[IGFmaglist] QUICK UPDATE ON THE MEETING VENUE - 2 ADJACENT BUILDINGS AND HOSPITALITY/ LUNCH FACILITIES

Bhatia, Virat virat.bhatia at intl.att.com
Sun Aug 31 11:10:12 EDT 2014


Dear Members of the MAG,
A quick update on the venue.  I did a walkthrough this morning.  Others may also have done so, so their inputs will be welcome.   Please find below some early observations and some recommendations.
Along expected lines, the conference facilities are state-of-the-art, with excellent meeting rooms, lighting, acoustics and translation facilities.  A number of reception counters have been set up on each floor, by the organizers, including lost and found,.  The organizers are very helpful and eager to assist.
Observations:

1.      There are 2 buildings (next to each other).  IGF is being held in the lighter, sand-stone colored building in front of which is a white tent.  The other building is ICT Turkey, which is a dark grey colored building.

2.      The registration is in the white tent, which is also the only entry and exit point to the building.

3.       The High Level meeting on Day 0 and Opening Ceremony on Day 1, will be held in the auditorium, which is in the main building, just behind the reception, as you go through the white tent. There is seating on two levels and as the secretariat has informed, the High Level meeting is open to all interested individuals.  The auditorium is simply first rate - seating, lighting, acoustics, everything.

4.      Most of the other meetings will be held in the adjacent building (Rumeli building), which houses the main meeting hall (Rumeli A1+A2) and workshop room numbers 1 - 10, IGF village, exhibition stalls and bilateral room numbers 1-4, along with the Rumeli Terrace.

5.       To access the adjacent building (Rumeli building), one needs to:

(i)      Register and go through the white tent, turn right at the reception and go through the wooden door;

(ii)    Take an elevator (on the left) or staircase (on the right), down one floor;

(iii)   Then take a flight of about 20 stairs, to Rumeli Terrace;

(iv)   Then take 3 levels of escalators to what is called the 'ground floor', which houses the main meeting room, IGF village, stalls and workshop room numbers 1 & 2.  Workshop room numbers 3 - 5 and 8 - 10, are one floor lower (-1).

6.      Essentially, we are dealing with 2 adjacent (but closely linked) buildings, with several floors (nearly 4).  Starting Day 2, main sessions and workshops will be held in the adjacent building (Rumeli building).

7.      There is tea /coffee and biscuits, at 10:30 am and 4:00 p.m. but not a lunch buffet.  Instead there are 3 'paid food bars' on different floors of the building and a restaurant called 'Borsa'.
Recommendations

1.      Arrive early as there could long queues at the registration desks.

2.      Think through your lunch arrangements, since there are only 3 'paid bars' and there could be more than a slight wait.  You might wish to carry fruits, etc., in your bag, especially if you have side meetings planned during the lunch slot.

3.      Pick the most comfortable footwear, as on an average, you might need to traverse (depending on your commitments and side meetings),  2-3 floors on multiple occasions during each day.

4.      You may also want to advice your speakers (especially for sessions on Day 1 and 2, especially when they are not used to the locations of the rooms,  to arrive well in advance, since it takes a little time to get used to the various floors and access points.

5.      The adjacent buildings have different floor numbers i.e. ground floor (0), and -1  are different from the adjacent building (Rumeli building), which have most of the other rooms.
 Trust this is helpful.
Regards
Virat Bhatia

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