[Aust-NZ] RE: Looking for value in cutting conference costs (plain text this time)

[Cameron Shorter]

Simon,
Yes, for international delegates the cost of travel and accommodation 
will outweigh a few dollars spent on the conference.

Now that we have changed the conference from 5 to 4 days, and have gone 
with the Uni of NSW we have brought our costs down by ~ 20% and we 
should have some fat to play with in the budget. So I don't have any 
major concerns about the budget any more.

Simon O'Keefe wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> After just having done my bookkeeping for the last six months, I've
> calculated that the total cost of my attending last year's FOSS4G2007 in
> Canada came in at just over AU$4500. This includes airfares,
> accommodation, conference fees, meals and other travel - anything I
> collected receipts for. The total amount I spent on my trip would be
> even more than that if I include costs for sightseeing, drinks and
> souvenirs for my homesick Canadian wife.
>
> I imagine anyone attending an Australian 2009 conference from overseas
> would be similarly looking at spending between $3000 to $5000, depending
> mostly on length of stay, availability of cheap airfares, quality of
> accommodation, and entertainment budget.
>
> All the things that the FOSS4G2007 conference organisers might have been
> tempted to cut corners on would not have made any difference to the
> great value that I believe I got out of that conference.
>
> When you're thinking of cutting costs, and trying to shave that extra
> $100 or so, keep in mind that that is a tiny percentage of the overall
> investment that attendees will make to get here.
>
> I love my FOSS4G2007 t-shirt and glossy programme.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Simon
> __________________________________
> Simon O'Keefe
> GIS & Mapping Specialist
> Groundtruth Mapping Systems
> mobile: 0409 413 890
> office: 03 9017 6850
> email:  sok at groundtruth.com.au
> web:    www.groundtruth.com.au
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>   


-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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