VIRTERA Joins Power Panel at Cloud Computing Conference & Expo 2009 East
Daniel Beveridge to discuss “Cloud Computing & Enterprise IT: Cost & Operational Benefits” in Cloud Computing Power Panel
February 26, 2009
In spite of the crisis
”Tourism in Poland may flourish up and that in spite of the present financial crisis. In fact, with Poland becoming a relatively cheap country, an increased inflow is expected this year of foreign tourists. Local governments in cities and regions are becoming aware of the financial benefits of tourist trade” – says Katarzyna Sobierajska, under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, in an interview for ”Polish Market”.
Q: How do you assess Poland’s competitiveness on the European tourist market? We surely have our “five minutes” now considering the current foreign exchange rate and the relative low prices of Polish goods and services. What would you say are the other assets prompting visits to Poland this year?
A: Tourism may flourish up in Poland despite the crisis. Until not so long ago, a strong Polish zloty was a factor encouraging Poles to go abroad; these days holidaying at home has become competitive in terms of prices. In view of the weakening Polish currency rate, and with Poland becoming a relatively cheap country, an increased inflow is expected this year of foreign tourists. A decline is forecast in the number of Poles going abroad. Poles will most likely opt for cheaper holidays at home.
I think that - as until now - foreign tourists coming to Poland will be interested first of all in cities with rich cultural heritage, good air connections and entertainment infrastructure. Poland is appealing in terms of spa and wellness tourism, and that first of all for Germans and visitors from behind the eastern border. It is attractive for the inhabitants of 15 “old” EU countries as a country abounding in health improvement facilities. The many big cultural events taking place here throughout the year will draw visitors, too. Improvement of communication facilities, expansion and construction of regional airfields and roads will also stimulate tourist traffic.
Poland is richly endowed in unique natural values. This pulls tourists favouring rest in natural surroundings. The big distinction for Poland as of late has been that the Masurian Lakes and the Białowieża Forest have been placed on the Tentative World Heritage List as the only new entries from Poland. One should hope that the entries will be reviewed positively. Meanwhile, this development will add to Poland’s attractiveness as a tourist country. Poland has also submitted its participation in this year’s edition of EDEN (the European Destinations of Excellence), an EU project raising awareness of Europe’s tourist diversity and quality, promoting non traditional and lesser known European tourist destinations. Every year one destination per participating Member is selected. The Polish entrant for the title of the European Destination of Excellence will be named in a domestic competition. The winning destination will be included in the EDEN network, have the right to use its logo and website as well as to apply for EU funds.
Q: In recent years a major change has been observed in the attitude of local government authorities to tourism in that they have realized the benefits arising out of the inflow of foreign tourists and the consequent development prospects of their towns and regions. To this end an analysis of local tourist potential was carried out in all provinces. Preferred tourist development directions have been outlined and promotion programmes drawn up. Local governments do not spare public funds to promote tourism and to organize attractive tourist events. Would you agree that in this respect Poland has gone through a revolution?
A: Definitely, yes. Latest developments have shown that promoting tourism ranks high in regional development strategies. Local governments have began to be aware that money can be made on tourism and that this can all have a positive impact on trade, employment and the inhabitants’ well being. In their efforts to build up a positive image of the respective region or city, the local authorities do not spare funds for campaigns to promote tourist attractions and offers as well as to secure the hosting major events such as Expo and acquiring the title of the “European Culture Capital”.
It is important that local communities be actively involved in building and identifying themselves with the image of their region and city. Openness and friendly attitude are factors that are equally important. Local governments know well that building an image requires time, financing, hard work and commitment on the part of many. The tourist market is specific in that the impressions tourists take away are determined by quite a number of factors. The whole tourist services network and all its component parts have to work in harmony and without hiccups to assure proper tourist development of the region. Local governments are aware of the assets of their territories and lines of tourism to be developed. Local governments’ expenditures for tourism have been rising dramatically in recent years. It may be expected that they will continue to rise or kept at least on the same level. .
