Avvio.com Deliver Keynote Address At Limerick Seminar

One of the world’s leading providers of web-enabled hotel software this week delivered the keynote address at a Breakfast Seminar, organised by the Sales Institute of Ireland Mid-West.

Brian Reeves, Managing Director of Avvio.com briefed those in attendance at the Absolute Hotel, Harry’s Mall, Limerick, on how the University of Limerick-based firm has evolved from being a small company to a multinational success. Avvio is the leading provider of online reservation and marketing software for hotels and serviced accommodation providers, working with over 700 hotel clients worldwide. In Ireland alone, the firm delivers online results for well-known hotels, including Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, The Merrion Hotel, The K Club, The Dylan and Moran Hotels.

Commenting on his keynote address, Mr. Reeves said, ‘the presentation looked at how the sales challenges evolved for Avvio, from a small company setting out to the complexity today of competing with Leading Multinationals. I spoke of some of the sales and commercial challenges the company has faced, as well as lessons learned along the way.’ Meanwhile, Mr. Reeves confirmed that Avvio.com would be looking to further extend its transnational operation when it attends the World Travel Market from 10-13 November 2008.

Staged annually in London, World Travel Market is a vibrant four-day business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to international travel professionals. ‘Avvio.com will host its own stand in the Technology and Online Travel section. This event is a unique opportunity for us to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with other players in the global travel trade market’, explained Mr. Reeves.

Founded in 2002 by two Limerick brothers, Brian & Frank Reeves, Avvio is on course to increase its turnover eight-fold in three years and has grown to employ over 40 staff in their offices in Limerick, Dublin & Germany. Going forward, the company has aggressive plans to increase their market share in the UK & Asian market, through direct sales and strategic partnerships. With a background in electrical engineering and psychology, Managing Director Brian’s insight into Internet user behaviour coupled with Frank’s background in software engineering, having previously worked for Sun Microsystems, earned the brothers a recent shortlist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

The company’s suite of software products, Avvio Suite, yielded in excess of EUR45million in accommodation bookings for clients in 2007. For more LoCall 1890 30 2000 or visit www.avvio.com

University Of Limerick Awarded EUR5M Grant To Combat MRSA

The University of Limerick has secured a EUR5M technology research contract aimed at significantly reducing MRSA infection rates in hospitals across the world.

The trans-European project team plans to use nanotechnology to develop MRSA-resistant textiles such as hospital gowns and beddings, which can kill bacteria and be self-sterilising. Project partners include nine other European agencies, as well as NUI Galway and Irish companies BeoCare and Cook Medical.

“The spread of drug-resistant germs such as MRSA is a major public health concern”, stated Dr. Tofail Syed, Project Coordinator. He commented, “A significant element of the MRSA problem arises from the use of conventional textiles such as hospital gowns, curtains, beddings and pillow covers. As a result, hospital sterility has been a major concern in countries like Ireland, Germany and Belgium. We intend to develop nanotechnology-derived textiles that will help hospitals in their fight against MRSA.”

In the EU alone, in excess of 3 million people develop an infection arising from hospital-based infections, resulting in approximately 50,000 deaths per annum. One in 10 patients entering a European hospital will develop an infection caused by drug-resistant microbes such as the hospital super bug, MRSA. Dr. Syed explained, “In Southern and Western Europe, over 40 per cent of hospitals have significant problems with the MRSA super bug. We are confident of redressing this statistic through our research and development of MRSA-resistant textiles.”

MRSA-resistant textile is one of the four major health issues that the UL-led consortium will address in the 3-year research programme funded by the European Commission under its Framework Programme 7 (Nanotechnology, Materials and Production). The other health issues include plaque-resistant cardio-vascular stents, urinary stents with less stone formation and bone implants that will heal more rapidly than their conventional equivalents.

According to Mr. Liam Brown, UL Director of Research Support, “The project addresses four major areas of European healthcare that affect the quality of life of European citizens and cost European states considerable amount of money. In particular, cardiovascular disease is the cause of half of deaths in Europe, accounting for in excess of 2 million deaths per year. Arterial thrombosis contributes significantly and the project will directly address this issue”.

