[Lil'freeper]

Well, that being the case, I'd go. Stay in the hotel, skip the conference (maybe show up to get the nametags and stuff), and have a lovely date on your parents' dime. Then just tell them it was time well spent developing your relationship and a very thoughtful gift on their part.

[Corin Stormhands]

Then just tell them it was time well spent developing your relationship and a very thoughtful gift on their part.

* DANGER WILL ROBINSON * DANGER WILL ROBINSON *

They ~will~ ask questions. This conference talks about their alumni. They'll want to talk about the sessions.

IMHO, the absolute worse thing you can possibly do is to be deceptive in ANY WAY. It'll just backfire and make things worse.