Less than a week ago, we were recording temperature highs of 30°C and above, but now we've slid to the other extreme, waking up this morning to a chilly 15°C.

Relatively cold weather for this time of year is expected to continue today and into the beginning of next week, according to forecasts from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, which also doesn’t rule out the possibility of occasional rain at the beginning of the week.

Today, Sunday, in the wider Dubrovnik area it should be clearer but still cool, with night time temperatures possibly dropping as low as 13°C. Monday will be mostly sunny, with daytime temperatures rising to around 20°C, but nights will still not exceed 15°C. Again, bear in mind that just ten days ago we were basking in temperatures in the mid-thirties, we have seen temperatures drop 15 degrees in a week.

The rest of the week will bring a gradual increase in temperatures but also new cloud cover, especially starting Wednesday. The following weekend is expected to be warmer by about 3 to 4 degrees, but the unstable weather will persist, with the possibility of occasional showers.

If you were interested in taking a dip in the Adriatic the current sea temperature in the Dubrovnik region is between 23 and 25 degrees. So, yes it is warmer in the sea than on the beach.

From September 25 to 28, Dubrovnik will host the latest editions of the Global Business Conference (GBC) and the Global Education, Teaching, and Learning Conference (GETLC), events that gather experts from around the world. On this occasion, we spoke with Prof. Dr. Zoran Krupka, a Croatian Congress Ambassador, who has been organizing international conferences in Dubrovnik for many years. Prof. Krupka reveals the key advantages of Dubrovnik as a conference destination, as well as the importance of well-planned organization and collaboration with local partners. He also shares his experiences and plans for future conferences, emphasizing Dubrovnik's role on the global conference scene.

How many events have you organized in Dubrovnik so far? What has your experience been like as an organizer?

I have been coming to Dubrovnik as a conference organizer since 2010, which in itself shows that there is good cooperation and satisfaction among all involved parties. Besides the cooperation between conference organizers on one side and the destination, or local organizations, on the other, it is crucial to highlight the importance of participant satisfaction with both the conference and the destination.

It is extremely important for conference organizers that participants return to the conference and become ambassadors for it within their institutions and countries, and for the destination, that they return as tourists in the coming years.

So far, I have organized around 15 conferences in Dubrovnik, with over 1,000 participants from more than 70 countries across all continents. Also, this year and next, the Odyssey scientific conference, organized by the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb, will be held in Dubrovnik.

How would you describe your long-term cooperation with Dubrovnik as a conference destination? What makes Dubrovnik special for organizing international conferences and congresses, and what are the key advantages of Dubrovnik compared to other cities in Croatia and the region?

Dubrovnik's biggest competitive advantage over other conference destinations is its global recognition, what is known in marketing as brand awareness. Some participants, especially those from distant countries, may not be as familiar with Croatia, but they have heard of Dubrovnik. Additionally, the good air connectivity between Dubrovnik and Europe and non-European destinations is very important since most of our participants arrive by plane. The construction of the Pelješac Bridge has also made it easier for participants from neighbouring countries to arrive by car. From the perspective of a conference organizer, it is also very important to have conference infrastructure (halls, excursions, additional activities) and hotels of various categories. Finally, it is important to highlight the experience and strategy for developing conference tourism because it differs from "regular" tourism.

Were there any interesting people or situations that particularly impressed you during the organization and participation in conferences in Dubrovnik?

Of course. It always comes down to the people. You can have a perfect location, hotels, infrastructure, and everything else, but the human factor is crucial. If there isn't a connection and trust at that level, then I don't come back. There are many people I have worked with over the years in Dubrovnik. From the staff at Importanne Resort, where we organized our first conference, to the people at the Academis Academia hotel, where we have organized several recent conferences, and those from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, the city itself, and tourist guides. Naturally, some people stand out, and with whom I have developed deeper collaborations, but since I have met and worked with so many wonderful people, I won't mention specific names to avoid leaving someone out because they are all important reasons why we keep coming back to Dubrovnik. There are many interesting situations, but I remember our first conference in Dubrovnik in 2010 when a downpour started during a city tour. The guide incorporated that unfavourable situation into the story they were telling the participants during the tour, so none of them left the group.

