1. LOCATION OF SESSION
By kind invitation of the Government of Canada, the Thirteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea will be held in Ottawa from 27 to 29 September 1999 in cooperation with the Tea Council of Canada. The Session will be held at:

• Congress Centre
• Colonel By Drive
• Ontario K1N 352, Canada
• 1 613 563 1984
• 1 613 563 7646

2. ENQUIRIES ON THE MEETING
(a) All enquiries concerning the meeting, except those regarding local arrangements, may be addressed to:

• Kaison Chang
• Group on Tea
• and Trade Division
• and Agriculture Organization of United Nations
• delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy
• 39 06 570-54346 E-mail: [email protected]
• 39 06 570-54495 or 570-53152

(b) Information on local arrangements should be addressed to the Liaison Officer for the Session:

• Danielle J. O'Rourke
• Tea Council of Canada
• Don Mills Road, Suite 301
• Mills, Ontario M3C 1V9, Canada
• 1 416 510 8647 E-mail: [email protected]
• 1 416 516 8044

3. ENTRY FORMALITIES
Delegates and accompanying travellers who, because of their nationality, require visas, should apply for them at the embassies/consulates of Canada, in their respective countries of residence. Should any difficulties arise, the Liaison Officer must be informed at least four weeks prior to the Session.

4. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Delegates should make their reservations directly with the hotel of their choice, (refer to Appendix 2 for a list of hotels). Please note that hotel prices have been specially arranged for a limited number of rooms in each hotel, and therefore delegates should refer to these arrangements made by the Tea Council of Canada when making their bookings.

5. TRANSPORT
Taxi fares from the Ottawa International Airport to downtown hotels range from $Can 20 to $Can 25. A shuttle service also operates every 30 minutes and goes to all 3 hotels listed in Appendix 2 at a cost of $Can 9.

6. BANKING FACILITIES
The current exchange rate is approximately $Can 1.50 to US$1.00. Currency can be exchanged at the airport through the Bureau de change which are open to service all incoming and outgoing international flights. There are automatic teller machines at the airport and in most hotels which may take major credit cards. All major Canadian banks have branches located near the hotels. Banking hours are 1000 hours - 1700 hours Monday to Friday.

7. CLIMATE
September is autumn (fall) in Canada and the temperature in Ottawa usually ranges from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.

8. PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
The opening ceremony will take place at 0930 hours on Monday, 27 September 1999 and the Session is expected to conclude its work in the afternoon of Wednesday, 29 September 1999. The provisional timetable is attached as Appendix 1.

9. REGISTRATION
The registration will be conducted at the main lobby of the Ottawa Congress Centre, outside the Executive Suite Boardroom from 1700 to 1900 hours on Sunday, 26 September and from 0830 to 0930 hours on Monday, 27 September.

Sunday, 26 September 1999
- 1700 - 1900 hours : Registration

Monday, 27 September 1999
- 0830 - 0930 hours : Registration (Ottawa Congress Centre)
- 0930 - 1230 hours : Working session
- 1230 - 1400 hours : Lunch Break
- 1400 - 1730 hours : Working session

Tuesday, 28 September 1999
- 0900 - 1230 hours : Working session
- 1230 - 1400 hours : Lunch Break
- 1400 - 1600 hours : Working session

Wednesday, 29 September 1999

- 1500 - 1730 hours : Adoption of Report

APPENDIX 2

LIST OF HOTELS

* All rates are in Canadian dollars per night plus applicable Canadian taxes

** Delegates are requested to make their bookings before the cut-off dates indicated for each hotel. There will be no guarantees of accommodation for those making their bookings after the cut-off dates.