The most recent meeting, near Rome, was in a location that meant you had to either stay in the meeting venue hotel or take a taxi to get to the meeting every day. It was also far away from the actual city, so getting out to visit a restaurant or even just be away from the venue at all took some time. There are a lot of valid complaints about the way the meeting venue was laid out, but my main concern was the choice of venue itself.
the hotel was quite affordable. meeting in central rome would have cost a fortune. i come for the meetings, not to be a tourist. i do not mind walking a km to get from hotel to a conference center venue. it is probably good for me.
I realize that there are a lot of reasons why venues were chosen, but I feel like we as the RIPE community have no insight into these.
when i delegate, i try to resist micro-managing. i have way too much work to also do the organisers' job. randy