[governance] Re: Location of Rio IGF

[Lee McKnight]

Hey folks,

My wife's Brazilian, without knowing all specifics here's how it sounds to me: the hotel is away from city center,  sounds relatively safe, but pricey area. Taxis on the other hand are reasonable in Brazil, but yes price escalation may happen if you act too obviously clueless.

Just guessing here, but there should be some downmarket properties out there too, but yeah Rio is a major tourist destination and they make tourists pay world market prices for accommadations. If Carlos doesn;t have specific suggestions a cs type in rio could scout the neigborhood. Or perhaps my pal Antonio Botelho of PUC-Rio could weigh in here on the environs of http://www.windsorhoteis.com.br/en-us/conv.asp?hid=23 ?

Lee  

Prof. Lee W. McKnight
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University
+1-315-443-6891office
+1-315-278-4392 mobile

>>> jeanette at wz-berlin.de 2/17/2007 6:45 AM >>>


Adam Peake schrieb:
> Vittorio, Ralf:
> 
> I'll ask for clarification on cost and location. Though Carlos may be 
> the most reliable and informed source.  Would be good if someone could 
> describe the neighbourhood around the hotel.

I raised this point with Carlos in Geneva.

My concern is that security related precautions focus on the expensive 
conference venue while civil society people have to stay elsewhere. This 
may cause problems especially for women.
The organizers promised shuttle buses. We really need to insist that 
they run frequently, and that the shuttle service will be organized in a 
more efficient way than in Tunis. (I remember that night where, after 
having been driven around for more than an hour, the driver insisted 
that Izumi leaves the bus because he wasn't in the mood to do an extra 
tour to his hotel...)
jeanette
> 
> Last week the advisory group made clear to the Brazilian hosts that 
> there must be low cost quick food available during the meeting, and 
> affordable accommodation is important (I think we can expect Brazil to 
> understand this.)
> 
> On the location.
> 
> Looking for facilities capable of holding a meeting or around 2000 
> people. We need a modern environment that can handle demands for power 
> and Internet access.  We want more varied space options than were 
> offered in Athens.  The meeting will be free, and like Athens I expect 
> those wishing to hold events (workshops, reasonable side events) will 
> not be charged (I don't know this for a fact, just following what 
> happened in Athens - another thing to check.)  So we should be 
> thoughtful when making comments about cost.
> 
> I think we can expect all IGF locations to be somewhat up-market.  The 
> local host is hosting UN meeting with all that entails (including 
> security.)  They will be inviting other governments and their 
> representatives, we can expect to see all IGFs anchored around 
> facilities a govt would like to invite other governments to. Highly 
> unlikely any IGF will be located in a "cheap" neighborhood (what 
> conference ever is?) At the same time, because the host will pick up the 
> full cost of the event we shouldn't be surprised if they are not located 
> in prime downtown locations but some smart but cheaper (cheaper for the 
> facility) slightly out of the way place.
> 
> Athens was an awkward location, but there was an affordable (mid-range 
> -- 80 Euro/$100) hotel 50 meters away, other cheaper places were served 
> by buses.
> 
> Adam
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 8:19 PM +0100 2/16/07, Ralf Bendrath wrote:
>> Vittorio Bertola wrote:
>>>> <http://www.windsorhoteis.com.br/en-us/conv.asp?hid=23>
>>> "Only 18 km from Copacabana"?
>> We are not going on holiday.
>>
>> This here concerns me more:
>>
>> "Barra da Tijuca is Rio´s most modern living complex and community; 
>> sophisticated, vibrant and offering innumerable attractions such as 
>> fine bars and restaurants serving world class cuisine, air-conditioned 
>> mega shopping malls featuring world famous fashions and designers 
>> labels, theme parks, ecological reserves and sports of all types."
>>
>> That sounds like a really expensive neighbourhood. I wonder if we will 
>> be able to find cheap accomodation and eating options around.[1]
>>
>> Any clues from our Brazilian colleagues?
>>
>> Ralf
>>
>> [1] Bus shuttles suck and also lead to less networking and 
>> collaboration in the evenings, which was really important in Athens.
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