I believe sj may be pimping Providence.

Or not.

It seems like it was difficult to get rates without exact dates so I thought we were voting dates first. No? My concern is voting on a city without knowing what range of prices we're in for could be problematic.

We could vote dates, get bids, and then vote the location.

We could vote dates, get bids, and then vote the location.

This seems to make the most sense.

Yeah, I think that's the best way. I don't think we have to settle on a date, just possibilities, then the prices will probably weed some out.

I don't know about the other cities, but I can't get concrete prices without a date.

I don't know about the other cities, but I can't get concrete prices without a date.

Right, that was why I thought maybe it would be easier to pick cities first. I mean, price wise they should be roughly comparable, right? The main reason we sometimes vote date first is when weather in different regions will come into play, which doesn't apply with our current options. Since no one has spoken up to take the lead in Providence or Baltimore, should we vote NYC vs. Philly based on basic pimpage and then narrow down dates from there? Otherwise availability at one location will rule out potential weekends at another, which is a problem if the city without the limitations were to win.

Depends on what you mean by comparable. For my pimp, there is about a $30 range on basic rooms and no way to discuss what deals we might be able to cut on hospitality suite and/or ballroom space without a date.

If that's the case in the other cities, we may need a date first for reasons besides weather.

Okay. Never mind. I was just trying to help.

ETA: I think I put together a combo city/date initial interest survey last year. Let me dig that up and see if it might be useful.

I'm thinking the New Jersey side of NY is probably going to be around the same pricing as Philly.

But I won't be able to take part in any discussions while I am away. I know I've said that before, and I am sorry to repeat myself, but I really am nervous about volunteering to help and then leaving the country...

By the way, I can't recall from previous years, but I vaguely recall that voting is weighted by who really thinks s/he can make it, right? Or am I misremembering?