Hi, I am trying to summarize the issues that could be the weakest both in your bid and in Portland's, and will send two separate mails. Venue ===== This is not the first time Venezuela presents a bid. And, frankly, your offering looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Comfort-wise, way beyond anything what we have seen. Hotel Maremares looks like a top-notch, five-star setting. And although being taken care of and pampered is always nice, consider: Do we need that for a work conference? Are there possibly cheaper, less "flashy" venues? Nobody will complain about a beautiful place, but DebConf is *not* (and has never been, and should never be) about a good vacation. If I understand correctly, the cost for staying at Maremares (given prices are Dollar-indexed and not in Bolívares — re: the recent devaluation) will be around US$90 per person per night (in double occupancy, 100/2=50 for the hotel room plus US$20×2 for lunch and dinner). You say this can be discounted via government support, but it is still quite a high figure. And I expect the prices and lodging standards for Hotel Puerto La Cruz will be in the same league, given they are part of the same chain. When we have chosen less-developed countries, one of the main selling points of such countries has been lower prices. Last year in Nicaragua, however, we faced the reality that life in the country was indeed cheap, but renting the good quality space we needed in a single hotel and with good networking and working conditions was quite expensive. In the end, of course, we found many ways to cut costs, and it worked very good. However, we should probably aim to something more in the line of what we have done in the past. So, what would be your reply to this? Stability ========= Well, several people's issues have already been voiced, both on the economic and on the politic levels. I know President Chavez's death is very recent and many things are not yet known, but we cannot postpone the discussion and choice of venue. So, please try to calm us down :)
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