Re-designing the conference

I recently concluded the Americas Cultures-Based Innovation (CBI) Symposium, co-hosted by the Banff Centre in Calgary, Canada. Being the third time that I have co-organised a CBI Symposium, I now know that the design of its structure effectively achieves its intention, namely, to build deep relationships among its 15-20 participants. The undisputed fact of the love I feel for the last Symposium's fifteen participants, all within five days, prompts me to ask the question: Why are so many conferences based on the value of sharing ideas instead of deepening relationships among the participants?