Q: But there are still a number of weak points, such as chaos in land planning development, shortage of effective instruments in this area, lack of aesthetics and well ordered development of tourist space (which bears negatively on the attractiveness of tourist offer), poor transportation access to attractive tourist regions as well as shortages in the technical infrastructure hindering the absorption of the tourist movement. Shall we be capable of overcoming these drawbacks in tourism while the economy is in slowdown? What is the amount of EU (as well as domestic) resources that can be taken advantage of in this field? How are these resources taken advantage of? What are the most crucial undertakings?
A: Surely, an improvement in communication access and continued investments to expand the hospitality base and tourist facilities are needed to tap the country’s tourist potential in full. In the years 2007-2013, EU funds will play an instrumental part in carrying these tasks. EUR 168 million will be allocated for tourist development from the Innovative Economy Operation Programme and about EUR one billion from Regional Operation Programmes, apart from funds earmarked from complementary priority programmes. These funds offer the chance for fast development of the tourist sector in Poland.
In the 2007-2013 Innovative Economy Operation Programme, the development of tourism will be supported on the national level by structural funds within the framework of two projects. In project ”6.4. Investments in tourist products of supra-regional importance” support is planned for investments aimed at creating competitive and innovative supra-regional tourist products of unique rank. For that reason support is envisaged in the Innovative Economy Operation Programme for projects of the greatest tourist significance to enhance the country’s attractiveness in the context of the on-going preparations for hosting the EURO 2012 football championships as well as for ones that would promote the development of tourism in several provinces. A list of projects to be implemented has already been drawn up. These provide, among others, for the development of water and post-industrial tourism and the revitalisation of the Elblag Canal.
The purpose of the second tourism-related project, the “6.3 promotion of Poland’s tourist values” is to strengthen the country’s economic competitiveness by promoting it as a land attractive in terms of tourism.
A number of projects will be financed within the framework of the EU “Development of Eastern Poland” Operational Programme to promote tourism in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie provinces. The focus in the programme is on expanding the congress and fair tourist infrastructure in these provinces as well as on promoting sustainable tourism. Both are designed to develop Eastern Poland as a place of active tourism. Among many other things, a complex system of cycling routes will be laid out to this end.
Poland’s tourist sector will also benefit from the Human Capital Operational Programme in that funds from that programme will also be allocated for training tourist services staff.
Tourist projects will also be propped up by funds from the ”European Programmes of Territorial Cooperation”, notably the “Poland- the Czech Republic” and the “Poland-Slovakia” programmes. Development of tourism ranks high in both.
Co-financing of tourist services development schemes is also envisaged in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in the frame of the 2007-2013 Rural Areas Development Programme. Under EAFRD’s axis 3 (“Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy”), two projects are envisaged to support the launch and development of tourist services as well as facilities in the fields of sports, and recreation.
Much attention in support of tourism has been given in all the 16 regional operation programmes. These provide for the establishment, renovation or reconstruction of local tourist faciltities including hospitality outlets, eateries, tourist, recreational and spa infrastructure, as well as tourist information and promotion.
As you see, the opportunities to raise funds for the development of tourism are vast. The acquisition of funds within the framework of structural funds depends on how active and committed all those involved in tourism are.
Q: Has Poland created chances for profit-making foreign investments in the tourist sector? Does it try to win such investors and how?
A: Changes currently introduced in Polish laws are intended to streamline investment processes and to cut down time needed for preparing and executing investments. A big chance for the development of investments is offered by the act on public-private partnership. Under contracts signed by public entities with private partners, the latter will cover the full or partial cost of public projects or otherwise assure coverage of the costs by third persons. Local governments in Poland own attractive land areas for tourist investments. In the bid to win investors, coming first are those which assure top quality service, guarantee short deadlines for decisions and permits and offer full range of technical utilities. Effective results are achieved by combining operations on the central and local government levels. .
Aso says Japan is coming to Yeosu Expo
Japan has revealed its intention to take part in the 2012 Yeosu Expo in South Korea, becoming the second country after Saudi Arabia to officially announce a plan to participate in the much-anticipated event.
