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IFLA Conference

World Library and Information Congress: 75th IFLA General Conference and Assembly

"Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage"

23-27 August 2009, Milan, Italy


Spanish translation

Travel, Accommodation, Local Information

Travel

Preferred Airline Network

Star Alliance logo

SAVE UP TO 20% ON TRAVEL WITH THE STAR ALLIANCE NETWORK

The Star Alliance™ Members Airlines are pleased to be appointed as the Official Airline Network for IFLA's World Library & Information Congress 2009 taking place in Milan, Italy.

To obtain the Star Alliance™ Conventions Plus discounts, please call the reservation office of a participating Star Alliance Member Airline and quote the following Convention Code LH07S09.

Registered participants plus one accompanying person travelling to the event are automatically granted a discount of up to 20%, depending on fare and class of travel booked.

The participating airlines for this event are:

  • Air Canada
  • Air China
  • ANA
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Austrian Airlines
  • bmi
  • LOT Polish Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • Scandinavian Airlines
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Spanair
  • SWISS International Airlines
  • TAP Portugal
  • THAI
  • Turkish Airlines
  • United

For booking office information please visit:
www.staralliance.com/conventionsplus

Discounts are offered on published business and economy class fares, excluding website/internet fares, senior and youth fares, group fares and Round the World fares.

Please note: For travel from Japan and New Zealand special fares or discounts are offered by the participating airlines on their own network.

When making your travel plans please present confirmation of your registration or proof of attendance.

Help us improve our service. Please take a moment to fill out the Conventions Plus Delegate Survey about your experience using the Star Alliance™ Members Airlines.

Airport

Milan has three domestic and international airports.

Malpensa (MXP) airport is located towards Lake Maggiore, some 50 kms from downtown. The special shuttle-train Malpensa Express runs to and from the Ferrovie Nord Railway Station. Stazione Centrale, Milan’s railway station, is connected to Malpensa by a special bus. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Linate (LIN) airport is located in the eastern outskirts, some 10 kms from downtown. A special shuttle-service runs to and from Stazione Centrale, Milan’s railway station, while to and from the city centre there is an urban bus, the 73. Both take about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Stazione Centrale and Ferrovia Nord Railway station are both located on the underground-lines.

Orio al Serio (BGY), a smaller international airport near Bergamo, is being increasingly used as an airport for Milan. There is a bus service from Stazione Centrale, Milan’s railway station. The journey takes 50 minutes.

Shuttle Bus Service

Company Fiera Milano Congressi will offer a free shuttle bus service to all Conference attendees: ATM Shuttle Bus Service (n° 2 bus)

Departure: outside Amendola Fieramilanocity underground stop (red line) – Arrival: Main Entrance of MIC Centre, Via Gattamelata 5 (see bus route)
Hours of service:  07.00 a.m. to 07.00 p.m

This service (n° 2 buses) is available from 22nd  to  27th  of  August

Driving in Milan

While driving on Italian roads, you must have with you proof of your car insurance, log-book and driving licence.

Insurance

Participants are advised to arrange adequate travel and medical insurance, as the Congress Secretariat cannot cover persons against cancellation of bookings, medical treatment or theft of belongings.

Visa

All visitors must carry a valid passport. Visas are also required for visitors from certain countries.

For more information, contact the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. See also: Letters of Invitation, Passports and Visas elsewhere on this Congress site.

Accommodation

General Hotel Information

The Congress Secretariat has reserved accommodation in various price categories at a wide range of hotels in Milan at preferential rates. On the hotel booking form you are requested to indicate the Price category you wish to book within. Congrex Travel will endeavour to meet all accommodation requests however this will be subject to availability.

