Intersession Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean and the First Meeting of the Working Group of the Latin American and Caribbean States Community. Distribution: Limited Quito, Ecuador 5-6 de november of 2012 Original: Spanish Information Note for Participants Information about the City of Quito San Francisco de Quito is the capital city of the Republic of Ecuador and of the province of Pichincha. It is also the main city of the metropolitan area, known as Metropolitan District of Quito. Quito, along with Kraków in Poland, were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978. In 2008, Quito was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur). Location: It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the occidental part of the Andean mountains. Its average altitude is 2850 msl. Official Language: Spanish. Currency: U.S. dollar. Ecuador uses US dollar paper currency, but also has its own fractional Ecuadorian coin currency, which has the same value of the dollar coins. Entry requirements VISAS Citizens of Latin American and the Caribbean countries do not need visa to cross the Ecuadorian border as tourists for a maximum of 90 days. AIRPORT The Mariscal Sucre International Airport of Quito is located 8 km from downtown. The airport has ATM cashpoits, banks, fax and telephone services at the exit area. TRANSPORT TO THE VENUE OF THE INTERSESSION MEETING OF THE FORUM OF MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN AND THE FIRST MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP OF THE LATIN AMERICAN AMND CARIBBEAN STATES COMMUNITY. Upon arrival to the Mariscal Sucre Airport, members of official delegations will be attended by identified personnel for their transfer to the Swissotel Quito Hotel.
The airport also has authorized taxi cabs (tourism cabs). The official venue of the Intersession Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean and the First Meeting of the Working Group of the Latin American and Caribbean States Community is the Swissotel Quito Hotel, between November 5 and 6. The Hotel information is as follows: HOTEL SWISSOTEL QUITO 12 de Octubre 1820 y Cordero, Quito, Ecuador Tel: (593-2) 2567600 Fax: (593-2) 2559203 The Ministry of Environment of Ecuador will ensure the coordination of hotel s reservation (not cover expenses) and UNEP will be in charge of the air tickets for the delegates that will be funded by that agency. These delegates will have a reservation at the Swissotel Quito hotel and must fill out the attached form and send it to the Government of Ecuador with copy to the Secretariat of the Forum to the attention of Mr. Ricardo Valdivieso: rvaldivieso.ambiente.gob.ec and Ms. Zuleika Hinds: zuleika.hinds@unep.org. For convinience and organization of the event we highly recommend staying at the conference venue. All participants those not funded buy the UNEP must make their own hotel reservations by sending the attached form duly signed, to Miss Daniela Tirado, to following email addres: dtirado@swissuio.com. Accreditations The accreditation of official delegations and invitees to the Intersession Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean and the First Meeting of the Working Group of the Latin American and Caribbean States Community must be sent by E-mail to the Secretariat of the Forum to vilma.aguina@unep.org and rvaldivieso.ambiente.gob.ec, clearly stating the names and posts of the delegate. Registration and Timetable Monday, 5 of November 8h00 8h30 8h30 09h00 09h00 09h20 09h20 11h00 11h15 13h00 14h30 18h00 Registration of the participants. Opening ceremony. Adoption of the agenda and program of work. Review of the decitions of the Forum of Ministers of Enviroment of Latin America and the Caribbean Lunch Proposal for the gradual association of the Forum of Ministers and CELAC. Tuesday, 6 of November 09h00 09h30 Review of the first meeting.
09h30 10h30 Strengthening of coopertion, coordination and complementation of public polices on environment affairs. 10h30 11h30 Operating Mechanisms (ILAC, CTI, PAR). 11h30 13h15 Recomendations for the gradual association of the Forum of Ministers and CELAC. 13h15 14h15 Lunch 14h15 15h15 Recomendations for the gradual association of the Forum of Ministers and CELAC. 15h15 16h00 Review and results of the Conference of Río +20 16h15 16h30 Reviwe of the future agenda 16h30 17h00 Edition of the Reunion s inform 17h00 Closing ceremony DOCUMENTS The documents will be compile by UNEP. The working documents will be available in the website of UNEP s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Secretariat will notify the official focal points, via e-mail, on the availability of the documents that will support the deliberations of the meeting. We kindly request all participants to bring with them the working documents available at the Forum s site. The idea is to save paper and minimize the environmental impact associated with document printing and reproduction. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTRY Area: 256.370 km² Population: 14,306,876 (2010 Census) Current President: Excellency Mr. Rafael Correa. Time Zone: Ecuador is 5 hours behind Greenwich Meridian (GMT). Climate: Quito has a subtropical highland climate. The city experiences only two seasons: dry season and rainy season. The dry season, June through September (4 months), is referred to as summer; the rainy season, October through May (8 months), is referred to as winter. Quito has a fairly constant cool climate, with springlike weather year-round with temperatures from 10 to 27 C. Nonetheless, be advised that Ecuador is currently in the raining season, with sunny mornings and cold nights; therefore it is suggested to take this into consideration in your logistic planning. Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycles. Communications The international dialing code for access to Ecuador is "593" and to Quito 2. Services Participants will have access, with a charge to your own account, to international calls, fax services, internet access, postage, photocopies, travel agencies, medical service, etc. These services are available at the Hotel.
