Tag Archives: partnerships

CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE EXAMPLES OF DISNEYLAND’S PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMPANIES FOR MARKETING PURPOSES

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Disneyland has a long history of creative partnerships with other leading brands to enhance the theme park experience and promote mutual marketing opportunities. Some of Disneyland’s most high-profile corporate alliances have generated significant benefits for both companies through shared intellectual property, product integration, collaborative campaigns, and more.

One of Disney’s longest-running partnerships has been with Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has had an exclusive beverage contract with Disney Parks for decades, making it the only cola available for purchase within the parks. In return, Disney Parks allow Coca-Cola to promote its brand throughout the resorts with signage, pouring/tap handles in quick service locations, and integration into park media like fireworks shows. Coca-Cola branding is also featured prominently at Disney Springs outside the Disney World parks. This partnership offers Coke ubiquitous visibility to its captive Disney Parks audience in exchange for lucrative sponsorship dollars.

Another notable partnership is Disneyland’s alliance with McDonald’s. The in-park McDonald’s locations prominently feature classic Disney characters on packaging, cups, signs, and more. McDonald’s kids’ meals also regularly offer Disney toy tie-ins. For its part, Disney benefits from McDonald’s support of major park experiences like fireworks and parades. Their shared branding further aligns the family-focused images of both companies. Like Coke, McDonald’s visibility throughout the Disney Parks allows it to reach guests where they spend much of their time.

Starbucks has also partnered closely with Disney Parks in recent years. Within Disney World and Disneyland, Starbucks outlets can be found and feature exclusive Disney-themed drinks, mugs, and merchandising similar to the McDonald’s partnership. Custom blended park-only Starbucks beverages help generate buzz. Additionally, Disney and Starbucks have collaborated on co-branded products sold outside the parks through retail partnerships. Their alliance affords Starbucks a high-profile presence where families gather as well as promotional opportunities beyond the parks themselves.

Disney has also struck lucrative deals with major hotel brands like Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel (a Disneyland Resort hotel managed by Disney but themed after the defunct Paradise Pier area of Disney California Adventure park) and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida). These hotels operate under the Disney banner but are owned and managed by hotel chains like Hilton or Hyatt. They allow Disney to significantly expand its available guest rooms without major capital outlays. The hotel brands in turn receive Disney’s promotional machine behind them as well as integration into the Disney travel ecosystem like booking sites and vacation packages.

Another notable partnership was Disney’s multi-year alliance with American Airlines. American provided significant ad support for Disney films and resort promotions in exchange for branding placements within the parks themselves. American logos, check-in counters, and boarding pass distribution points populated Disney transportation hubs. The airline also offered special Disney-themed flight amenities and vacation packages. This union afforded both sides valuable advertising before ultimately ending in 2021 when American’s marketing budget was reduced during the pandemic.

Turning to product tie-ins, few deals have been as wide-reaching as Disney’s alliance with McDonald’s, with Happy Meal toys accompanying every major Disney and Pixar film release. Mattel has also had a global umbrella licensing agreement with Disney since 2014 to produce toys for Disney, Pixar and Marvel properties across action figures, dolls, playsets and more. These lucrative product integration partnerships align Disney intellectual property with family brands while driving kids (and their parents) to purchase tied merchandise across retail settings from stores to the parks themselves.

Within the parks, long-time sponsor GEICO maintains a prominent booth presence where guests can visit for discounts, activities and character photo opportunities. Pandora Jewelry has agreements for shop placements in Disney Springs specifically while other local sponsors like Edwards Theatres support Disney event programming. The NBA Experience, an interactive basketball-themed attraction located at Disney Springs, celebrates Disney’s deal with the NBA where league branding and highlights feature strongly.

To summarize, Disneylands’ corporate partnerships over decades have strategically integrated sponsors within the parks themselves as well as through collaborative campaigns, products, and promotions extending well beyond the gates. These alliances are an essential part of the Disney business model, driving new revenues while building even stronger ties between Disney properties and beloved family brands. They exemplify how creative business relationships can be mutually beneficial when each side understands the distinct value their respective audiences bring to the partnership experience.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN SMART CITY CYBERSECURITY

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Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are becoming increasingly common in the smart cities sector as more responsibilities for critical infrastructure are shared between government agencies and private companies. When it comes to cybersecurity, PPPs allow for expertise, resources, and capabilities from both the public and private sectors to be leveraged to better protect smart city systems and data from growing cyber threats. Here are some key examples of PPPs that have emerged for smart city cybersecurity:

One major example is Singapore’s Smart Nation Cybersecurity Collaboration Programme. Through this program, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore partners with over 30 technology companies like Cisco, Thales, and DXC Technology to co-develop solutions, conduct joint testing and training, and share threat intelligence. The goal is to foster a collaborative ecosystem to strengthen the cyber defenses of Singapore’s smart nation initiatives. Some specific projects under this program include developing an IoT security certification framework and establishing an AI and cyber range lab for testing new technologies.