Hotel Overview and Prices

Hotel

Cost per night Euros

Single Twin/Double
Category A
Hotel Melia Milano 5*
(Headquarters Hotel)
185.00 205.00 / 210.00
Hotel Milan Marriott 5* 180.00 200.00
Hilton Milan 4* 185.00 215.00
Category B
ATA Hotel Executive 4* 155.00 175.00
Category C
Hotel Admiral 4* 125.00 145.00
ATA Hotel Fieramilano 4* 125.00/ 135.00 145.00/ 150.00
ATA Hotel Executive 4* Standard 125.00
Superior 135.00
Standard 145.00
Superior 155.00
Hotel Accademia 4* 125.00 145.00
Hotel Capitol 4* single bed 95.00
twin/double bed 125.00
145.00
Doria Grand Hotel 4* single bed 105.00
twin/double bed 125.00
145.00
Hotel Enterprise 4* 135.00 155.00
Hotel Galles 4* single bed 110.00
twin/double bed 125.00/ 135.00
145.00/ 150.00
Hotel UNA Tocq 4* 135.00 155.00
Hotel UNA Scandinavia 4* 125.00 145.00
Hotel UNA Century 4* 125.00 145.00
Hotel Poliziano Fiera 4* 125.00 145.00
Hotel Nasco 4* 105.00/ 135.00 125.00/ 155.00
Antares Hotel Rubens 4* single bed 105.00
twin/double bed 125.00
145.00
Hotel Domenicchino 3* single bed 105.00
twin/double bed 125.00
145.00
Hotel Raffaello 3* single bed 105.00
twin/double bed 125.00
145.00
Jolly President 4* single bed 115.00
twin/double bed 135.00
155.00
Jolly Touring 4* 125.00 145.00
Mozart 4* 125.00 145.00
Category D
Hotel Mirage 4* 85.00 105.00
Hotel Sant' Ambroeus 3* single bed 95.00
twin/double bed 130.00
145.00
Hotel Soperga 3* single bed 65.00
twin/double bed 75.00
80.00

Individual Booking

Online Bookings or Hotel Reservation Form

Participants can book their hotel accommodation on line.

Alternatively participants can complete and return the Hotel reservation form to Congrex Travel either via fax, +44 (0) 207 117 4298 or via email, ifla2009accom@congrex.com.

An initial deposit of € 200.00 is required to guarantee your room reservation, please either enter your credit card details or if paying by bank transfer please forward a copy of the payment receipt to the Congrex Travel. Hotel requests without payment can not be accepted. Each participant will receive a confirmation/invoice once their booking is completed. Full pre-payment for accommodation has to be made by 19 June 2009 to the Congrex Travel.

Group Reservation

If you have a request for 5 rooms or more, this will be handled by separate contracts and separate regulations. Please contact us by email ifla2009accom@congrex.com or via fax, +44 (0) 207 117 4298 for further information. Kindly note that the contingents are being offered to various companies simultaneously and are sold on a first come first serve basis. Early reservation is therefore highly recommended. Having received your written confirmation of our offer, including your full postal address, we will establish a room allocation contact together with an invoice for the first deposit.

Alternative Accomodation

Delegates are welcome to book alternative accommodation other than the accommodation offered by the Conference Organisers. Some suggestions can be found at the following web-site:
http://www.ifla2009.it/web/come_partecipare/ospitalita_low_cost.htm

Booking Policy

All requests will be handled on a “first come-first served basis”. Deadline for Hotel bookings is 15 May 2009.

After this deadline, requests will be accepted however, hotel accommodation is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed anymore. After this deadline, bookings are only possible against full payment by credit card and an extra late booking fee of EUR 30.00 will be charged. Any change of reservation will be subject to a handling fee of EUR 30.00. Changes or cancellations have to be made in writing to Congrex Travel. Please do not contact the hotel directly.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

If your reservation is cancelled on or before 19 July 2009 the deposit will be refunded, less EUR 60.00 handling fee. If your reservation is cancelled after 19 July 2009 no refunds can be made.

Any change of reservation will be subject to a handling fee of EUR 30.00. Changes or cancellations have to be made in writing to Congrex Travel. If you arrive later or leave earlier than the originally booked dates, the hotel may charge a no-show fee.

Accommodation Payment Information

Advance payment can be made in Euros by any of the following ways:
  • VISA and MasterCard holders may use their credit cards for charging all costs. The cardholders’ name, card number, expiry date of the card, signature and CVB code should be filled in on the Hotel Reservation Form. What is the CVB code? The last 3 digits on the signature strip on the reverse of the card.

    Regretfully other credit cards cannot be accepted.
  • Bank transfer in Euros to:
    UBS AG, account name: Congrex Travel
    IBAN: CH62 0023 3233 5954 0061P
    Swift code UBSWCHZH80A.
    Please include your name and accommodation details with your bank transfer.

Local Information

Italy and Milan

Situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, Milan is Italy’s richest and second largest city and is best known for being the fashion capital of Italy.

Embracing tradition, sophistication and ambition in equal measure, the present and the future are invented daily in Milan, Europe’s creative capital. After being conquered three times in its history the city remained strong, regained itself and prospered. It’s a city as strong as any other which successfully reinvented itself under French, Spanish and then Austrian rulers from 1499 until the reunification in 1861.