In a phone conversation with President Lee Myung-bak yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said his cabinet would officially announce the decision to take part in Yeosu Expo today.
“We will continue to cooperate to help South Korea successfully hold the Yeosu Expo,” Aso said in the 10-minute conversation, according to the Blue House spokesman, Lee Dong-gwan.
By Jung Ha-won Staff Reporter
The spokesman also said Aso has asked President Lee to visit Japan again.
The two leaders had their third meeting in Seoul in January.
Ahead of his first summit with U.S. President Barack Obama today in Washington, Aso said he would emphasize the three Northeast Asian nations’ commitment to jointly tackle major regional issues, such as North Korea’s denuclearization process.
Helicopters Are Soooooo Huge Right Now
By Matt Coker in A Clockwork Orange, Naranja News
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Organizers and assorted helicopter media (who knew?) are crowing about attendance at the three-day 2009 Heli-Expo, which wraps up today in Anaheim. The number of exhibitors and helicopters on display also beat last year’s event in Houston.
“Heli-Expo 2009 a Resounding Success!!” boasts Helicopter Association International of its own event, pointing to Anaheim attendance beating Houston’s 17,995 to 17,373. “Heli-Expo Bucks Recent Convention Trends,” huzzahs another industry site, while Thomas B. Haines waxes poetic in “Helicopter Show Defies Economic Indicators” for Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Online: “This week, the halls of the Anaheim, Calif., Convention Center are offering shelter from the economic storm outside. Here at Heli-Expo . . . the economic turmoil stays outside as a projected 17,000 attendees fill an enormous exhibit hall chock-a-block with helicopters of all sizes and shapes.” Jennifer Harrington, writing for Aviation International News Online, called the record attendance in advance, and in a separate piece that had her sharing the byline with Mark Huber, it is reported that executives at two of the world’s largest helicopter makers remained bullish at Heli-Expo despite that economic storm ol’ Tommy Haines was alluding to.
AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orsi pointed to a $13 billion order backlog for his company and insisted the industry as a whole is “in good shape.” How is the oil and gas industry spending part of its record profits? Buying bigger Eurocopter whirlybirds scheduled to go into service in 2012.
Matt Zuccaro, HIA president, told the assembled rotor-reporters that diversification has allowed his industry to grow while several fixed-wing aviation shows have been canceled or scaled back. Airplanes are typically used for transportation, he explained, while helicopters are used for emergency medical services, oil rig work, electronic news gathering, firefighting, logging, search and rescue and more, and can thus bounce from industry to industry most in need of their whirly-wares.
But has anyone considered the economic downturn might actually help Zuccaro’s industry? More people hurting leads to more crime which leads to more ghetto birds in the sky. There are also the wars raging and still to come. Heck, even Obama apparently needs a new copter.
Microsoft’s Wilbee to Present at SYS-CON’s Cloud Computing Expo
Wilbee and Thomson to speak on combining the cloud & the desktop
Warren Wilbee, Director of ISV Evangelism for Microsoft, will be presenting with Ronnie Thomson, Senior Vice President of Engineering for Quark, at SYS-CON’s 2nd International Cloud Computing Conference & Expo in New York City this coming March 30-April 1, 2009.
Better than purely cloud-based services are solutions harnessing powerful combinations of Internet services, on-premise servers and rich clients. In this session the presenters will deconstruct a real world example: how Quark has methodically and holistically developed an Internet services / rich client / on-premise solution. They will demonstrate how Quark, a leader in publishing, crafted a robust platform to deliver the compelling applications that leverages the best capabilities of the desktop, on-premise solutions and an array of services in the cloud. The “old view” is that desktop and web applications are two separate and isolated worlds: this session will on the contrary show a rich development paradigm combining the power of rich clients and powerful servers running on-premise and behind a firewall, with the breadth of services found in the cloud combining the cloud. It is not just the evolution of cloud computing, but of computing in general.
