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FAQ - Brussels / Belgium:
Arrival - When to arrive
Attendees of the conference should plan to arrive on either Sunday, May 3rd during the day or Monday, May 4th early in the morning. The event ends on Friday, May 8th at 1pm.
Arrival by air
The closest airport to arrive at is Zaventem Brussels International Airport . It is the main airport in Belgium and located only 12 km from the city centre.
To obtain further travel information please go to www.brusselsairport.be
Situated to the south of Brussels, approximately 60 km away from Brussels, you have Brussels-South Charleroi airport. It mainly houses low-cost airlines (http://www.charleroi-airport.com/) but also has good connections to Brussels via public transport or taxi.
Badge collection
You will be able to collect your badge at the conference registration desk located in the main lobby of the MCE upon your arrival on Monday.
Badges should be worn at all times for security reasons. Your access to the conference area and other events will be restricted in case you do not wear your badge.
Currency
Unit of the currency used in Brussels/Belgium is EURO (€).
If you would like to know the exact exchange rate to your local currency, please go to: http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic
Conference desk opening hours:
Throughout the event, the conference desk opens 30min prior to the first session in the morning and closes 30min after the last session.
Departure Transfers to Airport
A free IBM shuttle service is organised from the MCE Conference Center to Zaventem airport for you on Friday May 8th 2009 .
Meeting point for all transfers is the lobby of the MCE and the buses will be waiting outside for you. (The shuttle bus will have the IBM logo, so you should be able to locate them easily.)
Dress Code
Business casual throughout the event.
Electricity
220va/c. Plugs are 2 pin so some countries need an adaptor.
Emergency telephone numbers
In case of an emergency, the local police can be alerted by dialing 101, the fire department and emergency medical care on 100 or the European emergency call by dialing 112.
Evaluation form
Please find a general evaluation form in the contents of your welcome pack. Make sure to complete this form and to hand it in at the IBM conference desk. A nice thank-you gift will be waiting for you.
Event Location
Brussels is the capital of Belgium, strategically situated at the hub of Europe’s most densely populated region (55 million inhabitants), encompassing Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Paris.
Belgium itself has 11 million inhabitants and Brussels, the capital, has 990,000 inhabitants including many people from other EU countries.
The MCE and most of the surrounding hotels are located within 1km of the city centre.
The Louise shopping area is running through the district.
For more information regarding Brussels, please visit: www.brussels.be or www.visitbelgium.be
Health
Best to get and E111 form, which will cover you for emergency health care. Travel insurance is always recommended. Pharmacies are open weekdays from 9am to 6pm. At night and weekends at least one local chemist will be open.
Language
Official languages in Belgium are dutch, french and german. English is also widely spoken and understood.
Mobile phones
Please switch off your mobile phones during the presentations.
Passports
Non-EU passport holders are advised to contact the appropriate diplomatic or consular authorities for visa requirement details (see visas).
For all travelers from the EU, an identity card or passport is sufficient for travel to Belgium.
On-Site Registration
For your convenience, we will have an IBM registration desk set up in the Conference Foyer (Monday through Friday). There, you will be able to receive further information on the event and tips on "What to do in Brussels". You will also be able to leave messages directly at the IBM Information desk should you need further assistance during your stay and can not find an IBM contact person to help you immediately.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed within the hotel, conference venue, restaurants & public areas in Belgium. Smoking is only allowed outside or in designated smoking areas.
Time
The time is GMT + 1 in winter and GMT +2 in summer.
Timings
To ensure that the event runs smoothly, we would appreciate if you could respect the timings given.
Transfers
Please refer to “Arrival Transfers” and “Departure Transfers”.
Visas
Nationals of the European Union (ex. UK and Ireland) and Switzerland will need an identity card.
Nationals of the UK and Ireland, and countries outside the EU, need a valid passport.
For all other countries, please contact your nearest Belgium embassy to enquire about visa requirements.
If you need a specific invitation letter to obtain your visa, please send a request to stg_conferences@be.ibm.com and we will send you an official invitation letter.
Weather
Brussels has a temperate, maritime climate.
The average temperature in summer is 16°C Celsius (60° Fahrenheit).
For an actual weather forecast, please click HERE