The city offers treasures of historical and intellectual heritage from the past two millennia at every corner: Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is simply the best-known of the numerous masterpieces and has been named a Unesco World Heritage site. Milan is the unique artistic and cultural heart of Italy and has been the ideal setting for international events for decades, attracting professionals, artists and intellectuals from all over the world.

Banks and Exchange Offices

Banks in Italy are open Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 13.30 hours and only some of them open in the afternoon from 15.00 to 16.30 hours. Banks are closed on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays and also on the towns patron Saint day. Travellers cheques are generally accepted in large hotels and major stores, otherwise, they must be cashed at the exchange office or bank.

Climate

The average minimum and maximum temperatures and rainfall figures for this area in August:

Min. Temp. 16 °C
Max. Temp. 27 °C
Rainfall 81mm

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Italy, namely Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Currency

The legal tender is the Euro, which is divided into 100 cents. Bank notes are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Euro, and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 cents, and 1 and 2 Euro

Electricity

The electric current in Italy is 220V and the cycle is 50Hz. Though voltage may vary, in most cities and towns it is either 125 or 220. Check the voltage with the hotel before using electrical appliances.

Plugs have prongs that are round, not flat, making an adapter plug necessary. International adaptors can be found in the major electrical shops as well as airports.

Insurance

Participants are advised to arrange adequate travel and medical insurance, as the Congress Secretariat cannot cover persons against cancellation of bookings, medical treatment or theft of belongings.

Food

The main characteristic of Italian cooking is its healthy balance, the excellent basic ingredients being simply cooked and retaining their original goodness and freshness.

Every Italian region has there own individual variety of food. In Milan you can find a good representation from every region and there are plenty of excellent restaurants, offering a wide variety of typical Italian dishes washed down with a fantastic choice of excellent wines.

Health

Most travel insurance includes medical cover. Check with your travel agency when booking the travel insurance for your trip.

In Italy citizens of EU countries are covered for emergency medical treatment only on presentation of an E111 form.

No vaccinations are required to enter Italy. Tap water is drinkable in Italy. Water from drinking fountains is safe unless there is a sign “Acqua non potabile”. You might see this sign inside trains, camping sites etc.

Language

As in most regions in Italy, Milan has its own dialect, Milanese. Unfortunately, nowadays Milanese dialect is spoken by a minority of people: this is due to the immigration process from other Italian regions, that took place in the last decades.

Shopping

Stores, shopping centres and most businesses are generally open from 10.00 to 19.30 hours from Tuesday to Saturday. On Monday many shops are open only for a half day, many shops also close for lunch, usually between 12.30 and 15.30 hours.

Customers when they purchase goods or pay for services are required by law to ask for a receipt (scontrino) or for an invoice (ricevuta fiscale) as proof of purchase.

Taxes and Tipping

Taxes are included in the price of all goods in Italy. For items purchased over e155, tourists from outside of the EU can get the taxes reimbursed. This can be done byfilling in a form in the shop and then presenting it to the customs officials at major airports or border crossing.

Usually the service is included in prices, so tipping is a practice appreciated but not so compulsory.

Anyway, good advice would be, if the service was appreciated then tip a percentage of around 5%. In hotels a small tip could be paid to the porter.

Telephone and Postal Services

Telephone
Country code: 39
Outgoing International code: 00

The most cost-effective way to call abroad from Italy is to use a pre-paid card. These can be purchased at any tobacconist, newsstand, post-office, or service station. Public phones can be found in commercial outlets (bar, restaurant, . . .) or in street telephone booths. Many tollfree numbers start with “800”.

It is possible to call to and from Italy with mobile phones. For further information dial (from Italy only) the following numbers for some of the providers: 119 (Tim), 190 (Vodafone), 159 (Wind).

Emergency phone numbers:
118     Ambulanza (Medical Emergencies)
113     Polizia (Police)
115     Pompieri (Fire Department)

Postal charges
The price for sending a standard letter is Euro 0.60, whereas sending non-standard letters is more expensive. For further information, you can visit the website.

The Post Offices are open:
Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 14.00 hours (central offices until 17.30 hours)
Saturday from 08.30 to 12.00 hours

Visitors who plan to spend several weeks in Milan but with no fixed address can take advantage of the General Delivery service for their mail. The French and international term for this service is “Poste restante”. To pick up your mail, you must go to the main post office of the city indicated in the mailing address.