Base Camp 2008 - Europe?

Gaieus

Can we have a base camp in Europe?

We should, one day. How about somewhere in Middle Europe? Say in Pécs, Hungary?

Mike Lucey

Ah! I see the news has broken. Of course I cannot comment I also think SUC must
have a presence there in order to spread the word and possibly provide live updates
on what is going on over the course of the event.

CA is such a long distance from Western Europe let alone Eastern Europe. I really
see a need for a SUC 3D Base Camp in Europe in the near future even if its only on a
small scale, 50-60 people.

I see Csaba is pushing Pecs again However the costs involved in organising such an
event are quite substantial! Just to outline what would be involved I have completed
the following exercise.

Lets say a 3 Day Event and call it 3D SUC Base Camp Europe
The location would have to be somewhere that SUC Members would be able to get
to atlow cost using Easy Jet, RyanAir or one on the other low cost
Airlines.
The event location should ideally be Hotel based that offers low cost accommodation
and reasonable Conference Facilities also Work Shop rooms.
Some rough costings for the flights, accommodation and ancillaries
Sub €200 return per attendee
Sub €200 for accommodation for 4 nights (two sharing bedroom) Singles would be
upwards of €350. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners lets say €150 for 4 days.
Some trips / outings would have to be organised, say an extra €100 This would
total approx. €550 per attendee (room sharing). Sub €500 should be the target.
It would be hoped that the Conference Facilities would be made available to the
3D SUC Base Camp Europe free of charge once a block booking is in place for the
accommodation.

I attended the @Last 3D Base Camp bash and must say that we were treated great.
It was fantastic meeting Brad and the @Last Team and they did everything in their
power to make all the attendees happy. The event was really well organised, both
the day time activities and the night entertainment. Google have a high standard to
match!

SUC could be talking about this until the 'cows come home' and never get anywhere
putting on and event. What is required is a dedicated / serious team to just get stuck
in an organise it and then announce the place and date.

If there are any forum members that are serious about doing this please PM me,
I'm up for it! Initially we would need two types of interested Members, ones that
are willing to attend and others that are willing to help out with the organisation.

The ones that are willing to attend would need to supply some information, something
along the following lines.

a. Name and location (where they would travel from)
b. Suitable time of the year to attend an event
c. Maximum payable for Travel / accommodation

The guys that are interested in helping to organise should supply the above also any ideas
they have with regard to the event and what they can offer by the way of contacts
(hotels etc) and ancillary stuff, presentations etc.

As I said, we can talk about it orjust do it! Anyone interested please PM me
and we can set up a sub forum to bring 3D SUC BaseCamp Europe further among interested
members.

Mike

EasyJet Destinations.png

RyanAir Destinations.png

Gaieus

Mike, I'm not "pushing" Pécs actually though my offer was serious. I have organised quite a lot of meetings, seminars already so I know how it is.
Also remember that accomodation and food is waaay cheaper here than anywhere in Western Europe. I wouldn't target €150 for food but about €50 only hetre. Also accomodation could be affordable for way less than half the price you mention (see this hotel I just picked - and for its beautiful location, not the prices).
A nice round trip around the area (wine sampling & dinner included) could be arranged about €10-20 per person...

True though that you'd have to pay some €30 for the round trip by train from Budapest to Pécs (and back). And it's about a 3 hour ride also.

These things just made me think a little bit.

Alan Fraser

....and Ryanair flies to Lake Balaton. Mmmm! I can taste the Bulls Blood already.

Gaieus

Yes, also to Balaton (and if they make the airport of Pécs longer, to Pécs as well).

Well, actually Bulls Blood is a product of Northern Hungary (around the city of Eger). What we have in the vicinity is this: http://www.borut.hu/index.php?lang=eng
You can make a decent trip visiting historic places (castle, Turkish mosque, Serbias Pravoslav church etc), an open air statue gallery (or what it would be) and end up in one of the wine cellars for dinner and such...

As for Pécs, have a look at this site: http://www.pecs.hu/varosnezes/index2.php?lang=1

Edit:
Ah yeah, and we wouldn't need to hire a tour guide either I teach tour guides so there shouldn't be any problem...

Gaieus

IF we decide to organise some kind of a meeting here (or anywhere else in Europe), yes indeed it would be nice from Google to support it in some way.

Jeremy Nicholls

Well, looking at the Easyjet map you posted Mike, the obvious central location for Europe is JERSEY!!

I'm booked to fly Easyjet from Bristol to Geneva in July. Could be an intersting trip!

Jeremy

Gaieus

Another idea - after all the EU is in Europe; how about applying for some EU funds to finance such a meeting?

Mike Lucey

Csaba,

How about aiming for something small initially, 20-30 members. What's the skiing like in Hungary around Jan - Feb?

Mike

Gaieus

No skiing... We had big snow (for about a couple weeks) exceptionally this year but also theer aren't enough big hills around.

As for the number of people participating... Well, what if more would like to join?

Mike Lucey

Scaba,

I think we should think small for the first event.I would be inclined to base the SUC get together on the ArchiCAD Summer / Winter Schools formula. They are held every year and are very successful.

I still think that we have to put a 'behind the scenes' Steering Commitee into force sooner
rather than later and just get on with it. This way maybe we can organise something for the 'off season' when better value is to be had.

Mike

Gaieus

That's true, Mike. I didn't even think of hundreds of people - just a busload maybe (about 50).

Yeah, the whole idea is still so new that it needs some thinking.

linea

I'll come csaba

Frederik

Regardless of where an eventual Basecamp Europe will be (within EU - of course) I will definitely be interested..!!
Count me in Csaba...

dylan

The main thing is to choose a place where everyone can fly to and with an airport used by some, or one of the low cost airlines.

This is a useful indication of airports with EasyJet

http://www.easyjet.com/EN/routemap/

thinkbuild

Berlin!

It doesn't get much better ...
and, seriously, ryanair, easyjet, they are all here ....

toxicvoxel

If all else fails and we cant knock this together this year why not arrange a Virtual Base Camp for the Europeans running over a week with webinars from all over?

toponypy

hi guys,
I live in Belgium, so my obvious first choice was Brussels, the European capital, but on second thoughts I think Hungary is a far better choice.
I think I even could deduct it from my income taxes
So yes I'm really interested.

Mike Lucey

Thanks Tony for showing support. We are working on
something

Mike

sepo

Did somebody mention skiing? If it is January ...good deals in Austria for sure. Somewhere in Salzburgerland would be perfect. Cheep flights as well to Salzburg.