Speaker Bios
Warren Wilbee is Director of ISV Evangelism at Microsoft. He and his teams help ISVs in the US develop software using the Microsoft Platform. Prior to coming to us Warren spent the last six years as leader of the development organization for NxTrend Technology in Colorado Springs. Prior to NxTrend, Warren worked for independent software vendors in Minnesota and Canada as a software architect and leader in their development organizations.
Ronnie Thomson, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Quark, is responsible for overseeing research and development, user experience, and quality assurance for all of Quark’s desktop and enterprise products. He has an extensive background in commercial product development, building high performing teams, and the rapid delivery of products to market. Thomson also has experience creating product strategy as well as overall product management. Prior to Quark, Thomson was director of research and development for unified messaging products at Avaya, Inc. where he was responsible for long-term business growth plans in addition to product strategy and product direction. Prior to Avaya, he also spent several years as vice president of engineering at Centra Software, Inc. Originally from Scotland, he holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (UK).
Learn How to Leverage Cloud Computing and Virtualization in NYC This March
Cloud Computing and Virtualization both take center stage this March in New York City, as SYS-CON Events brings two of its most popular industry-leading Enterprise IT events to the Big Apple: 2nd International Cloud Computing Conference & Expo and 5th International Virtualization Conference & Expo.
January 20, 2009
Hotel Gran Canaria
Spectacular scenery, interminal sandy beaches, picturesque villages, precious mixture of culture and history and a perfect climate during the whole year through. The best option to get to know this small paradise is the offer to the renovated Hotel Gran Canaria, a hotel with an exclusive ambiance for adults – more than 14 years old, where relaxation and tranquility are guaranteed.
Boxing world fights declining popularity
‘It was a sport for the poor and the hungry. It allowed people to dream of fame and riches.’
It’s hard to believe that a world champion once trained at the derelict Yeosu Boxing Gym. The slate roof is chipped, neglected since its owner Bang Ho-nam died in 2005, and the front lawn is overgrown with weeds.
The building’s state perfectly symbolizes the decline that the sport has endured over the years. Korean boxing has had to roll with the punches over the past six decades and the sport has been left on the mat for the past decade.
The days when boxers like Kim Ki-soo, winner of the WBA Junior Middleweight world title in 1966, trained here in this South Jeolla city seem like ancient history.
The current problem is not a dearth of professional boxers. According to the Korean Boxing Commission, the number of registered professional boxers has steadily increased over the past four years by as much as 30 percent.
“Rather, the root of the current woes stems from too few incentives for those fighters to take the sport seriously enough to pursue it full-time,” said Hwang Hyun-cheol, the KBC’s general manager. “Currently, there’s a lack of money for the prizefighters and an accumulation of problems stems from it as a result.”
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| Former champ Yuh Jae-doo now runs his own gym in Seoul. [JoongAng Ilbo] |
But all that could change if the Korean Boxing Commission and the local boxing community’s plans to revive what was once a national obsession take root.
At its peak during the 1960s through the early ’80s, boxing was a national sport in Korea. Fans packed neighborhood tea rooms and cafes to watch championship fights.
“The streets emptied when a major match was televised,” said Cho Min, secretary-general of the Korean Boxing Commission, since so few households owned TV sets back then.
Boxing also gave Koreans a sense of pride. Many foreigners used to have trouble locating Korea on a map, but boxing fans all over the world could name feisty fighters from Korea like Kim.
Born in 1939 in South Hamgyeong, North Korea, the prodigiously talented pugilist migrated to Yeosu during the Korean War (1950-1953). After winning the WBA Junior Middleweight world title 43 years ago, he turned boxing into a national obsession overnight.
“It was an economically tough time for everyone and boxing gave people hope,” said Cho. “Boxing was a sport for the poor and hungry. It showed that anyone willing to work hard could achieve fame and success in a short span of time. This was often not the case in other fields since Korea was still a developing country.”
