INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS MEETING VENUE Catholic Relief Services ICT4D Conference InterContinental Hotel Lusaka, Zambia March 29 31, 2011 The meeting will take place at the InterContinental Hotel Lusaka, for the whole duration of the conference. March 29 Ballroom March 30-31 Makumbi room HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS All participants need to register for the conference at http://www.crsprogramquality.org/ict4d- event- empowering- regist/. Separately, out- of- town participants need to reserve their hotel room and airport transfer. The deadline for registration and reservations is February 27, 2011. All out- of- town participants will be accommodated at the InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia ($110 a person per night). Airport- hotel- airport shuttle will be provided by the InterContinental Hotel ($40 round trip). For CRS participants: CRS/SARO will reserve the hotel room and airport transfer for you once you have completed/updated your information (including the DSPN to which your reservation will be charged) on the attendee list on CRS Global. For external participants (non- CRS): Please book your accommodation directly with the InterContinental Hotel by sending an e- mail to tamara.mkandah@interconti.com.zm with copy to barbara.ngorima@interconti.com.zm and please specify on the subject of your e- mail: Booking for CRS ICT4D March 2011 Group in order for you to get the special rate for this event. At the time of booking, you will also need to send a copy of both sides of your credit card to guarantee the booking and in order for the hotel to hold the room for you. Upon arrival and check in at the hotel, you will be required to present your credit card (the same one used for booking) to pay the accommodation/conference package. You may also pay in cash. The deadline for making the booking with InterContinental Hotel is February 27, 2011 to avail of the special rate and to ensure room availability. 1
Hotel Details: The hotel is situated in the suburban area of Lusaka, approximately 26km from Lusaka International Airport and 3km from the nearest shopping centres, Manda Hill and Arcades, and about 6km from the town centre. For further information, the following are the hotel details: InterContinental Hotel Sales & Marketing Haile Selasse Avenue Longacres P O Box 32201 Lusaka, Zambia +260 211 250 000 +260 211 256 035 Email: barbara.ngorima@interconti.com.zm Website: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/lusaka The InterContinental hotel package includes, but is not limited to: (a) bed and breakfast (b) sauna / fitness centre (c) outdoor pool (d) tennis courts CONFERENCE COSTS All participants must cover the costs for their travel, visa, hotel accommodations, airport- hotel- airport transfers, and dinner costs (unless you received different instructions from your CRS contact person). CRS participants should provide their DSPNs (see instructions under Hotel Accommodations ). For additional information, see Meals and Tea Breaks below. VISA APPLICATIONS For general and visa information about Zambia, please visit http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/traveladvice/visa- immigration- info.htm or http://www.zambiatourism.com/welcome.htm, respectively. You may also visit Zambia Immigration Department website at the following address: http://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/zims/visas.aspx. ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES All participants are expected to participate in the full day(s) for which they have registered. Therefore, please arrive no later than the evening of March 28 th. Participants should depart no earlier than the morning of the day after 2
the last day they are attending. All arriving participants (by international or domestic flights) will be picked up from Lusaka International Airport by the Hotel InterContinental shuttle. Please look out for your names which will be displayed by the InterContinental Hotel drivers on your arrival. Airport transfers from the hotel back to the airport on departure date will also be facilitated by InterContinental Hotel shuttle. Non- CRS participants should request the service and provide confirmed itineraries when making the reservation with the hotel. CRS participants should indicate this information on the attendee list on CRS Global. You may be asked to present your vaccination card (for yellow fever) upon arrival so please have it with you. On the first day of the conference, you will be required to give your tickets to the conference organizers who will assist in ticket reconfirmation. You will be required to do so during the morning tea break of the conference so as to allow for sufficient time to reconfirm your return flights and return your tickets in good time. IN- COUNTRY TRANSPORT Other than the airport shuttle which will be provided by the hotel, all other in- country transportation will be the responsibility of the participants. You may get a taxi from the hotel taxi rank. The hotel reception staff will assist if you need any assistance to call for a taxi. MEALS Hotel accommodations include breakfast and conference participants will receive lunches and refreshments during tea breaks on the days for which they have registered. Participants are free to have dinners at any restaurants of their choice and will cover those expenses themselves. Information on restaurants will be provided when you arrive at the conference. For CRS participants, the per diem policy and rate will apply for meals not covered by the conference package. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most Lusaka restaurants. INTERNET ACCESS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT The hotel has internet connectivity in the guest rooms and at the lobby for a cost of $10 per 24- hour period. Additionally, there is a business centre where you may be assisted with phone calls, internet, photocopying, etc. 3
CURRENCY The hotel has no bureau de change within the premises. However, the hotel reception facilitates foreign exchange for its residents. The exchange rate is currently at an average of US$1/K4,800.00. Cash can also be withdrawn in local currency from ATMs at the airport and throughout the city. Bank of America ATM card holders can make withdrawals free from Barclays Bank ATMs; all other banks charge a fee. MEDICALS & INSURANCE Medical and travel insurance is the participant s responsibility. For any medical emergencies, participants will be assisted accordingly. The recommended medical centre is Care for Business (CFB) Medical Centre in Lusaka at the telephone numbers given below. +260 211 252 917 / 254 396 +260 211 255 730 / 287 / 729 Participants will need to pay cash to settle their bills. Please remember to bring your prescription medicines with you. You may be asked to produce your prescription on arrival. SECURITY The meeting venue is generally a safe place. You are, however, advised to take the necessary precautions to avoid being the victim of crime: leave your valuables at the hotel safety deposit box; only carry small amounts of money; ignore strangers accosting you outside the hotel; do not walk alone at night; SMOKING Smoking is prohibited in public places in Zambia. smoking and non smoking zones at the hotel. Please observe the CLOTHING March is towards the end of the rainy season. Temperatures range between 15 C in the morning and at night to 25 C mid to late afternoons. Participants are advised to carry light clothing for the day, with one or two light warm clothing for the evening/morning cool times. You may visit http://www.climatetemp.info/zambia/lusaka.html for general weather. 4
ELETRICITY AND PLUG INFORMATION Electricity in Zambia is supplied at 240AC, 50Hz. Zambia uses the rectangular blade plug, which is the old British three- pronged plug with three rectangular blades (as in picture). You may also find two- pronged continental plugs. You will need a converter to use appliances not running on 240 AC, 50 Hz. EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS Just in case you run into any problems in transit, on arrival or while you are in Lusaka, please call the following numbers. From outside Zambia, dial +260 (country code) then number. If already in Lusaka, please dial the numbers directly. CRS Emergency Contact Personnel: Walu Mwanangombe: +260 (977) 882 197 Judy Songwe: +260 (977) 854 930 Lorna Burce: +260 (977) 777 458 Zambia Police: 991 General Emergency: 999 Road Traffic Agency: 983 Zamtel Assistance (National Telephone Service Provider): *only from landline or CelZ mobiles Zambia Country Code: +260 Lusaka Code: 211 Customer Care: 100, 102, 111 and follow the instructions Phone tips: If using a cell phone to call a landline dial 0211 (Lusaka) before the phone number If using a landline to call a cell phone, dial 097 (Zain); 096 (MTN); 095 (CelZ) before the phone number If landline to landline call, dial the number direct, e.g., 236 487 for SARO For international call dial: 00 country code city code phone number. CRS WISHES YOU A SAFE TRIP TO AND FROM LUSAKA!!! 5