CONFERENCE VENUE
The Regional Seminar on ICT and Education will be held on February 9th 2009, at room 3, in the “Palacio de las Convenciones” (Havana International Convention Center), located at 146 St, Cubanacán, phones: (537)202--60-11/15-08, Fax: (537)202-83-82, email: palco@palco.cu , web site http://www.cpalco.com
This event will take place before the 13th International Convention and Fair INFORMÁTICA 2009, from February 9th through 13th, www.informaticahabana.com , opening just after closing the Seminar. All delegates are invited to the Convention Opening Ceremony (5:00 pm) and its Welcome Cocktail (7:00 pm).
REGISTRATION
The registration for the participants is available at this URL: http://www.un-gaid.org/tabid/988/ctl/TakeSurvey/mid/2540/SurveyID/98KJ4m4/Default.aspx.
After finishing the Seminar, participants who are interested to attend the 13th International Convention and Fair INFORMÁTICA 2009, must accomplish with the the registration and pay fee. For further information, please see: http://www.informaticahabana.com/.
OPENING CEREMONY
The session stars at 09:00 am.
LANGUAGES
The official languages of the Seminar are Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpreting services and cutting-edge technology in audiovisual means.
VISIT TO THE “UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS CIENCIAS INFORMÁTICAS”
We have organized a visit to “Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas” (INFORMATICS SCIENCES UNIVERSITY), a reference center in Cuba, with more than 10 000 students, located 15 miles from the chosen hotels for the Seminar. It will be on Sunday, February 8th at 9:30, picking delegates up at hotels. Visit may last 3 hours.
All participants interested in attending, send an e-mail to Mr. Marcos Antonio Ortiz Martínez, “Oficina para la Informatización”, Havana, phone (53-7) 835-6101 al 6107, email: marcosa@infosoc.cu, before Friday 6th, at 12:00 (GMT-5).
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
“Solways Cuba” is the web travel agent for INFORMATICA 2009 and is offering special reduced rates for accommodation and Congress tours in collaboration with HAVANATUR incoming agency of the event. In order to benefit from the special condition, please use one of the following booking methods:
Rates x Pax x Night in occupancy
| Each participant will request and verify the booking confirmation. |
FURTHER INFORMATION
Any question, please contact to Mr. Marcos Antonio Ortiz Martínez, “Oficina para la Informatización”, Havana, Phone (53-7) 835-6101 al 6107, e-mail: marcosa@infosoc.cu.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON CUBA
Cuba is located on the 5th Greenwich Time Meridian (Eastern Standard Time in USA and Canada).
Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycles. Most hotels also have 220 volt and sockets for flat plugs.
The national currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso (CUP). All payments in the establishments operating in foreign exchange in Cuba must be made with Convertible Peso (CUC).
Payment Ways:
- All services and transactions conducted throughout the national territory in US dollars will be now made in convertible pesos (CUC), including hotels, restaurants, bars, stores, taxis, car rental, and other services.
- Other hard currency accepted in Cuba: euro, Canadian dollars, pounds sterling and Swiss francs, may be exchanged for convertible pesos without having to pay tax, always bearing in mind that one convertible peso is equal to one US dollar.
- Travelers can exchange money at the airport, hotels, banks and exchange offices (CADECA).
- Operations conducted with credit cards with funds in US dollars accepted in Cuba (Visa y MasterCard not issued by US banks) will not be subject to the 10%. Debit cards are not accepted.
- All transactions conducted with credit cards shall be subject to a 3% tax.
- In Havana, travelers can extract convertible pesos at automatic tellers located in: Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Meliá Cohiba, Hotel Nacional and the Miramar Trade Center. In Varadero, there are automatic tellers at the Plaza America Shopping Center and banks.
- Travelers can use Visa and MasterCard not issued by US banks to extract convertible pesos (CUC) or US dollars in banks, hotels and exchange offices (CADECA).
- Cuban Pesos or National Currency (CUP) can be used to purchase a limited number of products and services at certain local shopping centers, agricultural markets, cinemas and other facilities not liked to international tourism or located far from the main tourist resorts. The exchange rate of the Cuban peso (CUP) with respect to the convertible peso (CUC) is 26/1 (October/2004).
- Visitors can also exchange convertible pesos back to US dollars or to any of the currencies accepted in Cuba (euros, Canadian dollars, pounds sterling or Swiss francs) before leaving the country directly at the international airports. Travelers are recommended to change their money while in Cuba since they will not be able to do so once they leave the country.
- Euros will still be accepted at the six tourist destinations: Varadero, Jardines del Rey (Ciego de Avila province), Santa Lucia (Camaguey), Covarrubias in Las Tunas, Holguin and Cayo Largo del Sur.
When leaving the country, travelers must pay a tax of 25.00 CUC
Most facilities open from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday trough Saturday. Banks from 08:30 to 15:00. Automatic tellers are available 24 hours a day.
To make international calls you may dial: code 119 + country code + city code + phone number. With prepaid cards, purchased in Cuba, you may follow instructions of this service. Cuba has signed roaming treaties with several countries.