The decline of the sport’s popularity was gradual and linked directly to economic development in Korea and changing attitudes and priorities. “When we used to train, we were focused and trained hard,” said Yuh Jae-doo, the owner of a boxing gym in southwest Seoul. “But kids these days lack motivation. I see many young boxers with great potential but they don’t have the desire.”
Parents also have different expectations these days. “I can’t be aggressive as a trainer anymore. If I tell a couple of the kids in my gym to spar and if one of them gets a shiner, it won’t sit well with the mother,” Yuh said.
And as Korea got richer, making a living from fighting lost its appeal. “Up until the 1980s, about 70 to 80 percent of those who showed up at boxing gyms did so with the aspiration of becoming a titleholder. Back then, a four-round match would pay anywhere from 40,000 won ($29.44) to 80,000 won. The average salary in Korea during the 1970s was roughly 50,000 won per month,” said Cho of the KBC.
But former boxers like Yuh, an orthodox fighter known for his devastating body blows during his heyday, look back on those days with affection.
“During the early stages of my amateur career, I had to work extra jobs and didn’t always have enough to eat, and therefore I would often tire easily in the ring,” said Yuh, a soft-spoken man with a hint of a South Jeolla regional accent.
“But when I was recruited to train with Kim Ki-soo and other talented boxers at the Golden Olympia Boxing Gym in Seoul, I was able to focus solely on boxing, and I produced some great results.”
Being good meant you could make money. Yuh was able to purchase - in cash - an apartment near the Han River after winning an Asian championship belt in 1971. “There was a certain charm in being able to make a living, something out of nothing, with my two bare fists,” he said. He later won the WBA Junior Middleweight world title in 1975.
Few in the boxing world believe the sport can recapture its past status in Korea, so the drive now is to create a platform for the future, and city officials in Yeosu are taking the lead.
Last week, they announced plans to restore the Yeosu Boxing Gym back to its original glory.
“We plan to renovate and fix the gym this year to its original state so that it can continue to provide a training space for aspiring boxers and also serve as an exhibition space for boxing memorabilia,” said Kim Eun-sook, a PR official with the city government. Kim Ki-soo’s family is involved in the project.
The PR official added that the city government has an eye on the tourism and global interest in the region following the 2012 Yeosu Expo.
The gym could well play a role in attracting more people to the city, Kim Eun-sook said.
Coincidentally, the KBC announced last week major new rules and regulations aimed at attracting better-quality athletes and, in turn, getting fans back ringside.
One of the changes is contractual. In the past, there was no limit to the length of a contract between a boxer and his manager, giving boxers little opportunity to control their careers. It was virtually impossible to switch management.
The new rule restricts the period of a contract to five years, allowing boxers to become free agents mid-career. However, if a boxer wins a national, intercontinental or world title during the initial contract period, the manager retains the right to manage the boxer for another three years.
But eight years is the maximum. That means that a boxer aged 18 can become a free agent with a major championship under his belt at the age of 26 and negotiate his own terms.
By all accounts, this is a dramatic change to the sport in Korea and, sport insiders hope, will have a long-lasting impact on drawing prime fighters.
In its announcement last week, the KBC also stressed the need for more regular health checks to protect boxers. Naturally, parents and younger boxers want to see the sport’s dangers mitigated as much as possible.
After all, it’s only been a year since Korean boxer Choi Yo-sam died on Jan. 3, 2008 after defending his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title against Indonesian Heri Amol.
In this same spirit, the rules governing what constitutes a knockout have been modified. A referee can stop a fight on a technical knockout if he deems one of the fighters to be unable to continue. Whereas this is already the practice in other countries, referees in Korea habitually allowed fighters to box on as long as they could get off the canvass before the 10 second time-out.
While the modified contracts and rules seem long overdue to outsiders, Hwang of the KBC said veterans of the sport might find it hard to stomach the changes.
“Most promoters and managers today have been around sport since the ’60s and ’70s. It isn’t easy to drop methods that have been in place since the early days. People don’t always easily accept new methods,” Hwang said.