The theme of this year's GBC conference is the impact of AI on the global economy

This fall, the 15th GBC conference will be held in Dubrovnik. What are the main themes and goals of this conference? How many participants do you expect, and from which countries?

Yes, this year we are organizing the 15th GBC conference, and the theme is “AI's Impact on Global Prosperity: Shaping the World Economy.” When selecting the conference theme, we always try to choose one that is not only currently relevant but will also have an impact on the global economy in the future. For instance, 99% of our participants are foreigners, so when determining the conference theme, we have to consider what is relevant on a global scale. I can already say that besides participants from Europe, we also have participants from South America, Asia, Africa, and North America. So, it is a usual structure for us.

How important is this conference in the business world in general, what key messages and trends do you expect to be emphasized, and how important is it for promoting Dubrovnik on a global level?

This is primarily a scientific conference, and people from the business world do not participate in large numbers at such conferences. However, what comes out of such conferences is the exchange of knowledge and experiences from different economic, political, and cultural environments, which then translates into research, bringing new insights to the business sector. This conference includes professors in management, marketing, finance, macroeconomics, and tourism, so there is inter-disciplinarily, which is essential in today's world (narrow specialization is a luxury that only a few can afford today). One of the topics that will definitely be discussed is how much AI can replace humans and how that will affect business and life in general. As I mentioned earlier, it is extremely important to us that participants are satisfied and become ambassadors in their countries, not only of the conference but also of the destination. This is very important for Dubrovnik and Croatia because I know that some of them, after participating in the GBC, come back as tourists with their families.

Dubrovnik needs an extended season and accommodation capacities of different categories

How do you see the future of Dubrovnik as a conference destination? What could, in your opinion, further improve its position in the global market?

Dubrovnik has everything needed for conference tourism. From the organizer's perspective, it would be good to extend the conference season, meaning to have more content available throughout the year. Also, it is very important to have available accommodation capacities of all categories because the business policies of many universities, agencies, and projects are such that they finance accommodation in three-star or, at most, four-star hotels. What might be a challenge in the future are high service prices – I'm not saying they aren't justified or that they don't follow the global situation, but it is something that organizers and the destination itself must keep in mind.

What does it mean for you to be a Croatian Congress Ambassador, on a personal and professional level, and how does that role contribute to promoting Dubrovnik as a conference destination? What are your plans for the future, do you plan to organize new events?

Being a Croatian Congress Ambassador and being among other ambassadors is, first and foremost, a great honour and recognition, and then a challenge and responsibility to promote Croatia as a conference destination. We have a lot to offer, but the competition is big and strong, and there is much to learn, improve, and strive to be at the top. As for future plans, the Global Business Conference is always there, and as I mentioned earlier, the Odyssey conference will be held in Dubrovnik next year. There are also other plans to bring some events to Croatia, but as you know, the competition is extremely strong.

This interview was originally published on the Dubrovnik Convention Bureau

On Friday, Standard & Poor’s raised Croatia's long-term credit rating from ‘BBB+’ to ‘A-’, with a positive outlook, highlighting that deeper integration with European and global partners has spurred reforms and resulted in broader institutional improve-ments. The ‘A’ rating signals strong capacity to meet financial obligations, with a certain degree of vulnerability to economic conditions and changes, reports HINA.

S&P notes that the rating upgrade is primarily driven by positive economic indicators, fiscal consolidation, successful implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and political stability.

It is emphasized that alongside key policies anchored within the NRRP, the government continues to implement reforms and investments utilizing European funds, which have the potential to strengthen economic resilience, improve productivity, and enhance the overall business environment.

Tourism a key driver 

Tourism remains a key driver of Croatia’s economic growth, which is expected to grow by an average of three percent annually from 2024 to 2027, twice as fast as the Eurozone average, S&P points out.

This will build upon the strong wealth growth seen in recent years and support the steady alignment of Croatia's income with the Eurozone average, they add.

Croatian authorities are also continuing with reform programs, which, together with significant investments supported by Next Generation EU funds, could further im-prove Croatia's economic growth potential by expanding its structure and increasing productivity, despite unfavorable demographic trends.

The positive outlook indicates that the ‘A-’ rating could be upgraded in the next two years if Croatia’s economic and external resilience continues to strengthen, supported by ongoing economic reforms and budget consolidation, S&P notes.

