Conference Committee/Planning meeting 1/Notes

2013 London bid

Hong Kong won. London lost!

Jury is risk averse James F: London was: "Close second" and had a "Bold and ambitious plan"

Chapter support was lukewarm even when there were two UK bids, but nothing really improved after that.
UK chapter has money, but HK chapter
Chapter needs to detail specific commitments
Need to focus on attendees who would be at the lower end of the budget spectrum: get hostels/budget hotels/uni dorms etc. early on
Jury liked the Barbican venue - good and well contained

Bid team didn't turn up to IRC meeting etc.
Venues were too spread out - multiple venues not good
Crazy expensive to get there - very few direct flights from outside of UK (London, Manchester etc don't have this problem)
One Jury answer had to ask the same question 7 different times and got to answer each time

Much of the 2013 bid text is reusable
Strengths and weaknesses of bid:
University dorms would have been worthing getting

210 beds within a few minutes walk

~1k beds around London bridge which is a couple stops away

Very good choice of venue; interesting, lots in the venue

Good cultural events program

Pre-conference events; not much on it in the bid b/c is wasn't part of the bid criteria

Many accomodation choices

London First has a person who is specifically incharge of uni accomodation for conferences
Manchester? http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Wikimania_Bid
Good transport links
Nottingham?
Brighton?
Birmingham?