In Europe, the city of Barcelona has engaged in a long-term PPP with Telefonica to develop and run its smart city command center and operations. Part of this partnership involves jointly managing Barcelona’s cyber risk, with Telefonica providing security services and monitoring for the city’s IT and IoT infrastructure. They conduct regular vulnerability assessments, patch management, malware detection and response. Some of the data shared between the city and Telefonica is also anonymized and analyzed to help strengthen future security measures for smart city systems.

In the U.S., a number of state and local governments have initiated smart city PPPs focused on cybersecurity. For example, the state of Rhode Island has partnered with Johnson Controls, Dell Technologies and other tech firms via the Rhode Island FastFund program to deploy smart city technologies like connected street lights. These companies provide ongoing security services and incident response capabilities to the state as the programs expand. Meanwhile in Columbus, Ohio the extensive smart city testbed known as Smart Columbus has engaged with Qualcomm to implement mobile-first security solutions and edge computing architectures integrated with the city’s operations technology systems.

On a broader scale, organizations like the non-profit CyberSecurity Coalition in Los Angeles facilitate collaboration between the public sector, private enterprises, and academia to enhance protection of critical infrastructure across the region. Key initiatives have included conducting emergency response exercises that replicate data breaches or cyberattacks against smart city utilities. Coalition members work together to identify vulnerabilities, simulate incidents, and improve coordination of recovery efforts between different stakeholders.

In the transportation sector, public transit agencies have signed deals with security giants like Cisco to deploy next-generation network and endpoint security across rail, bus and autonomous vehicle fleets. Widespread deployment of WiFi, ticketing, SCADA and other smart mobility technologies have increased cyber risk profiles, driving a need for scalable managed security services delivered through PPPs. For example, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York partnered with BT to fortify security controls for IT, operational technology and passenger facing systems used across the subway, commuter rail and bus network serving millions daily.

On a city level, both Boston and Atlanta have pursued comprehensive smart city PPPs with Accenture that entail applying cybersecurity best practices and governance frameworks across all stages of new IoT project deployment. Services include security architecture design, access management, encryption, monitoring for anomalies, incident response procedures, vulnerability management and employee training. These engagements recognize that robust security must be “baked in” from initial planning of smart city systems rather than an afterthought.

Looking ahead, more PPPs are sure to emerge that take cybersecurity collaboration between cities and technology vendors to the next level. Joint security operation centers, community hacker spaces for controlled “attack” simulations, cross-sector information sharing arrangements and combined research on next-gen security controls are some areas ripe for deeper cooperation through public-private models. With collective resources and expertise unified, smart cities stand the best chance of defending against inevitable cyber threats constantly evolving alongside new connected infrastructure and digital services.

As the surface area of attack for malicious cyber actors continues expanding due to growing smart city deployments, forging strategic security partnerships between government, industry and research will remain mission critical. Examples demonstrated that PPPs provide a framework for the public and private sectors to jointly invest, innovate and problem solve and boost cyber defenses for these complex, interconnected urban networks of the future.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

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One of the largest and most prominent examples of a successful PPP is the expansion and modernization of the Panama Canal. In 1997, the government of Panama signed a concession agreement with the Panama Canal Authority (APC) to greatly expand the capacity of the Canal in a partnership that would last for many decades. A consortium called Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) was awarded the contract and investing over $5 billion to widen the Canal and add a new set of locks. This allowed the Canal to handle much larger post-Panamax ships. The expanded Canal was completed ahead of schedule and under budget in 2016. It has been credited with significantly boosting Panama’s economy and prospects for growth.

In India, public-private partnerships have played a major role in expanding infrastructure, improving services, and promoting development. For example, in the power sector, the state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India set up a joint venture called Power Link Transmission Company to improve the transmission network. Private investors put in the majority of funding which allowed for major projects to be completed on time and at lower cost than if done publicly. Reliable electricity access across India has increased substantially due to such partnerships.

In the transportation sphere, some standout PPPs include building or upgrading major highways and ports. The Golden Quadrilateral highway project connected the four major cities across India through over 5,000 kilometers of modern highways constructed by 2005. Private consortiums were responsible for the design-build-finance-operate-transfer model which sped up delivery significantly. India also has some of the busiest container ports globally now thanks to partnership redevelopments like the project in Nhava Sheva which boosted annual capacity from 700,000 to over 3.2 million TEUs.

Another area where PPPs thrived is urban development and housing. For example, in Surat, Gujarat, a Public-Private-Community Partnership redeveloped congested informal settlements into well-planned neighborhoods with widespread community support. Private developers worked with municipal agencies and local participation to provide new housing, public facilities, and livelihood opportunities in a major slum upgrading project. The innovative model delivered social and economic benefits for low-income residents and set a precedent for inclusive urban regeneration programs nationwide.

In Indonesia, private sector investment has also been effectively mobilized through partnerships to expand infrastructure. One pioneering instance is the Jakarta Inner Toll Roads project constructing over 50 kilometers of tolled urban expressways. A BOT (build-operate-transfer) agreement with a government-owned corporation and private consortium saw the routes completed in 2005 for around $650 million in investment. It relieved chronic traffic congestion in the capital and its success led to numerous other similar highway PPPs across the archipelago.

