GENERAL INFORMATION

Congress Office at the Venue and On-Site Registration

The Congress Office and the on-site registration desk will open at the Congress Venue from Sunday, July 11 through Friday, July 16, 2004.

On-site registration will be possible: 

Official Language

The official language of the Congress is English. No simultaneous translation will be provided. 

Badges and Security

It is essential that you wear your personal badge at all times while in the Congress venue and during the Social Events, as it is the official entrance pass to scientific sessions, commercial exhibition and Congress activities. For the Social Events, it will also be necessary to present the corresponding ticket. 

Medical Assistance and Insurance

Participants are advised to make their own arrangements regarding travel insurance and medical assistance during the Congress. Neither the Organization nor the Congress Secretariat are able to accept any responsibility whatsoever for damage or injury to persons or their belongings during the Congress. 

Climate and Clothing

Barcelona is usually warm and humid in July. Average temperatures in July: 25º C / 78º F.  There may be occasional showers at this time of the year. It is recommended to pack light, comfortable clothing. Dress will be informal for most Congress-related occasions.

Access to Barcelona

By air: More than 80 European cities have direct flights to Barcelona, with a daily frequency in many cases. There are also flights from many cities of North and South America, Africa and Asia. The Barcelona-El Prat International Airport is at a short distance from Barcelona. It is linked to the city center by rail (Sants and Catalunya Stations), every 30 minutes, and by bus, every 15 minutes, with several stops in the city, including Plaça d'Espanya, which is the closest stop to the Congress venue and Hotels.

By rail: International direct lines to Barcelona-Sants Station come from the main European cities. There are also many trains from Madrid, some of them overnight.

By road: Motorway A-17/7 from La Jonquera (at the French border) links up with the French motorway network. Motorway A-7 to the west and south connects Barcelona with the rest of Spain. Motorway A-2 connects motorway A-7 with the south entrance to Barcelona: Diagonal Avenue.

Taxi service: Taxi service is available 24 hours a day and it is located at the exit of the airport main building and also out of the train station. Taxis in Barcelona are easily recognizable by their colors (yellow and black). They are equipped with official taximeters and fares are charged in Euros. There is usually a supplement for luggage loaded in the back trunk of the car. A taxi from the airport costs an approximate amount of 18,00-26,00 Euros, depending on the traffic conditions. 

Transportation within the city

Barcelona is served by El Prat International Airport, which is six miles southwest of the center of Barcelona. It takes about 20 minutes to travel from the airport to the Fira Palace Hotel. Taxis are available at the airport 24 hours a day. There is a bus every 15 minutes to the city center (Plaza Catalunya) with a stop at Plaza Espanya where is the meeting venue located, and a train every 30 minutes to Sants Station (Central Train Station-Barcelona) from 6:00 to 22:30h. Barcelona is accessible from all directions by the Spanish road and rail networks. There are multiple subway (metro) systems for transportation within Barcelona, operating daily from 05:00 to 24:00h. Ten-trip cards (metro and bus), which are cheaper than buying individual tickets, are available at any metro station. Night buses operate separately from the city buses and do not accept the cards. Taxis are moderately priced. 

Congress venue/Meeting site

The meeting will take place in the Fira Palace Hotel, an elegant contemporary hotel opened in 1992 and renovated in 2000, next to Plaza España and to the Montjuic mountain – where the Magic Fountain, the ’92 Olympic games facilities, several museums, an opera house, and wide green areas are located. The Fira Palace Hotel is well-connected with both the airport and the city center (see exact location in the city map) by subway (called metro), bus and taxi.

Currency Exchange

The currency in Spain is the Euro (€). The banknotes circulate in denominations of €5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 and the coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, €1 and €2. Except in small businesses, credit cards are widely accepted in almost every restaurant and shop in Barcelona. Business is transacted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. Money can be exchanged in banks, airport, major railway stations, and exchange offices displaying a “Cambio/Canvi” sign. 

An exchange office will be available at the Fira Palace Hotel during the Conference. You can also use cash-points to withdraw money, since most of them are connected to national and international networks.

Restaurant and Tourist Information

There will be ample information on restaurants at the Secretariat desk. During your stay here, you should try Barcelona's cuisine, which is a blend of Mediterranean culinary traditions. Also, you should taste the splendid wines and cavas of the region.

The Secretariat desk will also offer information on cultural events as a service to all participants.

Business opening hours, sale taxes, and tips

In general, shops in Barcelona open in the morning from 9 or 10h to 13 or 14h and in the afternoon from 16 or 17h to 20 or 21h. Some shops do not close for lunch and others (mainly in the center) do not close on Saturday afternoon. Sunday is the rest day. Nearly all museums close on Mondays.

Value Added Tax (in Spanish IVA) for general goods (16%) and hotels and restaurants (7%) is charged on the consumption of products in the European Union, and only visitors resident in other countries are therefore exempt, when the purchase exceeds €90.15 in the same shop. A Tax-Free sticker is displayed in more than 700 establishments in the city’s main shopping areas, including the airport. Ask for details for reimbursation when you make your purchase.

Because the service charge is normally included in most bills, tipping is not compulsory, but it is customary to leave a small additional amount when you are happy with the service. Tip taxis up to five percent of the total fare. Tip hotel porters for assistance with bags, and room service attendants for their assistance. 

Safety recommendations

Catalonia is a country that enjoy one of the lowest crime rate levels in Europe. Nevertheless, like in every important and tourist city in the world, pay attention to places and streets where a lot of people meet; when in the street or marketplace, always carry bags and cameras across your chest and in front of you, and carry wallets in inside pockets, in handbags, or in zip-closed waist wallets. Do not carry more money than necessary, do not flash your money when making a payment. In case you have any problems, get in touch with the Police Service 24 h (091).

Power supply

220 V. Frequency 50 Hz.

Telephone calls

Pay phones are available at the meeting venue for local and long distance calls. Public phone boots are light blue or grey. They operate with coins or cards. For international calls dial 00, then dial the country and area codes.