Talk:Wikimania 2008/Bids/Alexandria

Committees

For those interested in the next steps[1].--Simonpedia 21:07, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Carbon neutral?

Will the conference and the flights to it be carbon neutral? -- Jeandré, 2007-08-24t20:09z

Strong bid

Congratulations on a strong bid and wish you luck. Jidanni 01:54, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Summary of meeting the judging citeria

• Accommodation: proximity to venue (0.65 Km, 0.4 Miles) , suitability, cost, variety available, availability for the event as well as for the hacking days and post-event meetings
• Funding: amount of local sponsorship available
• General location: proximity to an international airport (4 Km, 2.5 Miles), facilities nearby (restaurants, tourist sites for outings, etc) (BA is a main tourist site in Alexandria)
• Internet access: access within the venue (the fastest in Alexandria: 1.5 Mb/sec wirless LAN) , access within the accommodation, access within the social areas. Whether or not free access can be provided. Whether or not the area is covered by wi-fi. Provision of laptop rental (and cost of this)
• Local laws, customs, attitudes, and culture: whether these are likely to provide any benefits or problems for attendees, and whether they are in keeping with the values of the Wikimedia Foundation
• Press: Media interest and PR opportunities: prior and expected interest, both locally and internationally
• Organizing team: number of local Wikimedians willing to help, skills available (technical, networking, PR, financial, English language for communication with WMF/international communities, etc.), experience with arranging prior events and conferences
• Rotation of location: whether the location is too close to Wikimania location in the preceding years
• Social areas: whether a space for socialising is available, whether that space is open 24 hours a day, proximity to venue and accommodation, facilities available (food, drinks, internet access)
• Travel: costs of travel to the location from various countries, particularly those with high numbers of Wikimedians, options available for travel (alternatives to flying)
• Venue: suitability, proximity to accommodation, number and size of rooms available, whether Wikimania will be the sole user of the venue during the event, venue owner's experience with handling conferences of this size
• Visas/immigration: any issues with attending this location from any other location, difficulty and cost, possibility of local help with getting these (such as Chapter support)

Sponsorship opportunities

Hi, could you elaborate on this topic too? Effeietsanders 13:53, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Hi Effeietsanders, We're already working on this topic and of course is one of our top priorities. We're still in the phase of negotiations and trying to contact companies that can be interested. Confirmed information will be available on the page as soon as possible. Thank you --Mido 16:14, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

OK, thanks for informing :) I was a little scared because no information at all was mentioned on the page. Effeietsanders 16:40, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

If you like to know, I am glad to share.

Hi, Wikimania 2008 bidders,

I was informed by an Alexandria bidder that it is necessary for bidders to take a look of the WM07 budget, for your better imagination and calculation. I would love to share these information with you, and I have already started to write a summary report in detail for better organization of Wikimania. (Though it is still in Chinese currently) As a member of the Wikimania 2008 bidding jury, I hope every bidding team are on the same ground. So, there's nothing I have already told to Alexandria.

The budget is in my Google docs and spreadsheets. I think it will be good that every bidding team could let one person to read the WM07 budget. However, we had signed some agreements with confidential obligations, so I hope that the person who I share the budget with could help me on this. Don't show it to people not related to your bidding. If it is not hard for you to follow, then please inform me the person's email. :)

Titan Deng | Theodoranian--theodoranian 17:24, 13 September 2007 (UTC) Wikimania 2007 Coordinator

Flight costs

To avoid another taipei-scam (flight costs underestimated by thousands of dollars) I am going to check on Expedia all the flight costs indicated. But I am fair, so I am leaving you guys some time to "check for errors"...

And I am helping you too! Just to begin, I can say that flying roundtrip from Rome to Alexandria 3-10 aug 2008 will cost no less than 1284$ (rome-milan with Alitalia, Milan-Alex with Egyptair, return with Olimpic). And wo both know that 1284 =/= 599.

Please check those prices and be sure they are ROUND TRIP, ALL INCLUDED. If I get to check them and find them wrong, that could be very unpleasant for your bid. --Jollyroger 10:31, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

Clearly stated above the table of flight costs [2], that it's to Cairo not Alexandria. Estimations are from Expedia.com. --Mido 20:44, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

Why Cairo? Isn't the BA in Alexandria? Are you going to provide free shuttle service? --Jollyroger 07:42, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

p.s. at least your flight prices to Cairo are mostly correct. I appreciate the fairness.

Yes the BA is going to provide free transportation from and to Cairo airport, for regular attendees and VIPs.--Moushira 22:47, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Perfect! So it could be reasonable to check for flight to Cairo. I see we have an agreement, here... --Jollyroger 08:24, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

Sponsorships

Question: Are the companies listed under your sponsorships section companies that have committed to donations if Alexandria is selected, or are they listed as opportunities that have not yet been confirmed? You should probably clarify this. LaMenta3 16:52, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Basically, Gawab and eSpace are donating with somehow a clear estimate of their contribution, check the bid page for details. Other sponsors are almost confirmed, but still with rough contribution estimate. Other powerful and almost confirmed sponsors are also involved, however they will not be revealed before Alexandria already wins the bid. --Moushira 22:52, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Can I ask why certain businesses are volunteering an amount even if you don't get the bid? No business in Atlanta has volunteered an amount to us if we don't get the bid; however, if we do, we will probably get guarantees. Is this just a "not America business" thing? Because I don't understand how businesses would volunteer a dollar amount even if it's not a sure thing. Don't they have to look out for their bottom line? Mike Halterman 09:22, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Greetings Mike, Who said that "certain businesses are volunteering an amount even if you don't get the bid"? maybe I didn't get your question but I dun think local companies (and local branches of international organizations) would sponsor the event if it's not held in their country. I hope I didn't misunderstand your words. --Mido 14:49, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

