UNWTO Conference on Talent Development and Education in Tourism UNWTO Knowledge Network Meeting – Europe Chapter

University of Deusto, , , 1 and 2 December 2015

Avenida de las Universidades 24, 48007, Bilbao (País Vasco)

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. DATE AND VENUE

The Conference will be held on 01-02 December 2015 at the:

University of Deusto

Avenida de las Universidades 24, 48007, Bilbao (País Vasco)

The University of Deusto was inaugurated in 1886, due to the concerns and cultural interest of the Basque Country in having their own university, as well as the interest of the Jesuits in establishing higher studies in some part of the Spanish State coincided in its conception. Bilbao, a seaport and commercial city which was undergoing considerable industrial growth during that era, was chosen as the ideal location. Tourism studies at the University of Deusto are being offered during the last 50 years, which shows the innovative vision of the reality at that time.

The University of Deusto (UD) was admitted as an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on May 29, 2015, considering that the UD supports the objectives of UNWTO and hopes to collaborate with the organization in various aspects related to research and dissemination, among others. The UNWTO is a specialised agency of the United Nations and the major public international organisation in the field of tourism, which consists of 157 countries and territories and more than 480 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions to tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

2. REGISTRATION AND BAGES

We kindly ask all participants to confirm their participation in the Conference at the earliest possible by registering online. Registration closes on 24 November 2015. The office will be open for participants to collect their badges on Tuesday December 1, 2015 from 10:00 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 15:00 at the University of Deusto. From 19:30 to 20:30 at the hotel Meliá Bilbao, and Wednesday December 2, 2015 from 8:00 to 09:30 at the University of Deusto. Participants will be required to wear the identification badges in the area reserved for the Conference, as well as during the social events.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org

2. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS

UNWTO COORDINATORS COORDINATOR IN HOST COUNTRY Addaia Arizmendi Basagaitz Guereño-Omil Capitán Haya 42 Avenida Universidades 24 28020 – Madrid 48007- Bilbao e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 915678169 Tel: 944 139 003 (Ext.2034)

3. ENTRY FORMALITIES

Participants are requested to refer to the webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Government of Spain in order to obtain information on visa requirements and procedures: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Paginas/Inici o.aspx

4. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS

No vaccinations are required.

5. TRANSPORT

Its strategic location and excellent infrastructures make Bilbao a place easy to reach from anywhere in the world, no matter the used transport mean is.

BY PLANE

At a distance of just over 12 kms of the city, Bilbao has one international airport. Only 20 minutes from the city center, from which has connections to the major cities in Europe.

BY TRAIN

The train station in the centre of Bilbao, the " Indalecio Prieto", offers connections to numerous Spanish cities including Madrid and Barcelona, and to international destinations such as Paris and Lisbon.

There is also an underground railway, the Eusko Tren, a narrow-gauge train connection with San Sebastian and cities along the Basque Coast, such as Zarautz, besides Santander and RENFE station nearby.

BY BUS

Bilbao bus station has lines to cities throughout Spain and part of Europe.

BY CAR

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org

Getting to BILBAO by car is extremely easy. The city is connected to the rest of Spain and France by the N-1 (the national highway connecting Madrid to Irun), the free highway A-1, with a range up to Burgos by the A-63 and the A-1.

Once in Bilbao, you can leave your car in one of the more than 4,000 parking places found in different parts of the city.

More information: http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/

6. ACCOMMODATION

Special discounted fares for participants*:

Special Fare UNWTO ( EUR per night) Hotel Single Single (Breakfast and taxes included) Dates Double standard superior 01-02 Hotel Meliá Bilbao 90€ 99€ December 30 November- Hotel Miro 98,70€ 106,30€ 124,10€ 02 December 30 November- Hotel Deusto 81,50€ 94,00€ 02 December 30 November- 115,00€ Hotel Ercilla 88,50€ 93,50€ 02 December 30 November- Hotel Hesperia Bilbao 87,80€ 97,50€ 02 December 30 November- Hotel Barcelo Nervión 81,00€ 98,00€ 02 December 30 November- Hotel Domine Silken 111,00€ 145,00€ 02 December

* To get the special discount fare, make the reservation through [email protected], except in the Hotel Meliá Bilbao, which needs to be reserved directly through the hotel.

7. LANGUAGES AT THE CONFERENCE

The languages of the Conference will be Spanish and English

8. SOCIAL PROGRAMME

Tuesday, December 1 at 11:00, there will be a guided tour (in English) from the University of Deusto and its surroundings.

Tuesday, December 1 at 20:30 will take place the gala dinner at the Melia Bilbao.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org

9. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

- Exchange rate: The local currency is the Euro, its symbol is €. Notes exist for the values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500.

Foreign exchange can be done in banks, currency exchange offices and hotels. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels and commerce.

- Official time: Bilbao is one an hour ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 1).

- Climate: Mild, with generally gentle temperatures, high humidity, frequent clouds and heavy rainfall throughout the year. The coldest month is usually January, with an average temperature of 7.9ºC and the hottest August, with an average of 20ºC.

- Official languages: Basque and Spanish.

- Telephone: The international code of Spain is +34.

- Electric current: 220/50 (volts/hz). (Europlug, Schuko)

- Clothing: It is advised to take cloths adequate for autumnal weather. For the sessions men usually wear suit jacket and tie, and ladies wear normal business dress.

- Opening hours: Banks normally open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 14:00.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org

10. BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT BILBAO

Bilbao is a and city in Spain, the capital of the province of in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. It is the largest municipality of the Basque Country and the tenth largest in Spain, with a population of 353,187 in 2010. The Bilbao metropolitan area has roughly 1 million inhabitants, making it one of the most populous metropolitan areas in northern Spain; with a population of 875,552 the comarca of is the fifth-largest urban area in Spain.

Its smart urban layout and short distances make Bilbao perfect for getting around on foot, with sprawling pedestrian precincts bike lanes and promenades that hug the city coastline from tip to tip.

A city of deep-rooted international tourist tradition dating back to the 19th century, Bilbao offers an excellent clean public transport service, an icon of architecture the Euskalduna Palace, Chavarri Palace or the Arriaga Theatre, above all, what is now one of the best known creative gastronomies in the world.

Distance from other major cities

San Sebastian 102 km Vitoria 100 km Biarritz 50 km Pamplona 82 km Madrid 451 km Barcelona 565 km

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations

Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 1 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org