Secure energy supply 

S&P concludes that during the three-year period from 2021 to 2023, Croatia’s GDP grew by an average of 7.6 percent, more than twice as fast as the EU average, and they forecast an average growth of three percent for the 2024–2027 period. In addi-tion to budgetary balance, the government's efforts to further reduce the public debt ratio to below 60 percent of GDP have been welcomed.

In terms of achieving energy security, S&P points out that Croatia has diversified its energy sources over the past three years, primarily thanks to the construction of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk.

When embarking on a trip, tourists looking to rent a car may choose their vehicle based on a variety of factors. They might seek a familiar, trusted name or a car they have driven before. Whatever the reason for their choice, new research has revealed that in Croatia, Volkswagen is the most popular car brand for rentals, and it’s also the second most popular brand worldwide.

Car rental booking company DiscoverCars.com analyzed its internal data to find out which car brands are currently the most popular for rentals in Croatia and globally. They reviewed data from all bookings for July 2024 across nearly 200 countries and U.S. states.

The data showed that 28% of people traveling to Croatia rented a Volkswagen, with 9% of them choosing the VW Polo, making it the most popular model. The second most popular car brand in Croatia was Opel, followed by Peugeot.

Volkswagen Group owns the Bugatti brand, which in 2021 entered a joint venture with the Croatian car brand Rimac. The first joint car, the Bugatti Rimac, was released in 2022—the Bugatti W16 Mistral, a luxury sports car that can reach speeds of 418.4 km/h. However, the most popular rental car models for vacations were not sports cars—most travelers favored small and compact city cars like the VW Polo.

Overall, the most popular car brand globally was Fiat, with 20% of tourists booking this brand worldwide. It was the top choice in ten different countries, including its home country of Italy, where it led in mainland Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Outside of Europe, it was also popular in Brazil, where 31% of tourists chose Fiat. The most popular model was the Fiat Panda, a compact city car that accounted for nearly half of all Fiat bookings with 41%.

Globally, the second most popular car brand after Fiat was Volkswagen, chosen by 10% of travelers. While fewer tourists selected this brand overall, it gained more popularity in countries where it was a top choice. Like in Croatia, Volkswagen was the most popular car brand in 21 destinations across Europe, Africa, South America, and North America, including three U.S. states. It was especially loved in its home country, Germany, where the most popular model was the small and compact VW Polo, accounting for 38% of all bookings.

In third place, 9% of all tourists chose Toyota, which was also the most popular brand in 24 different countries and U.S. states. Countries in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa chose Toyota more frequently than any other brand. Over a third of all Toyota bookings were for the Toyota Aygo, with 35% of tourists opting for this compact city car.

The next most popular brand was Peugeot. Five countries and 8% of all travelers chose this French brand, which was most popular in France, making up 33% of all bookings in its home country. With 33% of all Peugeot bookings, the Peugeot 208 was the favored model among tourists—a small, compact city car.

Rounding out the top five was Renault, chosen by 6% of all travelers. It was the brand of choice in nine countries and U.S. states, with the Renault Clio being the most popular model, as 40% of people selecting Renault opted for the popular small car.

Aleksandrs Buraks, Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com, says: “As an international company, DiscoverCars.com thought it would be interesting to review our internal data to find out which car brands are currently the most popular for rentals worldwide.”

“We analyzed our data in 2022 and found that Toyota and Volkswagen were the most popular at that time—it seems that since then, Fiat has joined the leaders! It was also interesting to see that for each of these brands, the most popular model is often a small city car, which is easier to navigate through narrow streets, easier to park, and more fuel-efficient than a large vehicle.”

Roulette has captivated casino-goers for centuries with its spinning wheel of chance. Emerging from rudimentary beginnings in 17th century France, the game has evolved into a staple at both land-based and online gambling establishments, such as Lucky Ones Casino, today.

Origins of Roulette

While disputed, most historians credit the invention of roulette to French physicist Blaise Pascal in 1655. Some believe he devised the wheel as part of his search for a perpetual motion machine. The roulette wheel was then further developed in the late 18th century by Frenchmen working at the Palais Royal.

