Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)

Airline Discounts
We have negotiated special discount rates with the following airlines for SEWF2012 delegates: - American Airlines: Book your flight with American Airlines at www.aa.com and receive a 5% discount off the lowest applicable fare by entering promotional code 34H2BS in box 9. You can also book by phone by calling +1-800-433-1790 (US$25 ticketing fee applies to reservations made over the telephone). Discount Fares are valid for travel on American Airlines, American Eagle®, AmericanConnection®, oneworld alliance member airlines, and codeshare partners from anywhere to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) (as long as a portion of your flight is on an American Airlines aircraft). Discount applies only to flights for travel between the dates of October 5-24, 2012. This discount code may not be combined with any other discount codes. Discount applies to fare only (not to taxes and fees).

---

3. Airlines (within Brazil):
Airlines providing domestic travel service within Brazil:
Avianca
Azul Airlines
GOL
TAM
TRIP
Webjet

---

4. Airport transfers
Both airports have two types of taxi services:

- executive (blue & red) taxis: can be pre-reserved/pre-paid at reservation booths at the arrivals halls of both airports. The pre-paid price is determined by the distance to your final destination. These taxis are more expensive than regular yellow taxis but offer a pre-paid price.

- yellow taxis: use a meter from the airport. The average price for a yellow taxi service from GIG international is approximately R$60. Here is a link to a useful taxi fare calculator for Rio: http://www.tarifadetaxi.com/rio-de-janeiro

- bus/shuttle: The bus company, Real Auto Ônibus, also operates an executive bus (line 2018) that runs each half hour (between 5:30-22:30 hours), between both airports, and from both airports to Rio’s Central Bus Station, and to destinations in the southern parts of the city along the shore. Ticket counters for these bus services are located at the arrivals area in both terminals.

- hotel shuttles: some hotels offer free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. Please check directly with your hotel when registering to inquire about availability.

---

5. Local Transportation
- taxi: Yellow street taxis in Rio are common and convenient and use a meter. If you plan to take a taxi to the SEWF venue, here are some helpful hints: the official name of the SEWF venue is “Centro Cultural Ação da Cidadania” but locals in Rio sometimes refer to it as “Galpão da Cidadania.” Tell the taxi driver to take you to Galpão da Cidadania at Rua Barão de Tefé, 75 – Saúde, Centro. Additional and helpful geographic references for taxi drivers, if necessary, are the “Hospital dos Servidores” a large building and public hospital located only a block away from the venue (at Rua Sacadura Cabral, 120) and “Avenida Venezuela”, which is a cross street just a few meters from the venue and a major traffic artery in the area running parallel to the ocean and port.

Here are links to useful taxi fare calculators and maps from Rio’s two main airports to the SEWF venue:
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)– Ação da Cidadania: http://j.mp/GFfDXr
Galeão Internacional Airport (GIG) – Ação da Cidadania: http://j.mp/GJ8XGd

- metro/subway: MetrôRio has a very useful website (available in English) describing the use and route of Rio’s subway system. Metro maps are available online and in printable PDF form, and will also be available for registered delegates at the SEWF venue. The closest metro station to the SEWF venue is “Presidente Vargas” on the green and orange lines (Linhas 1 & 2). From the station you will need to walk approximately 15–20 minutes from the station. Under NO circumstances should you walk alone or after dark.

- buses: Vá de Ônibus provides a useful bus route search engine for bus lines in Rio. The SEWF venue is in the city center’s port area which is undergoing a major urban renewal process that could alter bus stops around the venue so please be sure to confirm bus routes regularly. Many bus lines from Rio’s southern zone, beach districts and downtown pass through or end at Praça Mauá (a popular and busy square in Rio and where the port’s passenger terminal is located). From there it’s only a short distance (approximately 5-10 minutes walk) to the SEWF venue: walk three blocks straight on Avenida Venezuela until you meet the venue street (Rua Barão de Tefé), turn left and you will see Centro Cultural Ação da Cidadania.

