GENERAL INFORMATION 2
INTRODUCTION
The twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place in Santo Domingo from 15 to 18 October 2013. The theme of the Conference is "Gender equality, empowerment of women and information and communications technologies".
The purpose of this document is to provide delegates with useful information to facilitate their work at the Regional Conference.
The coordinators of the meeting will be pleased to answer any questions you may have concerning the logistics or organization of the event, whether before or during the session.
1. General information on the Dominican Republic
Location
The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Located between Cuba and Puerto Rico, it is one of the Caribbean’s leading tourist destinations and an ideal place for investment and trade. The country is divided into 32 provinces and its capital is the city of Santo Domingo.
Climate
The climate is tropical and the average temperature in Santo Domingo in October is around 34°C/93.2°F.
Official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic: http://www.serex.gov.do/
Useful information CURRENCY The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. The exchange rate Dominican peso fluctuates between 40.09 and 41.40 pesos to the United States dollar. Most ($) commercial establishments accept international credit cards. Travellers may change dollars and euros into Dominican pesos at currency exchange bureaux, at the airport or in commercial banks. LOCAL TIME UTC/GMT -4 hours ELECTRICITY 110 volts AIRPORT TAX The fee for the airport tax/tourist card is US$ 10. TIPPING All taxes and gratuities are included in the hotel room rate. However, an additional tip may be given if a specific service is felt to have been outstanding. TAXIS Delegates are advised to use radio taxis, such as those found at hotel entrances. Taxis charge according to the meter. Delegates are advised to ask the fare when booking a taxi or before getting into the vehicle.
There is also a chauffeured car rental service available, which is charged according to the meter or time. 3
2. Meeting venue
The twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held in the Convention Centre of the Hilton Hotel Santo Domingo.
HOTEL HILTON SANTO DOMINGO
Address: Avenida George Washington 500 Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 685-0000 Fax: (1-809) 685-0202 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.hiltonsantodomingohotel.com/
3. Meeting coordination
The twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will be organized by ECLAC and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs of the Dominican Republic.
Division for Gender Affairs, ECLAC Jimena Arias Feijoó, Social Affairs Officer Telephone: (56-2) 2210-2238 E-mail: [email protected]
Conference Services Unit, ECLAC Logistics María Eugenia Johnson, Supervisor Telephone: (56-2) 2210-2667 E-mail: [email protected]
Ministry of Women’s Affairs Carmen Pérez, Director of Public Policies Telephone: (1-809) 685-3755, extension 246 E-mail: [email protected]
Ministry of Women’s Affairs Yngrid Alcántara, International Affairs Officer Telephone: (1-809) 685-3755, extensions 230, 283 E-mail: [email protected]
Ministry of Women’s Affairs Angie Holguin, Protocol Officer Telephone: (1-809) 685-3755, extensions 222, 231 E-mail: [email protected] 4
4. Hotel reservations
The ECLAC Conference Services Unit has reserved a block of rooms at special rates in the following hotels:
HOTEL HILTON SANTO DOMINGO (5*) Single room: US$ 130 plus 28% tax Double room: US$ 160 plus 28% tax (Rates include breakfast and Internet access) Avenida George Washington, 500, Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 731-4114 Fax: (1-809) 731-4149 Contact: Yajaira Maldonado, Group coordinator E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hiltonsantodomingohotel.com/
HOTEL CROWNE PLAZA SANTO DOMINGO (5*) Standard single room: US$ 110 plus 28% tax Standard double room: US$ 120 plus 28% tax (Rates include breakfast and Internet access) Avenida George Washington 218, Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 221-1571 Fax: (1-809) 221-1196 Contact: Yennifer Paniagua, Group coordinator E-mail: [email protected] http://www.crownplaza.com/santodomingo
HOTEL MAGNA 365 (5*) Deluxe single room: US$ 109 plus 28% tax Deluxe double room: US$ 129 plus 28% tax (Rates include breakfast and Internet access) Avenida George Washington 365, Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 730-6632 Fax: (1-809) 687-8150 Contact: Paola Madera, Group coordinator E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hotelmagna365.com
HOTEL SANTO DOMINGO (5*)
Deluxe single room: US$ 80 plus 28% tax Deluxe double room: US$ 90 plus 28% tax (Rates include breakfast and Internet access) Avenida Independencia esquina Abraham Lincoln, Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 221-1511 Fax: (1-809) 533-8898 Contact: Paola Álvarez, Group coordinator E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hotelsantodomingo.com.do 5
Reservations should be made directly with the hotel selected by 20 September 2013. After that date, the hotels reserve the right to modify the rate and cannot guarantee room availability. Please use the form on page 8 to make a reservation.
Delegates are responsible for their own reservations. It is therefore advisable to check that the hotel has processed your reservation and to request a reservation number or confirmation code.
A credit card number is required to hold the reservation. Hotels in the Dominican Republic apply a “no show” policy; cardholders may cancel reservations up to 24 hours in advance, failing which they will be charged for the first night. All delegates must settle their own hotel bill at the end of their stay.
