Bidders Survey

Instructions

Please answer all the questions below.

If a question doesn’t apply to your convention please state: N/A.

If the answer won’t be known until some future date, please provide an estimate of when you’ll be in a position to answer. For example, for the question about room rates you might answer “These are expected to be agreed by [date]. Current internet rates are X per night room only for a double or twin and Y for single occupancy.”

The Inquisitions

The questionnaire below includes some of the most commonly asked questions at a Fannish Inquisition. We are asking that all bids complete the questionnaire by November 20, 2012. We will post the answers on the Smofcon website, and will have some printed copies available at Smofcon for review.

All Smofcon members will be able to submit questions for the Inquisition online before the convention, and in person at Smofcon prior to the Inquisition. Submissions will be anonymous.

The Inquisition will be facilitated by Helen Montgomery, Deb Geisler, and Stephen Boucher. They will be asking all of the questions at the Inquisition. The process for the Inquisitions is as follows:

Seated Worldcons / Smofcon Bids: 1 hour session, Saturday 4-5: 5 minute presentations / 10 minute Q & A for the 2013 / 2014 Worldcons (30 minutes)
2013 Smofcon bid presentation / vote (~ 10 minutes ~ 4:40)
3 minute presentations by Smofcon bids for 2014 and forward (~ 20 minutes)

Worldcon / NASFiC Bids: 1.5 hour session, Saturday 8-9:30: Review the Rules of Engagement and introduce the Inquisitors (5 minutes)
3 minute presentations by 2014 NASFiC Bids / 2015 Worldcon Bids (~ 20 minutes)
2 minute presentations by 2016 - 2020 Worldcon bids / all Hoax bids (~ 15-20 minutes)
5 minutes for Audience to write and submit additional questions
5 minutes for Inquisitors to review and incorporate questions

Inquisition (30+ minutes - until end of allotted session time / run out of questions)

The Follow-up Session

On Sunday from noon-1:00 in Riverview C, there will be an opportunity for you to be at a "bid table" - you can display a poster, have materials, etc. (You may need to share a table due to space.) Attendees will have the opportunity to come up and talk to you about your bid, ask further questions that came up as a result of the Inquisition, etc.

Questionnaire

Name of Bid:

Name of Smofcon Bid Rep:

E-mail:

What are the proposed dates for which you are bidding?

What is your proposed convention host city? Is your convention site in a city center location or a suburb? If a suburb, what are the transport options into the city center? How far is the site from the city center?

What is the typical current airfare to your closest airport from world cities such as London, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Melbourne?

Do international flights, as well as domestic, fly into your local airport? Which airlines? If not, where is the closest international airport? Are direct flights from the cities above flown into your local airport?

How far is your convention site from the nearest airport/train station and what is the likely cost of getting to the hotels by both public transport and taxi from that airport/train station?

What hotel(s) are being used for the convention? How many rooms, what type, accessibility issues, etc.?

What are your hotel room rates? Do these rates include breakfast? Do they include internet in the room? How firm are these rates?

What is the distance from the main hotel(s) to the closest entrance of the convention site? What are the transportation options for those who prefer not to walk or who have mobility difficulties?

Please describe your convention site facilities. For example, the quantity and sizes of rooms, tech options, accessibility issues, etc.

Where will your large events (i.e. Hugo Ceremony and Masquerade) be held?

Please describe the restaurant scene near your site.

Please describe the policies / laws regarding smoking in your hotel(s), convention center, and city.

What type of weather can we expect at the time of year your convention is to be held?

What are some of the main tourist attractions of your city?

Who is on your committee? Who is your bid chair? What experience do they have in general? In running this convention in particular?

If known, who will be the chair of the convention? What experience do they have?

What arrangements will be made for evening socializing and party space? Do you have a corkage waiver?

Are you planning to have any membership discounts for certain groups, such as young adults, military, or seniors?