You made it sound as if these businesses are volunteering a dollar amount to give to your bid, before it is even selected. My question is, how did you get that to happen? None of the businesses we contacted in America would even consider throwing a dollar amount at us, because of the simple fact that we might not get it. So I don't understand; is that just an America thing, or what? Mike Halterman 22:08, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Hi Mike, How are you doing? Like Mido, I don't clearly understand your question, as well. But maybe Alexandria case is different since we don't have a local chapter and fund is being raised for the sake of Wikimania. Basically, no money will be paid if we don't host the event. When we raise fund for the local chapter there might be a different details. --Moushira 23:38, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Hi, I think that Mike's question is mainly how you persuaded them to already say "yes, if the event will be here, we will sponsor it!" I understand that this is generally quite hard, because some companies, if not most of them, are even only willing to consider a sponsorship if it is certain that the event will be held in that location. The fact that you already found a few sponsors is worth a compliment from me, btw! Effeietsanders 10:44, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

I would still like to see an answer to this question. How is it that you have already gotten companies to give you money when you have not yet won the bid. Are they naive? Or have they been under the assumption that you have won the bid already? Swatjester 21:16, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

I Think Moushira was clear: Basically, no money will be paid if we don't host the event., we only have a promised sponsor if we won the bid, where does it say we already got the money? Last year, Taiwan was able to give a rough estimate based on what was promised as sponsorship if they won, this is practically the case? --Shipmaster 21:37, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

Flight

As for flight, I searched the flight price of Kansai International - Alexandria (round trip) on my travel agent, it gave me around $800+ at Qatar Airline (compare with the table, it gives $2100 if Air France). Of course we must pay additional charges, perhaps $300 or so, but it is still a difference of prices ... you may want to update the table, while I am convinced jury will carefully check every detail themselves. --Aphaia 05:02, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Thank you Aphaia for your notice. My search ended with a price of $1500 on Egypt Air. Ofcourse such prices listed are not final ones. When it comes to booking, that will be a different issue. I understand that the listed prices should at least reflect the range of a ticket price rather than the exact amount. I shall try to fix such exaggerated ones.--TheEgyptian 09:39, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

You are welcome. Anyway no flight careers give us the rate on the next August, and it will be higher than the cost now available (the flight I mentioned on an assumption of Oct 31 departure, and sorry, still flight to Alex is the second expensive). As my suggestions, not only for Alexandria, prices from San Francisco, New York, Paris, Frankfurt, Taipei and San Tiago will be the minimum set, since we are sure someone will show from those places. I would recommend to add some African cities, including Cape Town and Dar-Es-Saram, Tanzania. --Aphaia 09:51, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

• Cape Town, South Africa(CPT) to Cairo, Egypt (CAI) = $849 with Egypt Air.
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (DAR) to Cairo, Egypt (CAI) = $1187 with Emirates.
• Tunis, Tunisia (TUN) to Cairo, Egypt (CAI) = $440 with Alitalia.
• Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) to Cairo, Egypt (CAI) $429 with Alitalia.

--TheEgyptian 11:55, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

I disagree with the principles stated by Aphaia. It is important to have a common meter of judgement. Ok, most flight prices will be slightly different if booked later, but it is not fair to compete showing final-lowseason-incomplete-prices instead of extimated-highseason-taxincluded-prices. Of course the prices may vary, but may vary together, yours as other bidders ones. Still, it is better to have something nearest to a "common cost index" than the-lowest-price-available if those prices are related to a different time of the year, may or may not include taxes and extra fares, are from special limited offers and such. --Jollyroger 08:50, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

Accommodation

It is not clear to me on the wikimapia picture where the Collège is. My Arabic is a little rusty :P. Also, could you be more precise as to what exact accommodation is available in the Collège. ie. dorms with bunk beds, or dorms with 5 beds at ground level? That kind of stuff. Thank you. notafish }<';> 14:32, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

I've just added a geocode to the image of San Mark School, on the right hand side of the page. On the wikimapia picture, it's the one to the right, with a green playground and oblong orange roof with a dome. It's almost the same area as that of the BA.--TheEgyptian 16:19, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

All beds are normal not bunk and at ground level, I have added pictures from the rooms and dining halls, hope it helps. --Shipmaster 14:16, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

Congratulations

Congratulations on winning the bid. I look forward to coming next summer. Aude 17:36, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Thank you Aude, looking forward to see you here! --Mido 19:08, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Human rights

Seen elsewhere:

   I'm offended that the desire to have Wikimania hop around the globe
(rotation) trumps the egregious history Egypt has with LGBT and other
civil rights (local laws). While visitors to Egypt are certainly not at
the same risk, I refuse to spend any money in a country that -- as

Give Alexandria a chance. I'm sure it will be a great conference. Jidanni 01:07, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

• Please refere also to the discussion that's going on here. thanks. Maysara 04:24, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

From Cairo to Alexandria?

How to goto Alexandria from Cairo Airport? By train or plane or bus?--122.116.104.4 16:31, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

About mexican pesos exchange rate

I don't know if this is the right place to post about this but... The mexican pesos exchange rate to egyptian currency is blatantly wrong. Considering that an american dollar is worth around 11 pesos, and that the same american dollar is worth 5.6 EGP , a rough conversion would be that a mexican peso is worth around 0.5 EGP , not the ridiculous 0.00370898 EGP that the bid mention it is worth. Please fix it, thanks (I will sign as an IP because I dont have an account in wikimedia but I do in Wikipedia) --201.103.137.52 05:45, 8 March 2008 (UTC)