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Official Language
The official language of the conference is English and will be used for all presentations and printed materials. Passport and Visa All foreign visitors desiring to enter Northern Ireland must have a valid passport. Follow this link https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa for Visa Information. No funds are available to assist with travel and registration fees cannot be waived. If, for some reason, your visa application is denied, your registration fees will be refunded to you in full. Local Time Zones Belfast is on Greenwich Mean Time. Climate Belfast Temperatures in January can be quite cool. The average temperature is 39° F (4°C). Banking Most banks are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. All major credit cards are widely accepted in the city. There are foreign exchange facilities in the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre. Currency Exchange Only pound sterling (GBP) are acceptable at regular stores and restaurants. The exchange rate fluctuates daily. For current exchange rates, please visit www.exchangerate.com. Credit Cards Visa and Mastercard/Eurocard are very widely accepted in Northern Ireland. All hotels, petrol stations (gas stations), supermarkets, shops/stores, pharmacies, restaurants, transport operators, payphones, etc will accept them. American Express is accepted, but not nearly as readily as in the United States or Canada. Electricity Electrical sockets (outlets) in Northern Ireland usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. The primary socket type is British BS-1363. Communications The international code for Northern Ireland is 00 44 28. The local code for Belfast is 90. The number for emergency services is 999. Internet and WiFi access is widely available throughout the city Shopping Many shops in the city center follow these opening times: Mon - Tues: 9am-7pm / Wed - Fri: 9am-9pm / Saturday: 9am-6pm / Sunday: 1pm-6pm. Tipping Most restaurants add a discretionary service charge to the bill for parties of six people or more. If this charge is added to your bill, tipping is not necessary. If a service charge is not included, it is customary to tip 10-15%. Workshop Attire Attire during the duration of the workshop is business casual. Cellular Phones, Pagers and Watch Alarms As a courtesy to our speakers and other attendees, please turn off any cellular phones, pagers and watch alarms during sessions. Smoking All meeting rooms and seated functions are smoke free. Please adhere to the smoking policy of the Belfast Waterfront. Belfast has been a smoke free city since 2006. It is against the law to smoke in bars, restaurants, cafés, hotels, offices, factories and other places of work. Many bars, clubs and restaurants have installed outdoor smoking areas for those who choose to smoke.
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