Av. 12 de Octubre 18 20 y Luis Cordero www.swissotel.com Reunión Intersesional del Foro de Ministros de Ambiente de América Latina y el Caribe y I Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños Del 5 al 7 de Noviembre del 2012 / November 5th to 7th, 2012 HOTEL RESERVATION FORM Apellidos: Last names: Nombres: Names Teléfono: Telephone: Email: Email: Fecha de llegada: Arrival date: Fecha de salida: Departure date: Vuelo: Vuelo: ROOMS CATEGORY Business Advantage single($ 125+ tax; each night) Total $154.50 Business Advantage double($145+ tax; each night) Total $ 178.90 Beneficios a partir de Swiss Business Advantage: Jugo de bienvenida, Swiss bedding (duvet), Coffee & tea bar en la habitación, Suministros de oficina (clips, libreta, borrador, lápiz), Full desayuno buffet en Café Quito, Acceso ilimitado de Internet, Periódico diario, Acceso al Amrita Spa: piscina cubierta y descubierta, gimnasio, sauna, turco, jacuzzi, cuarto de relajación (áreas separadas para hombres y mujeres), canchas de squash & racquet. Benefits from Swiss Business Advantage Room: Welcome juice, Swiss bedding (duvet), coffee & tea bar in the room, office supplies (clips, notebook, eraser, pencil), daily newspaper, Full breakfast buffet, Internet Access, newspaper, Amrita Spa: Swimming pool,gym, steam bath, jacuzzi. Separate women and men relaxing areas. Rate (with taxes) Executive Room single($190+ tax; each night) $233.80 Executive Room double($210+ tax; each night) $258.20 Jr. Suite single($220+ tax; each night) $270.40 Jr. Suite double($240+ tax; each night) $294.80
Business Suite single($250+ tax; each night) $307.00 Business Suite double($270+ tax; each night) $331.40 Executive Suite single($280+ tax; each night) $343.60 Executive Suite double($300+ tax; each night) $368.00 Beneficios: Jugo de bienvenida, Swiss bedding (duvet con plumas de ganso), coffee & tea bar en la habitación, acceso Ilimitado a Internet desde la habitación, desayuno buffet, almuerzo, te y cena buffet en nuestro Piso Ejecutivo, bar abierto de 20h30 a 22h30, Suministros de oficina (clips, libreta, borrador, lápiz), períodico diario. Acceso al Amrita Spa: piscina cubierta y descubierta, gimnasio, sauna, turco, jacuzzi, areas separadas de relajación para hombres y mujeres. Benefits: Welcome juice, coffee & tea bar in the room, unlimited internet access from the room, Full breakfast buffet, lunch buffet, apetizers buffet in the afthernoon, dinner buffet, open bar 20h30 to 22h30 in our Presidential Club Lounge, daily news paper.amrita Spa: Swimming pool,gym, steam bath, jacuzzi. Separate women and men relaxing areas Preferred deadline to make reservations: October th, 2012 Check in time: 14h00 Check out time: 12h00 THIS CREDIT CARD GUARANTEE THE RESERVATION ESTA TARJETA DE CREDITO GARANTIZARA LA RESERVACION Tarjeta (Credit card): Numero (Number): Fecha de Vencimiento (Expiration date): Código de seguridad (Securiy Cord): Early Check-In: 50% of the daily rate will be charged per room. Late Check-out: Before 18h00, 50% of the rate will be charged. After 18h00, the full rate will be charged. Cancellation: In case of cancellation, the reservation must be cancelled before October 16th, 2012 to avoid a charge of a full night plus taxes to the credit card given as guarantee. No Show penalties: If there is not any cancellation made on the date stated above, a charge of a full night will be applied to the credit card given as guarantee. PHONE: 593 2 2 567 600 EXT. 6722-6741. PLEASE SEND TO FAX: 593 2 2 559 203 Email: dtirado@swissuio.com Daniela Tirado (Sales Manager) // amoreira@swissuio.com Andrea Moreira (Group
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