GENERAL INFORMATION A-Z

Accommodation
Istanbul offers excellent accommodation facilities for everyone, ranging from worldwide recognized 5 star chain hotels to 3 star budget hotels. There are 6.000 guest rooms in the district called “The Congress Valley”. The congress venue can be easily accessed from these hotels on foot in 2 to 15 minutes. The congress secretariat has made special rated reservations at these hotels. Further information and online reservation will be available in the Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Banks and Currency Exchange
In Turkey the currency is the New Turkish Lira (YTL). Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport as well as at the private exchange offices throughout the city which are open from 8:30 to 20:00 hrs. Local banks, where Traveler's cheques and Eurocheques can be cashed, serve between 8:30 and 17:00 hrs. All major credit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard). are accepted in most of the Turkish restaurants ,shops etc. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Climate and Clothing
April is spring in Turkey and is one of the most pleasant seasons. Average temperatures vary between 16ºC – 20ºC. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

CME Accreditation
The ECE 2009 scientific programme will be submitted for accreditation by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Commercial Exhibition
The exhibition will take place in Istanbul Congress & Exhibition Centre (ICEC). Exhibitors will have the chance to meet with the delegates as well as taking part among the display of recent works on Endocrinology. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Congress Venue
The congress will be organised at the Istanbul Convention & Exhibition Centre (ICEC). ICEC and its Rumeli Fair & Exhibition Hall are the centrepieces of a complete Conference Valley. Offering more than 6.000 guest rooms within easy walking distance to ICEC, including 6 five-star hotels, the Conference Valley offers the participants an unrivalled convenience and flexibility. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Daily and Pre-Post Tours
There is a lot to be seen in Istanbul and Turkey. A wide selection of daily tours will be available through out the congress including the worldwide famous sites at the Historical Peninsula –also known as the Old City- and the Bosphorus cruises. The Aegean, Anatolian, Mediterranean parts of Turkey are also packed with archaeological sites of many different and ancient civilizations and can be visited in a pre or post congress tour. Information about daily and pre-post tours will be available in the Tours section of the ECE 2009 webpage. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Dining Out
Istanbul is a wonderful place for food no matter what your budget. From simple workers' eateries and sidewalk cafes to posh culinary palaces with liveried waiters, Turkish cuisine is good and the value-for-money unbeatable.

The typical dish of Istanbul would consist of lamb, mutton, and veal, to which a variety of vegetables are added. Pilaf, all kinds of pastry, bulgur, haricot beans, rich olive oil, and vegetables are used as side dishes. Meatballs, shish kebab, and doner kebab are classic dishes. Because of its coastal location, fish is also popular although it is usually cooked simply, such as grilled, or fried with olive oil and lemon juice.

Istanbul is the commercial and cultural centre of Turkey; therefore, there are restaurants of many nationalities such as Korean, Russian, Italian, and Chinese. American-style fast-food outlets are becoming more popular, but for a quick snack it is more appropriate to fill up at the plethora of tiny takeaways with kebabs and snacks. It is easy to sample good quality regional cuisine in typical small restaurants, usually at low cost, especially in the commercial and business areas. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Easy Access
Atatürk Airport serves domestic and international scheduled and charter flights 24 hours a day. It is located 24 kilometres west of the city centre. In view of public usage, the Atatürk Airport facilities are established on an area consisting of a total of 9,470,554 square meters, with a yearly capacity of 14 million passengers to serve at international terminal and 6 million passengers at domestic terminal. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Electricity
The electric current is 220V AC with a frequency of 50 Hertz. European standard plugs with two round pins are used. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Exhibition
 The European Society of Endocrinology invites companies to take part in the industrial exhibition of the ECE 2009 where the latest developments and newest products will be present. Exhibitors will have the chance of meeting with delegates as well as taking part among the display of recent works on Endocrinology. For further information please contact the congress secretariat. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Invitation Letter
 A downloadable official letter of invitation will be available on the General Information section of the ECE 2009 website. This invitation is meant only to help visitors raise travel funds or to obtain a visa, and is not a commitment on the part of the organisers to provide any financial support. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Language
The official language of the congress is English. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Liability and Insurance
The registration fees do not include the insurance of participants against personal accidents, sickness, cancellations by any party, theft, loss or damage to personal possessions. Participants are advised to take out adequate personal insurance to cover travel, accommodation, cancellation and personal effects. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Meals
Coffee breaks will be available through out the congress, which are to be announced in the detailed programme. Congress lunches are included in the registration fees. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Official Carrier
An official carrier will be appointed for the ECE 2009 to help delegates obtain air tickets at better prices. Please follow the General Information section of the ECE 2009 webpage for further announcements. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Shopping in Istanbul
Being once called the city of thousand colours and fragrances Istanbul is a paradise for shoppers. One can find a very large variation of carpets, jewels, gold, leather goods etc. while wandering through the old monuments or one can visit the city’s modern shopping malls where Turkish brand goods can be found.

The shops are open from 8:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar open their gates at 8:00 and close at 19:00. Big shopping malls open from 10:00 to 22:00 seven days a week. Shops do not close for lunch. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Social Programs
All registered participants are cordially invited to attend the Congress Welcome Reception. Details on the Congress Party and Gala Dinner will be available in the Social Programs section of the ECE 2009 webpage. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Sponsorship and Opportunities
We are delighted to offer your company the opportunity to be a part of the 11th European Congress of Endocrinology. There are several outstanding options available for your company to be a sponsor at the congress, giving you maximum exposure to a highly targeted audience of delegates. For further information, please contact the congress secretariat. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Time Zones
Turkey is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Tipping
Service charges are included in the cost of all goods and services. Although it is not mandatory, a small tip is expected for good service. As a guideline, add about 10 % to the total bill. Normally you are requested to leave a cash tip when paying by credit card. Accommodation section of the ECE 2009 webpage.

Visa Requirements
All participants are required a valid passport to enter Turkey. Citizens of some countries may obtain visa before arrival and some may obtain it at the airport upon arrival. The most updated visa information can be received from the website of Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (www.mfa.gov.tr) For further information please contact the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate to check the visa regulations.