policy conference probably cost more than the annual budget of some Jewish organizations we report on regularly.