Yes, we're planning ahead.
So let me tell you what we're looking at right now: after Las Vegas, Chicago, Austin and now Pittsburgh, there's a great deal of interest in rotating back to the West Coast for 2010.
The question is going to be how to balance a number of factors, and here I want to listen to you. Because my understanding is that Las Vegas is always going to end up as the least expensive city -- between room rates, site fees and airfare -- and that expanding out to cities like Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Los Angeles or the Bay Area is going to raise our costs in terms of site fees and requirements, and in turn, your costs.
[Related: please look at this guide to union hotels, because we certainly do in deciding where to site our conventions.]
We're cognizant of how the economy is and likely will be next year -- our registration fees for 2009 remain low for now, but will keep increasing -- and we'd like to keep it that way for next year, especially in a climate in which many of our sponsors are themselves under financial pressure.
So tell us how to balance all this out. Would a Year Five return to Las Vegas be cool? Back to the Riviera, even? Should we venture closer to the Pacific Ocean even if it may cost you more in terms of registration costs, hotel rates and/or airfare? What makes a good Netroots Nation location for you?
In the meantime, the Three Rivers await. Do help us set the 2009 Agenda by suggestion a session you'd like to organize.