Another notable case is Patimban Port in Subang, West Java. As Indonesia’s economy and imports/exports grew rapidly, existing seaport capacities struggled to keep up with demand. Under a 35-year concession from 2014, a private operator has invested $3 billion in building new container and general cargo terminals at Patimban, along with connecting roads and railways. When fully operational by 2024, it will triple Indonesia’s total container handling capacity and attract more industrial zones and economic activity to the region, representing exactly the kind of transformative infrastructure PPP envisioned to support development goals.

Moving to the health sector, Kenya has seen its healthcare system expanded and access to services rise substantially through public-private cooperation. Kenyatta National Hospital, Africa’s largest referral medical center, underwent an ambitious PPP renovation and expansion project. Concesses designed, built, and now operate modern patient accommodation towers, parking facilities, a waste management plant and more through a 25-year agreement. The government retained ownership and strategic control while over $200 million in private funding modernized Nairobi’s flagship hospital.

Innovation hubs and science parks have also benefited various nations. The University of Nairobi Science and Technology Park was established through collaborations between the government, local researchers, international organizations and the private Arm Holdings which provided an endowment. It now hosts over 90 companies and research groups commercializing technologies, creating knowledge-based jobs and transferring ideas to industry partners. Examples like these demonstrate how engaging public and private stakeholders can successfully drive technology development and foster economic diversification in developing economies.

Across various sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, industrialization and more, well-structured public-private partnerships have significantly aided progress in developing nations by mobilizing private expertise, management abilities and financing towards shared development goals that benefit citizens and businesses alike when each sector plays to its strengths through collaboration rather than competition or conflict. PPPs present a major opportunity going forward for closing infrastructure gaps, boosting productivity and facilitating continued progress on sustainable development in the Global South.

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THE FIELD TESTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ENVIRONMENT CANADA THE ENGINEERING FIRM AND THE VINEYARD

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The Ecosystem Conservation Technologies company partnered with Environment Canada to conduct field tests of their experimental eco-friendly pest control systems at several national park sites across the country. The goal of the testing was to evaluate the systems’ effectiveness at naturally managing pest populations in ecologically sensitive environments. Environment Canada scientists and park rangers monitored test sites over two growing seasons, collecting data on pest numbers, biodiversity indicators, and any potential unintended environmental impacts.

The initial results were promising. At sites where the control systems, which utilized sustainable pest-repelling scents and natural predators, were deployed as directed, researchers observed statistically significant reductions in key pest insects and mites compared to control sites that did not receive treatments. Species diversity of natural enemies like predatory insects remained stable or increased at treated sites. No harmful effects on non-target species like pollinators or beneficial insects were detected. Though more long-term monitoring is needed, the testing suggested the systems can achieve pest control goals while avoiding damaging side effects.

Encouraged by these early successes, Ecosystem Conservation Technologies then partnered with a large environmental engineering firm to conduct larger-scale field tests on private working lands. The engineering firm recruited several wheat and grape growers who were interested in more sustainable approaches to integrate the control systems into their typical pest management programs. Engineers helped with customized system installation and monitoring plans for each unique farm operation.

One of the partnering farms was a 600-acre premium vineyard and winery located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Known for producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, the vineyard’s profitability depended on high-yield, high-quality grape harvests each year. Like many vineyards, they had battled fungal diseases, insects, and birds that threatened the vines and grapes. After years of relying heavily on synthetic fungicides and insecticides, the owner wanted to transition to less hazardous solutions.

Over the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, Ecosystem Conservation Technologies worked with the vineyard and engineering firm to deploy their pest control systems across 150 acres of the most sensitive Pinot Noir blocks. Real-time environmental sensors and weather stations were integrated into the systems to automatically adjust emission rates based on local pest pressure and conditions. The vineyard’s agronomists continued their normal scouting activities and also collected samples for analysis.

Comparing the test blocks to historical data and untreated control blocks, researchers found statistically significant 25-30% reductions in key grape diseases like powdery mildew during critical pre-harvest periods. Importantly, the quality parameters for the harvested Pinot Noir grapes like Brix levels, pH, and rot were all within or above the vineyard’s high standards. Growers also reported needing to spray approved organic fungicides 1-2 fewer times compared to previous years. Bird exclusion techniques integrated with the systems helped reduce some bird damage issues as well.

According to the final crop reports, system-treated blocks contributed to larger harvest yields that were higher in both tonnage and quality than previous years. The vineyard owner was so pleased that they decided to expand usage of the Ecosystem Conservation Technologies systems across their entire estate. They recognized it as a step forward in their sustainability journey that protected both the sensitive environment and their economic livelihoods. The engineering firm concluded the field testing validated the potential for these systems to deliver solid pest control in real-world agricultural applications while lowering dependence on synthetic chemicals.

The multi-year field testing partnerships generated very promising results that showed Ecosystem Conservation Technologies’ novel eco-friendly pest control systems can effectively manage important crop pests naturally. With further refinement based on ongoing research, systems like these offer hope for growing practices that safeguard both environmental and agricultural sustainability into the future. The successful testing helped move the systems closer to full commercialization and widespread adoption by farmers and land managers nationwide.