The KBC’s primary aim is to reverse the decline in the sport before it’s too late. “Once you encounter hard times, it’s difficult to break away from that cycle. As the quality of fights goes down, fans lose interest, which in turn leads to less media coverage and a loss of sponsorship. We are working on reversing that trend starting with improved quality of boxing and increased payouts to fighters,” Hwang said.
Woo Dong-ju, a former Korean and intercontinental champ who has been operating a boxing gym for the past eight years, says fight money is the issue.
“The biggest change that needs to take place is the increase of payout for fighters,” he said.
To this end, the KBC in its announcement also said it will raise the minimum guaranteed prize money to 5 million won starting in December of this year. That might not seem much, Hwang said, but it’s a positive step forward to help a marketable boxer make a lot of money.
The KBC also plans to host more events where fighters can showcase their skills, including a WBC world title event in Jeju Island in November this year.
Whether these changes achieve the desired effect is unclear at the moment. Some say it’s too early to tell, but Jang Byeong-in, the manager of the Soongmin Boxing Gym in Seoul and a former Korean and intercontinental title holder, is optimistic.
“We’ve taken a big step in the right direction,” he said.
Perhaps it’s only natural to compare Korean to Japanese boxing due to the long-standing rivalry between the two nations and because of the resurgence in the popularity of the sport in Japan over the past decade.
“It’s difficult to admit but we are currently behind Japan,” Hwang said.
“Boxing went through a similar slump in Japan, but there’s been a renaissance over the past decade. Japan currently boasts four world champs and two imported champs. They went through a tough period similar to what we’re experiencing at the moment and made it work. I believe the current changes can serve as a foundation for a renaissance of boxing in Korea within the next 10 years,” he said.
Yuh is also confident about the future. He wants nothing more than to see boxing reach mainstream popularity again.
“The KBC, managers, promoters and boxers must work together in unity in order for that to happen,” the former champ said.
By Jason Kim Staff Reporter [jason@joongang.co.kr]
By Jason Kim Staff Reporter
Source
Korea’s Impressive Line up Set to Sparkle at AIME2009
An impressive line up of Korean MICE industry specialists are scheduled to attend AIME2009 with eleven co-exhibitors set to work on the Korea Tourism Organization’s ‘Korea, Sparkling’ stand no. 3600.
Joining the ‘Korea, Sparkling’ stand will be the COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre Seoul together with the Seoul Tourism Organization, Busan Convention & Visitors Bureau together with Busan Metropolitan City Government, Daejeon Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gwangju Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau, Changwon Exhibition & Convention Centre and meeting specialists Aju Incentive Tours (DMC) Bosuk Tours Ltd. and H&T Co. Ltd.
As one of the world’s most sought after convention destinations, Korea has proven its ability to successfully hold international meetings.
According to UIA statistics Korea held 268 international meetings in 2007 and was ranked the 15th most popular convention hub in the world.
Among the countries in Asia, Korea was ranked the third most popular place for conventions after Singapore and Japan.
Korea is set to host two world scale events in the future with the world Athletics Championship in Daegu in 2011 and World Expo 2012 to be held in Yeosu City on the southern coastline of Korea.
The Expo’s theme ‘The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities’ is seen as part of a successful bid which resonates with the current global search for solutions to serious environmental issues.
Korea offers world-class convention and accommodation facilities and exciting pre and post tour programs which include experiences such as the Korean templestay program.
With easy international access and an excellent transportation system visitors can enjoy Korea’s 5,000 years of history and culture, its beautiful natural scenery, delicious cuisine, excellent shopping and a wide variety of night life.
Korea also offer’s world-class quality service and know-how acquired from the hosting of many successful large events like the 2002 FIFA World Cup Football.
Korea Tourism Organization has an excellent promotional guide ‘Korea, Your Sparkling Destination for Meetings’.
This detailed guide provides information on convention centres, major attractions in Korea and the advantages of choosing Korea for your next meeting.
The guide to Korea’s MICE industry will be freely available from the ‘Korea, Sparkling’ stand at AIME2009.
