I'm pretty sure that getting attractive women to spend time in a place full of geeky men takes some money. MyTreo.net calls it the "oldest consumer electronics marketing trick." Whatever the case, I don't think booth babes are effective marketing tools (pardon my objectification of women), for the same reason why I think giving away free phones on The Ellen Degeneres Show is a waste of money.

Do we honestly think that the products and services featured by booth babes will be more memorable than the hotness of the booth babes themselves? The "promotional models" do attract attention, but not the right kind. Instead of drawing customers genuinely interested in the offering, these women catch the attention of any one on the market for some fleshy eye candy.

It's unfortunate that once upon a time, booth babes became a requirement for a "successful" convention booth. Not because I'm against looking at attractive women mind you, but because companies and businesses find themselves under pressure to spend money on what's becoming an increasingly ineffective marketing gimmick. Remarkable products are easy to recall and attract attention like fresh flowers attract bees. And not even Helen of Troy can reverse the fortunes of what's forgettable.