---

6. Venue Parking
The closest parking to the SEWF2012 venue is:

Jabs Park Estacionamento Ltda
Avenida Venezuela, 57 – Saúde – Rio de Janeiro
Tel: 21 2253-9377/5486
Daily rate: R$18
Parking spaces: 180

---

Visas

Please note this is information is for REFERENCE ONLY. Please consult directly with your governmental representatives to confirm accurate visa requirements:

- entry/exit requirements for US citizens: Brazil requires US citizens to carry a valid US passport and visa when traveling to Brazil. You must obtain your Brazilian visa in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to you. There are no “airport visas” available at the airport and immigration authorities will refuse entry into Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. For the most current visa information, please visit the website of the Consulate General of Brazil in Washington, DC:

- entry/exit requirements for Canadian citizens: When traveling to Brazil, Canadians also need a visa. Please check the requirements with the Consulate General of Brazil in Toronto:

- citizens of countries exempted from Brazilian visa: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, the Sovereign Order of Malta (citizens of Malta must have a visa), Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, the Vatican and Venezuela.

If you are exempted, please be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 more months after the date you LEAVE Brazil. All exemptions are valid for a stay up to 90 days, except for Venezuelan passport holders.

- invitation letters: In the case that you require a letter of invitation to the SEWF2012 for the purposes of applying for a visa to attend, please send us a written request at sewf[at]nesst.org.

---

Tourism

Some helpful pages for tourism information regarding Rio de Janeiro and Brazil:

---

LGBT Pride

Rio de Janeiro is a very welcoming and LGBT-friendly city and we’re delighted that Rio’s Gay Pride Parade and festival will take place the weekend prior to the SEWF2012, on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

---

Health and Safety

Health
- vaccinations: An international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers who, within three months prior to their arrival in Brazil, have visited or been in transit through any of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela.

Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for all travelers when visiting the following states of Brazil: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Piauí, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins.

Safety
Rio de Janeiro has made tremendous progress in recent months and years to increase the safety of its citizens and tourists. However, as with any large urban area you should always be aware and keep a few particular points in mind:
- avoid walking alone after dark (including on beaches, as beautiful as they may appear!);
- be careful with your belongings, and try to conceal jewelry, watches, laptops, smart phones and cameras in public places;
- under NO circumstances should you travel to or within a favela without a local guide;
- have small change and pocket money readily available and avoid exposing your wallet or passport in public.

Important Safety Numbers
Within Brazil, dial from any phone:
- Ambulance/ Public Service: 192
- Fire Department: 193
- Police: 190

---

Accessibility

There are still barriers to accessibility in the city of Rio de Janeiro and the SEWF venue itself has some limitations to accessibility. NESsT is committed to providing a SEWF experience and environment that is equally welcoming, accessible and user-friendly for all attendees.

The ground floor of the SEWF venue is wheelchair accessible and includes restrooms near registration that are wheelchair accessible. The mezzanine level of the venue is not readily accessible. There are no elevators in the building and stairways are not fitted with ramps or lifts. We are taking additional steps to ensure accessibility. NESsT has designated one stairway to be accessible for delegates with special needs and will provide volunteers to assist delegates ascend and descend steps at all times.

We have worked hard to ensure that options for accessible Social Enterprise Site visits are available on both the morning and afternoon of October 16. Please refer to the individual site visit descriptions for information on accessibility.

We recognize that there will be individuals who may require that specific accommodations be arranged to ensure their full and equal participation. Due to the size of this event, and the logistic requirements of arranging for appropriate human resources to be onsite working at the SEWF, we ask that you please indicate any specific requirements when registering or otherwise inform SEWF coordinators no later than September 15, 2012. If you have specific questions about accessibility for the SEWF, please contact us at sewf[at]nesst.org.

---

Weather & Dress Code

October is springtime in Brazil and weather can vary tremendously from year to year, from day to day, and from morning to night — including hot, sunny, humid days or strong rain and wind. You should prepare accordingly by bringing layers of clothing and rain gear in order to be flexible for varying temperatures and climate. The daily average highs for October in Rio de Janeiro are around 28°C (82.4°F) and daily average lows around 22°C (71.6°F). For further weather information, visit: www.weather.com.

The dress code for SEWF2012 is informal except for the awards gala evening (October 17) which is semi-formal attire.

If you are attending site visits in/around Rio de Janeiro on October 16, please consult individual site descriptions in order to prepare accordingly with appropriate clothing, shoes, etc.

---

Electrical Current

The voltage in Brazil is from 110 to 220 V. For a description of the electrical plugs most common in Brazil, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country and http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/world+electricity+guide.html

---

Money

The official currency of Brazil is the “Real.” For current exchange rates, visit: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

Bank ATMs and exchange desks are available in the international airport arrivals terminal. ATMs are common throughout the city but not all machines recognize all international networks. Look for your network logo on the ATM machine. Please note: ATM machines in Brazil are closed and locked from 22:00 – 6:00am for safety purposes.

---