ECOC 2008 Practical

Important Travel Advise

Sunday 21 September is a "car-free" day in Brussels. This means that from 07h00 (morning) untill 19h00 (afternoon) no private cars are allowed in tgeh City Centre and within the main ringroad around Brussels.

The police departmnent informed us that Brussels Expo (ECOC 2008 venue) will be accessible by private car only from the ringroad R0 via specific exits only. Official information is available on (only in French or Dutch):

http://www.dimanchesansvoiture.irisnet.be/en/index.php

If you arrive at the Burssels Airport on Sunday 21 September, you can either take the train to the Brussels Central Railway Station or an official Taxi (only official taxi's will have passes to get into the city centre) to get to your hotel.

If you want to get to the ECOC 2008 (Brussels Expo) on Sunday 21 September, you should either use a taxi or preferably public transport (Metro).

Enjoy Brussels!

The Capital of Europe want to show their determination to welcome the ECOC 2008 participants and make their stay the most instructive and enjoyable ever.

Thanks to a collaboration agreement with the Brussels Convention and Visitors Bureau (BI-TC), ECOC has developed a series of hosting initiatives so that you will be benefit from a personalized assistance as soon as you arrive on the Brussels ground or even before your departure:

· Brussels Airport
As soon as you get into the baggage reclaim hall, look out for the BITC-ECOC welcome desk. Smiling staff will assist you with first information about how to reach the convention, your hotel, visitors information, brochures, maps, assistance for your stay, etc.

Opening hours booth:

• 20/09 : 14h00 - 18h00
• 21/09 : 08h00 - 18h00
• 22/09 : 08h00 - 12h00

· At ECOC (Hall 10 - Registration area)
Located in the lobby, near the registration desks, the Brussels Concierge Desk will take care of you and provide with similar information and comprehensive services:

• Advice and booking: restaurant, shopping, etc.
• Travel info
• Online flight check-in
• Tourism information and brochures
• Personalized services and assistance

Opening hours booth:

• 21/09 : 10h00 - 17h00
• 22/09 : 09h00 - 18h00
• 23/09 : 09h00 - 18h00
• 24/09 : 09h00 - 16h00

· Before your departure to Brussels
While you are preparing your travel to Brussels, please have a look on the BI-TC website. There you’ll find a whole range of information about:

• Where to stay, what to do and how to enjoy your stay: www.brusselsinternational.be
• Why don’t you contact one of the Brussels TOF people and get advice from a native of your own country: www.brusselstofpeople.eu

This time, you’ll have fun in Brussels!

Registration Opening Hours

Venue The conference will be held at the ‘Brussels Expo’. The complex, whose building begun in 1930 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Independence of Belgium combines an impressive Art Deco architecture with state-of-the-art equipments. The venue has been the site for the 1958 World Exhibition and the Atomium, built on the occasion of this expo, and located in front of the conference venue, has become one of the trademarks of Brussels and Belgium. Located at about 10 minutes from the airport and from the city centre, Brussels Expo is easily accessible, either by car via the Brussels Ring or thanks to the public transports (subway station, tram and bus stops in front of the Halls of Brussels Expo). All registered Conference delegates will receive free METRO tickets.		Getting to Brussels Brussels Expo enjoys a central location; it is truly easy to get there by car, train or plane. And Brussels International airport is only a few minutes away from the city centre as well as Brussels Expo. By Air When arriving by airplane, Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) is a mere 10 minutes away from Brussels Expo by highway. You can take a taxi directly to the Expo, or the train to the city centre to check into your hotel. (>>more) By Train Brussels is easily accessed by high speed trains: Eurostar (from London) and Thalys (from Paris, Amsterdam or Cologne) both stop at the Gare du Midi. (>>more) By Road Thanks to the highly efficient road network throughout Belgium, the Brussels Expo is easy to get to by car, no matter where you depart. Brussels Expo has the largest car park in the country with over 10,000 spaces. (>>more)
Hotel accommodation during ECOC 2008 Hotel rooms can be booked at preferential rates using the hotel-booking service of Brussels Expo. Click here to get access to the booking service
Brussels, the Bustling Heart of Europe! Who has never wanted to pass by Brussels for a small box of chocolates, a cone of French fries, a glass of beer or some ‘speculaas’ biscuits? All excesses will be permitted during your stay… 1,800 restaurants are ready to welcome lovers of refined cuisine, from Michelin-rated restaurants to trendy bars and taverns in the city centre. A small detour through the « Rue des Bouchers » and typical taverns of the Grand Place will also be very much appreciated by the tourists. And to learn more about it, do not hesitate to make a stop in the various musea and shops dedicated to this ‘art de vivre bruxellois’. Brussels has an abundance of musea. Its reputation as the city of Comic Strip is totally justified and its architecture remarkable. Brussels is also considered as the World Capital of ‘Art Nouveau’, among others thanks to Victor HORTA. The success of its world-famous artists, from MAGRITTE to RUBENS also contributes to its reputation. You will be able to spend magic moments and combine culture with moments of relaxation. And to finish, why not stroll on the Grand Place and greet Manneken Pis, spend some time on Sunday on the Sablon market, well-known for its antiquities, or do some shopping in the Avenue Louise and Antoine Dansaert street, general headquarter of the trendy Belgian designers? Brussels also hosts the headquarters of NATO, is home of over 1,200 NGOs and over 1,700 international associations and most of all, home of the European Commission and the majority of the European Institutions, making it also the bustling political heart of Europe.

Getting to Brussels

By Air

When arriving by airplane, Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) is a mere 10 minutes away from Brussels Expo by highway. You can take a taxi directly to the Expo, or the train to the city centre to check into your hotel.

OFFICIAL CARRIER
Important notice for participants in the ECOC Conference
Brussels Airlines offers reductions up to 25% of the normal fares. In order benefit from this offer, Congress participants must make their reservation as follows: Click www.brusselsairlines.com/specialfares and mention PROMOCODE 21090709.
These fares are valid for travel between 18 and 30 September, 2008
There will be a 5,00 Euro service charge fee on top of the reduced fees. Payment is to be made through credit card only.

Brussels Airlines offers reductions up to 25% of the normal fares Go to www.brusselsairlines.com/specialfares to make bookings and introduce your PROMOCODE : 21090709

Trains from Brussels International Airport to Brussels (Central Station):
4 trains per hour
every hour at 4 minutes / 17 minutes / 33 minutes / 50 minutes after the hour

By Train

Brussels is easily accessed by high speed trains: Eurostar (from London) and Thalys (from Paris, Amsterdam or Cologne) both stop at the Gare du Midi.
You can check the officiual website of the Belgian Railroads for schedules

By Road

Thanks to the highly efficient road network throughout Belgium, the Brussels Expo is easy to get to by car, no matter where you depart. Brussels Expo has the largest car park in the country with over 10,000 spaces.