Mr. Brown, who is also an Enterprise Ireland National Delegate on Framework Programme 7, added that bone diseases remained a major health concern for Europe due to the continent’s ageing population. He said, “Half of all chronic conditions of those aged 65 and over are caused by osteoarthritis and among the younger population, the occurrence of bone injuries is increasing because of more leisure activity and accidents. A direct output of the project will be the stimulating of bone growth by 30%.”

Limerick Households Face Long Cold Winter As Energy Costs Soar

Thousands of householders across Limerick City and County will be unable to adequately heat their homes this winter and will suffer health problems as a result, a leading renewable energy association has warned.

The Renewable Energy Skills Skillnet (RESS) claims that the combination of shrinking purchasing power, energy inefficient homes, an inadequate fuel allowance scheme and forecasts of a colder winter than last year will leave many Limerick families unable to afford the recent and imminent hikes in energy costs. The industry-led organisation says that on average a fill of a tank of home heating oil will cost householders EUR800, compared to EUR600 in 2007.

RESS has now called on the Government and Limerick Local Authorities to examine ways of alleviating the pressures on the elderly and low-income households to heat their homes during the coming months. ‘It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that vulnerable sections of the community are provided with as much assistance as possible. In particular, it should look at increasing the winter fuel allowance, which operates for 30 weeks from September to April’, said Johnny Flynn, RESS Chairperson. He continued, ‘The existing fuel allowance of EUR18 a week barely covers the cost of a bag of coal, which would not even keep the smallest of homes heated for a week. While RESS acknowledges that the fuel allowance has doubled since 2006, we would ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to consider a further increase to help alleviate the effects of fuel poverty.’

Mr. Flynn, who is an Environmentalist, Engineer and Town Councillor in Ennis, added, ‘The Government and Sustainable Energy Ireland should consider expanding the Greener Homes Scheme to include local authority rented accommodation units. Long-term tenants should be entitled to individually apply for grants to improve energy efficiency and to incorporate renewable technologies in their homes.’

Mr. Flynn pointed out that Limerick Local Authorities could also play a significant role in helping householders to heat their homes. He said, ‘RESS urges Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council to prepare contingency plans to assist tenants in meeting high-energy costs and heating their homes. This is particularly the case for known urban banks of poorly heated social housing units. The time to act is now and not when we are in the middle of this impending crisis.’

Meanwhile, RESS has warned that Limerick will struggle to achieve building efficiency ratings of 60 per cent within ten years, as envisaged by the EU. The organisation, utilising figures from a new report by the Irish Institute for International and European Affairs, said it would cost an estimated EUR2.17 billion for Limerick to achieve this target by 2018.

Dick Whelan, RESS Project Leader, said the introduction of environmentally sound construction methods and materials in the building of new homes was being undermined by the fact that approximately two thirds of Limerick homes built before 1997 were poorly insulated and energy inefficient, and nowhere near meeting national energy efficiency targets.

Mr. Whelan stated that householders across the country were continuing to waste millions of Euro each year on heating poorly insulated homes and the situation was unlikely to improve without intervention by the Government and Limerick Local Authorities. ‘Apart from reducing fuel and electricity bills, a more energy-efficient home will help Ireland to meet its legally-binding climate change commitments and provide greater protection for householders against future increases in fuel costs, as well as making the use of renewable energy technologies a more practical option’, concluded Mr. Whelan.

RESS was set up in 2004 to provide training and support to plumbing and heating contractors and related trades and professionals involved in the design, specification, installation and maintenance of Renewable Energy Heating Systems. The network offers FETAC accredited courses in Building Energy Rating, Biomass, Solar and Heatpump technologies as well as training in a wide range of other related topics.

Meanwhile, RESS will host the 4th National Renewable Energy Heating Conference in The Shannon Shamrock Conference Centre, Bunratty, Co Clare on Friday 17th October 2008. The key focus of this year’s conference, which will feature a keynote address from Mr. Tom Parlon, Director General of the Construction Industry Federation, will be the promotion of quality assurance within the renewable energy heating industry. National and international experts will explore its importance and benefits in the design, supply and installation of renewable energy heating technologies both in Ireland and abroad. Michael Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and TD for Galway East, will also address the conference.

Persons interested in attending the Conference or any of the renewable energy training events provided nationally should visit www.renewableenergy.ie, call 061 514 598 or email info@renewableenergy.ie.