Early versions of the game had both zero and double zero slots on the wheel giving the house high odds. Over the 19th century, casinos began offering single zero wheels. This version started gaining popularity in America during the California Gold Rush. By the end of the 1800s, Monte Carlo became the premier destination for roulette players.

Table of Key Events in Roulette History

Roulette Arrives in the New World

When roulette sailed across the Atlantic in the 19th century, its popularity spread through the New World. Early hotspots included the resort town of Saratoga Springs, New York and New Orleans. By the early 20th century, roulette tables could be found across America from saloons to riverboats.

The game also evolved with new betting options like columns and dozens. Casinos highlighted roulette with promotions and tournaments. Over the mid-20th century, Las Vegas became the new capital of American roulette. Legendary players like Ash Resnick honed their skills beating the house odds.

Digital Leap

When the internet emerged in the 1990s, online casinos saw roulette as the perfect game to digitize. Its simple rules and visually dynamic wheel translated well to desktop and mobile experiences.

One of the first online roulette games appeared in 1996 by developer Microgaming. Over the next decade, internet speeds increased allowing improved graphics and gameplay. By the early 2000s, online roulette soared in popularity and became a multi-billion dollar industry.

While rules stayed the same, the move online brought some changes. Computer generated outcomes removed human errors in spinning. New camera angles gave players views of the wheel not possible in land-based casinos. Wagers and payouts can also be made faster digitally.

Most importantly, online roulette expanded access to the game globally. Players no longer needed to travel to experience the excitement of a spinning ball bouncing across red and black slots.

Table of Major Milestones in Online Roulette History

Future of Online Roulette

Over 300 years since Pascal’s primitive wheel, roulette continues spinning into the 21st century. While land-based casinos still attract players, improved internet speeds bolster the growth of online versions. Streaming technology and expanded device access point to a bright future for internet roulette.

As augmented and virtual reality mature, they may immerse players even deeper into online games. Perhaps someday the experience of sitting at a French Riviera table will be replicated through a VR headset in a player’s own home. For now, logging on to ante up at a virtual table keeps the spirit of roulette alive. Pascal’s perpetual motion machine found it in the spinning wheel of chance.

Outstaffing is a modern business solution in which a company "leases" employees from an outstaffing firm instead of directly hiring them. This approach allows businesses to tap into the expertise of professionals without dealing with the usual complexities of hiring, managing payroll, and handling administrative tasks. The outstaffing provider takes care of these responsibilities, allowing the client company to concentrate on its core operations.

How Staff Augmentation Works

In outstaffing, a business works with an outstaffing provider to hire skilled professionals for specific projects or roles. For example, a tech startup might need extra software developers for a short-term project. Instead of hiring full-time employees, the startup partners with an outstaffing firm, which provides the developers. The developers are employed by the outstaffing company but work directly with the startup’s team. The startup manages their daily tasks, while the outstaffing firm takes care of employment details, such as salaries, taxes, and benefits.

The benefits of IT staff augmentation include

• Resource and Cost Optimization: Outstaffing removes the need for the client to handle salary calculations and tax management. Instead, the company can focus on strategic goals and project development, allowing for better resource allocation and reduced bureaucratic tasks.
• Skill-Specific Needs: IT staff augmentation allows companies to quickly address skill-specific needs by bringing in professionals with the required expertise for specific projects or tasks. This flexibility enables businesses to access specialized skills without the need for extensive training or recruiting efforts.
• Avoiding Labor Disputes: Since outstaffed employees are employed by the outstaffing company, the client company avoids potential labor disputes and doesn’t need to draft new employment contracts. This simplifies the legal and administrative side of employment.
• Control Over Processes: Outstaffed employees work under the client’s direct supervision, maintaining control over work processes. This is different from outsourcing, where the external company might handle the entire process independently.
• Simplified Personnel Management: The outstaffing provider manages HR tasks such as handling vacations and sick leaves. This reduces the administrative burden on the client’s HR and accounting departments, as they don't have to manage social contributions or paperwork for these employees.
• Flexibility: Outstaffing allows companies to adapt to market changes or seasonal demands without permanently increasing their workforce. This flexibility helps avoid issues such as overstaffing and potential layoffs. It also makes it easier to find and retain specialized skills without substantial investments in training.

