VENUE

ARRIVAL AT BERGEN AIRPORT

VISAS-CUSTOMS

HOTEL INFORMATION

SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS (Map; On-Site Registration, List of Registered Delegations; Documents:
Meals; Internet, PC access and photocopying facilities)

OFFICIAL OPENING

EXHIBITIONS & SIDE EVENTS (Exhibitions; Side Events: Catering; Shipping of Material)

POSTAL & BANK FACILITIES

CURRENCY

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

TIME ZONE AND WEATHER

VOLTAGE AND TYPE OF PLUGS

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

SHOPPING

TOURIST INFORMATION

NO SMOKING POLICY

VENUE The 10th Conference of the Parties to CMS and its associated meetings will take place at the “Salem Conference Center” which is part of the: Scandic Bergen City Hotel Håkonsgaten 2 5015 Bergen Norway Phone: +47 55 30 90 80 Fax: +47 55 30 90 91 E-mail: bergencity@scandichotels.com

ARRIVAL AT BERGEN AIRPORT
Bergen Airport Flesland is 20 kilometres south-west of the centre of Bergen. The airport is served by buses and taxis.

Airport Bus
Upon arrival at Bergen Flesland Airport, we recommend that participants take the Airport Bus “Sentrum” to the centre of Bergen (bus stop Radisson Blu Hotel Norge will be the nearest to the meeting venue). The bus leaves outside of the arrival hall, on the right hand side. The ride to Bergen takes approximately 30 minutes and departs every 15 minutes between 6am and 11pm on weekdays, less frequent on weekends. Remember to calculate extra time during rush hour. Tickets can be bought on the bus (both cash and credit cards accepted). A slightly lower fare can be achieved by buying a return ticket (single NOK 95, with return NOK 150). For more information on timetables, click here.

Once you reach the bus stop at the Radisson Blu Hotel Norge, walk along Olav Kyrresgate (straight ahead) for 3 blocks. Turn right into Håkonsgaten and the Scandic Bergen City Hotel is at number 2.

Taxi
The taxi stand is just opposite the main entrance. The trip to the city centre takes approx. 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The price is around NOK 300 (it will be more at night or on weekends).

VISA / CUSTOMS

Norway is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For information concerning which nationals require a visa to enter Norway, please visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) - click here. For more information on the procedures for applying for a visa, click here.

To facilitate the issuance of visas, the Secretariat will issue upon request invitation letters to be attached to the visa applications. It should be noted that it is not possible to acquire a visa upon arrival in Norway. Furthermore, air line companies do not allow boarding in the absence of a valid visa.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Accommodation for sponsored delegates is being arranged by the CMS Secretariat. For non-sponsored participants, a list of hotels (including room rates, contact details and a location map) is available here.

SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS AT THE VENUE

Participants are requested to bring an identification document (e.g. passport, ID card, driver’s licence) which should be shown at the registration desk. At the registration desk, participants will receive a badge which should always be worn visibly while they are on the meeting premises.

Map
A map showing all meeting rooms and facilities as well as the schedule of meetings will be distributed.

On-site registration
Information to follow.

List of delegations
A list of delegations that have attended the above mentioned meetings, to be prepared by the Secretariat, will be made available on the website (www.cms.int) under heading “Information documents”, as well as distributed during the meetings. Participants not wishing their full coordinates to appear on the list of participants should notify the Secretariat staff at the registration desk.

Documents
In order to minimize the environmental impact of the meeting and for reasons of economy, delegates are kindly reminded to bring their own copies of the pre-session documents for the meeting, including the Information documents, which can be downloaded from the CMS website (click here) . A limited number of pre-session documents, in the Convention's three official languages, as well as the information documents of the meeting shall also be made available to participants, upon request, at the documentation counter at the Conference venue.

Meals
Information to follow.

Internet, PC access and photocopying facilities
Participants will have access, free of charge, to PCs located at the Scandic Bergen City Hotel, and wireless internet (WIFI) will be available everywhere at the meeting premises. Limited printing and photocopying facilities will be also at disposal of participants.

OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening of the COP10 will take place on Sunday, 20th November. The formal sessions of the meeting will be held daily from 9am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30pm to 6pm at the Conference venue and will start on Monday the 21st of November. For full schedule please refer to “Provisional schedule for CMS COP10 and associated meetings” (UNEP/CMS/Conf.10.3) - click here.

EXHIBITION AND SIDE EVENTS

Exhibitions
All partner organizations and stakeholders of CMS are encouraged to actively contribute to the success of the meeting by presenting their work or any related issue of interest in the form of an exhibition as well as posters.

