Stuart Elliott in America.(Brief Article)

The aristocrats of American advertising gathered recently for a conference at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in southern California, enjoying themselves as only they can during good times.

There were speeches and panels, to be sure, along with cocktail parties, sports tournaments, receptions, dinners, awards ceremonies and even a night-time bash on the beach.

Who were those august personages having such first-class fun under the sun? Need you ask? Why, the clients, of course.

The conference was the 91st annual meeting of the Association of National Advertisers, the trade body that represents more than 300 US-based companies spending more than $100 billion a year to market 8,500 brands. That clout wielded by the ANA's members means they are regally feted at their conferences by those seeking to do business with them.

Media companies and associations ranging from Reader's Digest to the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau to DoubleClick sponsored many events held before and after the daily general sessions. And attendees found themselves wooed in other ways, too.