In the US, November starts getting into the holiday season with Thanksgiving coming later in the month, and I think that there for makes it a 'shoulder' season for airfares - and many people travel for Thanksgiving. You're also starting to deal with the possibility of snow/inclement affecting travel at that time of the year in the more northern climes, and it becomes less appealing perhaps to some to venture out for some sightseeing if there is snow, ice, inclement weather (and the same can be said for the broiling heat of summer being less appealing).
Part of the thing with IOLI is that when it's on a coast, it's expensive for attendees from the opposite coast, and a full day of travel. When it moves to a more central state, it becomes a little more appealing financial (theoretically). It also depends on what else is around the locale of the convention hosting city. However, with it moving around the country, there can be an opportunity for seeing another part of the country if one can work it in. And IOLI convention locations are determined by who's interested in hosting the event. The AGM week in Australia is hosted (essentially) by the State that is hosting the NAC (or the State Branch where the NAC is currently based). The same applies in Australia (whose landmass is almost as comparable in size to the contiguous 48 states) - AGM weeks held on either coast are going to be expensive (and a long day of travel) for those on the opposite coast. And Tasmanians have a long trip to anywhere other than Melbourne, Sydney and maybe Adelaide - except when Tasmania hosts the NAC. October in Australia can be wonderful as it's spring. October in the US can be downright 'scary' (and not just because of Halloween :-) ). If you have a good slate of teachers and appealing classes, that's going to help attract visitors. And one also has to be mindful of what the economy is doing at the time. If budgets are tight, people may think twice about a 'luxury' of a week of lace. Cheers, Helen, Aussie in Duvall, WA/ - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
