Dear Participant,
Welcome to the Five-Diamond International Conference Cycle – Brazil 2009.
This material has been prepared to assist you during your stay in the Greater Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Brazil.
To download this material, click here.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Conference Begins: 8 a.m. Aug. 18 (Tuesday)
The Conference Ends: 6 p.m. Aug. 19 (Wednesday)
1. FDC´s Location:
Av. Princesa Diana, 760 – Alphaville Lagoa dos Ingleses
Nova Lima - Minas Gerais – Brazil
Phone Numbers – 55 31 3589-7205 or + 55 31 3589-7246
Fax Numbers - 55 31 3589-7401
Home Page : www.fdc.org.br
Five-Diamond Conference Home Page: www.fivediamondconference.org
2. Arriving in Brazil
Flights arrive directly in Belo Horizonte (CNF) or through connections from Rio de Janeiro (GIG) or São Paulo's (GRU) International airports.
If you arrive at the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), you may need to connect to Congonhas Airport - CGH. The taxi service at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport is excellent and safe, but taxi tickets must be purchased at the airport. Please let us know if you will be connecting to the domestic airport in São Paulo. We will assist you at the airport. One of our staff members will be holding a sign with our FDC logo at the arrival gate after passing through customs.
3. Immigration
At immigration, you must have your passport and visa (if required). Other immigration formalities should be checked in your country.
4. Arriving in Belo Horizonte
One of our staff members will be at the arrival gate at Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF) to take you to the Caesar Business Lagoa dos Ingleses Hotel – Alphaville (located beside the FDC campus). If you need a special assistance, call Cristiane Baêta anytime at + 55 31 9239 0753.
The distance from Tancredo Neves International Airport in Belo Horizonte and FDC, is 78km (47 miles); approximately one hour by car.
Important
Please send information regarding the date and time of your arrival and your flight numbers to Cristiane Baêta at cbaeta@fdc.org.br.
5. Leaving the FDC Campus:
If you need any assistance regarding your transportation arrangements from Caesar Business Lagoa dos Ingleses Hotel – Nova Lima to Tancredo Neves International Airport, on your departure, please confirm your travel schedule and time that you wish to leave Nova Lima with Cristiane Baêta through her e-mail - cbaeta@fdc.org.br.
6. Hotel
FDC will make pre reservations at the Caesar Business Lagoa dos Ingleses Hotel, based on information you have sent to Cristiane Baêta previously. It is about a three-minute walk from the hotel to FDC campus, where the event will take place.
Caesar Business Lagoa dos Ingleses Hotel
Av. Princesa Diana, 440 – Alphaville Lagoa dos Ingleses
Nova Lima – Minas Gerais – Brazil
Telephone number – +55 (31) 3589-7900 or
Fax number – +55 (31) 3589-7901
Web Site: www.caesarbusiness.com.br
E-mail: reservas.cblin@caesarbusiness.com.br
Reservation Center : 0800 55 7275 ( Confirm your hotel reservation directly)
7. Meals
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Lunch and dinner will be provided on both days by Fundação Dom Cabral. Vegetarian food will be available at all meals.
Please let us know if you require a special diet .
8. Clothing
At this time of the year, Belo Horizonte has a pleasant climate, with high temperatures varying from 22C (71 F) to 28C (82 F). We recommend that you bring sports clothing if you plan to exercise at the hotel or around the lake. Business attire is appropriate for meetings and functions.
9. Entertainment
We have planned a guided visit to INHOTIM Environmental Park Reservation – including a huge contemporary museum, with a great myriad of art collections and 600 Hectares of land and 45 hectares of gardens, with botanical collections and ornamental lakes on Aug.17 We will leave FDC campus at 1.30 p.m. and return to the hotel around 7.30 p.m. We will also have a cocktail party with a cultural presentation Aug. 17 night and a special dinner Aug. 18. Please choose the events you would like to participate in, also through e-mail.
10. Currency
Brazil´s currency is the real. Presently it is quoted around R$210 per USD or R$ 3,38 per Euro. Exchange facilities are available at all international airports in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.
You can find an office of ABN AMRO Banco Real and an ATM on the Fundação Dom Cabral campus. Brazilian rules prohibit this ABN AMRO branch from exchanging money. However, you can exchange money at its downtown branches or at the airport.
11. Fast Facts
· Health and Insurance – Brazil has an excellent network of private hospitals in major metropolitan centers such as Belo Horizonte. Private medical care is expensive, so it is advisable that you have medical insurance prior to your arrival.
· Access to the Internet – The FDC campus has wireless capacity. Computers with Internet access will be available both at FDC and in the hotel’s business center.
· Area Code – The telephone area code for Greater Belo Horizonte (including Nova Lima – where the campus is located) is 31. The international code for Brazil is 55.
· Electricity – The electric current is 110 volts (60 cycles). Brazil uses a two-round pinned socket for most appliances.
· Tipping – Nearly all hotels add a service charge to the bill, usually 10%. Most restaurants also add 10 percent or more to their bill, but they must make it clear that they have done so. Brazilians don't normally tip taxi drivers, although they may round up the total.
· Weather Forecast in Belo Horizonte – http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/BRXX0033.html