What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing is when a company delegates specific business functions or processes to an external firm that specializes in those areas. Unlike outstaffing, outsourcing often means transferring entire functions, such as customer service or IT support, to an external provider.

The advantages of outsourcing include:

• Improved Efficiency: Outsourcing allows companies to concentrate on their core activities while benefiting from the expertise of specialized firms. This can lead to improved performance and innovation in the outsourced functions.
• Reduced Bureaucratic Tasks: By outsourcing functions like accounting or legal services, companies can minimize administrative tasks and related costs. This reduces the amount of paperwork and bureaucratic processes within the company.
• Enhanced Productivity: Specialized outsourcing firms can perform tasks more efficiently, leading to faster achievement of business goals and better overall productivity.

Comparing IT Staff Augmentation and Outsourcing

Bothstaff augmentation and outsourcing aim to optimize resources and improve efficiency, but they differ in several key aspects:

Project Goals: Staff augmentation is suited for projects that require specialized skills or temporary expertise. It is often used for short-term needs, such as a company needing developers for a specific project. Outsourcing, however, is often chosen for delegating entire processes, like customer support or IT services, to an external provider, allowing companies to focus on their core operations while ensuring these functions are handled by professionals.

Compensation and Contracts: Outstaffed employees receive compensation similar to in-house staff, with the outstaffing firm managing all payroll and benefits. Outsourcing contracts, however, vary and can be project-based or recurring, depending on the agreement. This flexibility is advantageous for managing various types of outsourced functions.

Choosing the Right Model for Your Business

When deciding between IT staff augmentation, outsourcing, and in-house staffing, it is crucial to assess the specific needs and goals of your business. IT staff augmentation is ideal for complex projects requiring specialized expertise. Outsourcing can help reduce the administrative burden and focus resources on core business activities. In-house staffing is best for long-term roles that align closely with your company’s strategic objectives.

Wrap-up

In essence, IT staff augmentation can effectively help manage administrative costs and allow companies to concentrate on core business activities. By "leasing" employees from an outsourcing firm, businesses can streamline processes and allocate resources for more strategic initiatives. So, it's worth considering whether IT staff augmentation could be the answer to improving your business’s efficiency and overall success.

In a year of remarkable recovery across the whole region Yugoslavia, the Zagreb to Dubrovnik route has emerged as a key player in Croatia’s resurgent aviation sector. Operated by Croatia Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, the service handled just over 103,000 passengers in the first half of 2024, reflecting nearly an 8% increase com-pared to the same period last year. This surge underscores the strategic importance of this domestic link between the capital and the Adriatic’s most famous jewel, reports EX-YU Aviation. 

The Zagreb-Dubrovnik route not only serves as a vital domestic corridor but also facil-itates the onward journey for international tourists arriving in Zagreb, eager to visit the historic city of Dubrovnik, whose UNESCO-protected Old Town has long been a magnet for global travelers.

The route from Zagreb to Dubrovnik is, in many ways, a microcosm of Croatia’s broader recovery efforts, reflecting not just the revival of tourism but the country’s renewed commitment to enhancing its internal connectivity. Although passenger numbers on this route have yet to match those of 2019, the near 8% rise from last year suggests a return to form, boosted by Dubrovnik’s enduring appeal as a global tourist destination and Zagreb’s growing stature as a vibrant European city.

This resurgence in air travel between Zagreb and Dubrovnik is mirrored by growth on other key Croatian routes, such as flights between the capital and Split, which also saw a near 5% increase in the same period.

A major Southeastern European summit will be held in Dubrovnik, this October, focusing on support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic revealed on social media. The announcement followed Plenkovic's attendance at the International Crimea Platform (ICP) Summit in Kyiv, according to reports by HINA news agency.

Plenkovic reaffirmed Croatia’s backing of the ICP, highlighting the country’s active role in the initiative. He also reminded followers that Zagreb hosted the First ICP Parliamentary Summit in 2022.

Writing on social platform X, Zelenskyy thanked Croatia for its unwavering support, including the announcement of Croatia’s 11th military aid package for Kyiv. Discussions between the leaders also touched on humanitarian demining, postwar reconstruction, and the restoration of energy infrastructure.