IAGSDC 2012 Convention Proposals

[bjarvis]

Today, I received copies of the bids for the 2012 IAGSDC convention: it will be a choice between Phoenix and Vancouver.


Phoenix, August 30-September 3, 2012

• JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa - single/double: $129/night, triple/quad: $149/night
  
• $20/day valet parking
  
• $125 early bird registrations (100), $150 at Chicago in 2011, $175 to 7/31/2011, $200 to 5/31/2012, $250 at the door ($95 for non-dancers to 5/31/2012, $115 thereafter)
  
• Budget break-even at 900 registrants

The Phoenix budget has the revenues about right (IMHO), but the expenses for the fun badge tour seem a little low at only $8k. Details are rather sparse so it's difficult to analyze much of the bid. They propose 9-15 callers in total


Vancouver, June 29-July 2, 2012

• Hyatt Regency Vancouver - single/double: $169/night, triple: $199/night, quad: $219/night (Westin Bayshore Hotel is the alternate hotel.)
  
• $125 early bird registrations (100), $150 at Chicago in 2011, $175 to 3/30/2012, $200 at the door ($95 for non-dancers to 5/31/2012, $115 thereafter)
  
• Budget break-even at 900 registrants

The Vancouver budget doesn't mention the fun badge tour but since it's typically close to revenue-neutral, they may have chosen to leave it out. As we've discovered for 2009, soaring diesel prices may also make it utterly incalculable so many years in advance so they may be wisely deferring such information lest they paint themselves into a corner. I also suspect the sound and flooring expenses are low-balled. At least 10 full-time callers are planned.


I'm planning to scan these proposals into PDF files for my records. If you'd like a copy, let me know.

Comments

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

There was buzz after the last 2 conventions of Albuquerque hosting the convention again in 2012 or 2013, but we've quietly and discretely disposed of the bodies.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

We've sometimes fantasized about doing a hostile takeover of the Independence Squares and submitting a bid on their behalf. :-)

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

meaning you'd have a fly-in rilly close and convenient, but none of the work yourselves? sounds good to me.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

I sometimes think that's what happened to Cleveland!

[bearon68.livejournal.com]

don't even think it!!!!!!!!!!

[allanh.livejournal.com]

There's a rumor going around about San Francisco in 2013. Dr. Dougan is the instigator, and I lay all blame at his feet.

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that the Phoenix fun badge tour budget is low because there really isn't much fun there. PHX was the only fun badge tour that I've attended, and I thought it pretty much sucked. But given the location, my expectations were already low. I have high expectations for DC's fbt. Not sure how YVR's fun badge tour was previously, but they have a lot of great locations.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I have high expectations for DC's fbt.

Oh, good... that takes the pressure off. :-)

I have a fairly solid idea of the venues which will be used for the fun badge tour... I'm fairly confident folks will like them --and they're not going to be the same as our 1994 convention.

I'm not keen on the FBT concept in general these days... it's just too much effort to get out of bed at an ungodly hour of the morning. I've also never understood the secrecy aspect. Keeping the participants in suspense about where they're going bothers me to no end as both a past-participant and as an organizer: it offends my preference for operational transparency and takes a huge amount of effort for no discernable benefit. Good thing someone else is in charge of that... :-)

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree about that secrecy thing. I'd rather know where I was going than not! I'm pretty sure in '86 we all knew where the stops were going to be at the 1st FBT.

There were some friendships nearly undone in '05 in the El Camino Reelers from what I heard about the utter secrecy of the FBT...I don't know if they've recovered from that even yet.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Most of us are talking to each other now.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Barely.

FBT

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the secrecy thing too. Even as a past resident of Cleveland, I'm NOT planning on going on the FBT because "it's a secret."
Too many things are "secret".

hard choices

[greyguy-sf.livejournal.com]

hmmm.. so it is either Vancouver or Phoenix in summertime.... that's like that other hard choice, in parallel structure, orgasm or root canal. It's a hard choice [although, in truth, I enjoyed the last summer convention in Phoenix, and would go back again, especially if there is a water slide at the pool].

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Hyatt Regency Vancouver? Really?

Huh.

I would've thought they'd go for the Hotel Van. The Westin staff were wonderful, and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a convention back there.

(Unfortunately, the bath house that would've been just a couple of blocks away from the Hyatt burned down several years ago. Damn.)

[double take]

Uh ... isn't that also Canada Day weekend? I'd think Vancouver would be pretty crowded. (Probably not as badly as on BC Day weekend, however.)

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Uh ... isn't that also Canada Day weekend?

Yup, Canada Day is July 1, a Sunday in 2012. At least there will likely be fireworks over Stanley Park. And the $#&*! Olympics will be over.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

I think I'll put 3 Vancouverites on my hit list.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Hotel Van is too small now, and the Westin's just been done to death!

The Garden Baths - were you ever there? It burned down a long-time ago. Oh, never mind - you meant Club Van. Amazing how many bath houses burn down in this city. ;-)

And yes, Vancouver will be crowded. Very.

Add me please

[euchreman.livejournal.com]

Can you send me one to euchre1@roadrunner.com?