5. Entry requirements for the Dominican Republic
Holders of regular, diplomatic or official passports should contact the embassy or consulate of the Dominican Republic in their country to request information on applicable entry requirements. Citizens of some countries do not require a visa to visit the Dominican Republic.
Information on entry requirements for the Dominican Republic may be consulted online at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Spanish): http://consuladord.com/ contenidos.aspx?cid=82&lang=ES
6. Local transport
Conference participants are responsible for their own transportation between the airport and the hotel. Taxis are available at Las Américas International Airport. Delegates are advised to use SICHALA taxi company which is authorized by the National District City Council. Bookings can be made by telephone (1-809) 549-0245 / (1-809) 549-0011 / (1-809) 549-0364. The average fare from the airport to the hotel is US$ 50.
As a basic security measure, participants are advised to take a taxi at the hotel entrance or request a radio taxi at the commercial establishment or tourist site they are visiting.
On the days of the Conference, transport to and from the meeting venue is provided for participants staying at the Crowne Plaza, Santo Domingo and Magna 365 hotels. A schedule for this service can be requested during check-in at the hotel.
Participants entitled to transport services provided by their country’s diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic should contact that mission directly.
7. Registration of participants
As of August 1st, an online registration system will be available on the web page of the twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (www.eclac.cl/12conferenciamujer/default.asp?idioma=IN).
Registration of participants will take place in the lobby of the Gran Salon of the Convention Centre at the Hotel Hilton Santo Domingo, from 4 p.m. on Sunday, 13 October. Participants will be issued identification badges, which, for security purposes, must be shown at all meetings. 6
For any questions on the registration of participants, please contact Paula Warnken (telephone: (+56-2) 2210-2651; or e-mail: [email protected] ); or Jennifer Pye (telephone: (+56-2) 2210-2270; or e-mail: [email protected] ).
Registering through the online system does not exempt delegations from the requirement to provide official notification of the name of the head of delegation and all accompanying members.
8. Internet
The offices and meeting rooms set aside for the conference will have wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi).
9. Languages of the meeting
The official languages of the meeting will be English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
10. Medical services
The Government of the Dominican Republic will provide first aid services in case emergency medical assistance is required at the meeting venue. Participants should make the conference coordinators aware of any medical needs.
11. Security
The Government of the Dominican Republic will provide a special security service for participants at the meeting venue and in the surrounding area. As in any big city, caution should be exercised by participants when out walking, particularly at night.
12. International press centre
In order to facilitate press coverage of the twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, an international press centre will be set up in an office close to the conference rooms. Journalists wishing to cover the session must register with and obtain accreditation from the press centre, which will be open on a daily basis from 9 a.m.
The centre will have an information and documentation office, and cubicles and work spaces for accredited journalists and media representatives.
Questions relating to media coverage of the session should be addressed to María Amparo Lasso, Chief of the ECLAC Public Information and Web Services Section, by telephone ((56-2) 2210-2664), fax ((56-2) 2210-1947) or e-mail ([email protected]). 7
UNITED NATIONS TWELFTH SESSION OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Santo Domingo, 15-18 October 2013 HOTEL RESERVATION REQUEST FORM First name Last name Head of delegation Delegate Observer Special guest Official title: Organization:
Address:
City: Country:
Telephone: Fax: E-mail: I hereby request a reservation at: HOTEL HILTON SANTO DOMINGO (5*) HOTEL CROWNE PLAZA SANTO DOMINGO (5*) Av. George Washington, 500 Av. George Washington, 218 Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 731-4115 Telephone: (1-809) 221-1571 Fax: (1-809) 731-4149 Fax: (1-809) 221-1196
Standard single US$ 130 * Standard single US$ 110 * Standard double US$ 160 * Standard double US$ 120 *
(*) Plus 28% room tax. Includes breakfast and Internet (*) Plus 28% room tax. Includes breakfast and Internet access. access. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Yajaira Maldonado, Group coordinator Attention: Jennifer Paniagua, Group coordinator HOTEL MAGNA 365 (5*) HOTEL SANTO DOMINGO (5*) Av. George Washington, 365 Av. Independencia, esquina Abraham Lincoln Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Telephone: (1-809) 730-6632 Telephone: (1-809) 221-3618 Fax: (1-809) 687-8150 Fax: (1-809) 533-8898
Deluxe single US$ 109 * Deluxe single US$ 80 * Deluxe double US$ 129 * Deluxe double US$ 90 *
(*) Plus 28% room tax. Includes breakfast and Internet (*) Plus 28% room tax. Includes breakfast and Internet access. access. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Paola Madera, Group coordinator Attention: Paola Álvarez, Group coordinator Date of arrival: Flight number: Time (approx): Date of departure: Flight number: Time (approx): I authorize use of the following credit card to secure my reservation: American Express MasterCard Visa Other Credit card number and security code: Expiration date: Reservations should be made directly with the hotel selected by 20 September. Delegates are responsible for their own reservations. It is advisable to check that the hotel has processed your request and to ask for a reservation number or confirmation code. To guarantee reservations, delegates are required to indicate their flight number and time and date of arrival in and departure from the Dominican Republic, as well as credit card details. In order to qualify for the special negotiated rate, delegates must specify when making their reservations that they will be attending the twelfth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean.