Eilat is home to many conferences and congresses, and the visit by some 200 of Israel's most eminent psychiatrists was for one of these.  The doctors came to a professional conference being held at the Herod's Palace hotel that discussed the relationship between Eros, the god of lust, love and fertility in Greek mythology, and psychiatry.

Attendees at the conference had a rich and varied programme prepared for them, and they participated in lectures and professional panels that dealt with subjects including psychological aspects of love and sex, the problematic aspects of Freud's theories, the relevancy of Freudian theory, love in the opera, happiness and psychiatry, couples and coaching, drugs and love, Eros as an innovative diagnostic tool in psychiatry, Eros at Appleton's banquet [sic], and more

Between lectures and panels, conference participants were treated to a festive reception that was, at their request, held in the spirit of the conference.  This included bright red decorations, champagne, deserts in the shape of hearts and kisses, and more.  The psychiatrists also enjoyed sumptuous meals that were prepared especially for them by the Herod's Palace staff, along with performances by a jazz ensemble, cabaret, and belly dancers.