Activities to be exhibited and posters should be relevant to the objectives of the Convention on Migratory Species and related Agreements. Exhibitions will be set up mainly in the lobby of the Scandic Bergen City Hotel. You are free to bring your exhibition equipment, including technical items, on your own responsibility. The area is equipped with power plugs (220 Volt) and wireless Internet connection.

The CMS Secretariat cannot provide technical equipment such as computers, LCD projector, VCR, screens or a TV. Tables and chairs can be provided by the conference venue. Exhibition panels can be hired through the Scandic City Bergen. Please contact Mr. Svein Aksnes, whose contacts can be found below.

The Secretariat will allocate exhibition space and equipment depending on the number of requests. Since the exhibition area is limited, the Secretariat will allocate the exhibition space on a first come first saved basis. Please specify your requests in the application form. We kindly request those who are interested to inform the Secretariat by the end of October to enable us to make the necessary arrangements. The person to contact at the UNEP/CMS Secretariat is Ms. Hanah Al Samaraie, Email: HAlSamaraie@cms.int.

You will be responsible for the transport, setting up and dismantling of your exhibition materials and their Customs clearance.

You may set up your exhibition between Thursday, 17 November 2011, and Sunday, 20 November 2011. The final deadline for dismantling is the evening of Friday, 25 November 2011.

Please be aware that only registered persons with a badge have access to the conference building.

Side Events
Applications for time slots and room allocation for side events should be done by using the form obtainable here to allow timely and proper processing of the requests. These applications should be sent by email to secretariat@cms.int or fax: (+49 228) 815 2449 no later than 30 September. Processed side-event requests can be viewed on the CMS Website.

The Secretariat is responsible only for time slot and room allocation that will be made on a “first come, first served” basis. Assignment of time slot and room will be confirmed a few days before the event is scheduled. It should be noted that side-events may be rescheduled in the interests of the official sessions of the meeting. Should this be the case, side-event organizers will be notified accordingly. No interpretation for side events will be provided.

Catering for side events
If you wish to enquire about costs and arrangements for catering please liaise directly with the designated focal person, Mr. Svein Aksnes, whose contact details are as follows:

Svein Aksnes
Scandic Bergen City
Håkonsgaten 2-7
5015 Bergen
svein.aksnes@scandichotels.com
Tel: +47 55 30 90 84
Mobile: +47 97 72 40 10

Organizers of side events shall bear in mind that lunch will be provided free of charge to all COP10 participants by the Host Country.

Shipping of material for exhibitions and side events
If you wish to ship information material to the meeting venue, please contact directly the designated focal person, Mr. Svein Aksnes, whose contact details are given above.

Participants interested in shipping material to the venue should make sure that the items shipped are clearly labelled with the contact information of the sender and for which meeting it is intended.

POSTAL AND BANK FACILITIES

There are ATMs (called ‘Minibank’ in Norway) close to the exit of the airport terminal. The ATMs in Norway are available 24 hours a day, while most banks are open Monday-Friday 9am to 3:30pm. Extra cash can also be withdrawn from the cashier at most supermarkets.

The main post office is at Småstrandgaten 3, in the shopping center Xhibition, from 9am to 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays.

CURRENCY

The currency in Norway is the Norwegian krone (NOK). The current exchange rate is: 1 NOK= 0.13 € and 1 NOK= 0.18 US$ (1 July 2011).

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language in Norway is Norwegian. However, English is widely spoken and well understood.

TIME ZONE AND WEATHER

Norway is in GMT+1 time zone during the winter.

The day temperature in Bergen in November will vary between 0 to +10 degrees Celsius. Current weather and forecast for Bergen can. be found here. We recommend that participants bring warm and waterproof clothing.

VOLTAGE AND TYPE OF PINS

Electric current, 230V 50Hz. Click here for a picture.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Phone numbers in cases of emergency:
Ambulance 113
Police 112
Fire 110

SHOPPING

Shopping times vary, many shops close at 5pm, Thursday at 7pm, Saturday at 3pm, Sunday closed all day. Shopping centres are open from 9am to 8pm, Saturday to 6pm. Many supermarkets are open until 9pm, 10pm or even 11pm.

Credit cards like Mastercard, Eurocard, Visa, Diners, Amex and JCB are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, taxis, train stations and tourist shops (but not at supermarkets).

TOURIST INFORMATION

Information about Bergen (e.g. excursions, museums, activities) will be provided at the information desk of the Scandic Hotel. Further information is available from the Bergen Tourist Office. For more information on travelling to Norway we recommend the official travel guide (click here).

NO SMOKING POLICY

Smoking is not allowed inside any publicly accessible building in Norway, including shops, cafes, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.