Re: [78attendees] We'll meet again...

[Ted Lemon <[e-mail]>]

On Aug 12, 2010, at 2:53 AM, Elwell, John wrote:
> Picking up only on the issue of cost, I found the overall cost of Maastricht a lot less than Anaheim (even after adjusting for lower flight cost and one day shorter stay). Food certainly was cheaper, plus the fact that my hotel rate included a decent breakfast - not the case in Anaheim.

Anaheim is a good example of the sort of place I'd really hope IETF would avoid in the future--it was like living on a desert island, because there weren't any real businesses within walking distance of the venue--just chains.   Maastricht was just as isolated, but felt completely different because of the excellent bus service.   If IETF were making a choice between a venue like the one in Anaheim, and a venue like the one in Maastricht, I would really strongly prefer they choose the latter.

IETF in Ireland worked out just fine for me, but the reason it did was because I figured out in advance how isolated the venue was by using Google maps, and once I realized how isolated it was, I got a hotel that was closer in.   I felt very bad for the people who were stuck at the venue.   OTOH, not being at the venue meant I had fewer of those highly desirable accidental hallway meetings.   I would say that the venue in Ireland was probably worse than Anaheim, but I enjoyed Ireland a lot more than Anaheim.

Maastricht beat either city because even though my hotel was isolated, like in Anaheim, I was close to the venue, so I went to meetings I wouldn't otherwise have attended and ran into people I wouldn't otherwise have run into, and yet with the bus service I was able to go forage for real food.

Honestly, I have no idea how the folks organizing IETF meetings make these choices.   Walking through this, my main reaction is to feel happy that it's not my job.