If you enter the south side of the George R. Brown Convention Center, there isn't much out of the ordinary: Prestigious speakers like Sir Richard Branson, Condoleezza Rice and Lance Armstrong talking shop to thousands of industry insiders sitting at 10-seat round tables with pitchers of soda and half-eaten lunches of salad and chocolate cake.

But don't be fooled: When the speech ends is when the real fun begins at the National Business Travelers Association convention. Afterwards listeners rush herd-like through the doors on the north side of the room. Stepping through them to the vendor area is reminiscent of the moment where Dorothy opens the door to the vibrant colors of Oz — only bigger.

Sure there are vendors at every convention hawking their wares, but leave it to the service industry to turn browsing between the Orbitz booth and the Kimpton Hotels area into a feast for all the senses. Flashing lights! Plush carpets! Exotic fruit! The representatives from the Las Vegas stand must have felt right at home.

I spent the better part of an hour strolling from booth to booth, marveling at the excess, entering to win free vacations and sampling the endless alcoholic offerings.

I sat in the ultra-luxe first- and business-class pods, explored the new Continental 787 Dreamliner, and, when beckoned by an amusement park-style games announcer with a soundsystem, I stepped right up and spun the wheel of exotic destinations. (Sadly, I didn't win.)

I picked up a squeeze-able gnome from Travelocity, a giant purple vuvuzela from South African Airways and a fetching leather luggage tag from a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

With each brand desperate to attract the business travel decision-makers, the inducements only got bigger. Meliá Resorts had a guitarist finger-picking some calm, beachy tunes. Hyatt had 30-foot screens advertising its best qualities. British Airways was staffed with gorgeous femmes in uniform, with a look just put-together and retro enough to remind me of Catch Me If You Can.

Everywhere one turns, it seems, there is something to eat, drink, sit on or play with.

SkyTeam decided to recreate their London lounge, featuring massage chairs, wine, a huge spread of food (including fresh-baked cookies) and an oxygen bar with a dozen relaxing or invigorating scents to inhale. Another booth upped the ante and had actual masseuses rubbing down tired execs.

The jackpot, for the casual, non-business-traveling interloper? A game room set up by an Internet booking company, featuring blue and orange slushies and a world of arcade and video games, from classics like Frogger to Guitar Hero.

What did I learn about travel? Not much, except that I've clearly been doing it the wrong way — and there are plenty of companies ready to help me rectify that.

Eventually, though, I had to put down my tropical drink and head back into the decidedly less plush Houston downtown corridor. One thing I know: I hope they come back soon.