2019 FPSB Global Meeting Zürich, Switzerland - 20-22 October 2019
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2019 FPSB Global Meeting
Zürich, Switzerland
20-22 October 2019
Copyright © 2019, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Meeting Agenda.................................................................................................................... 4
Hotel Accommodations and Meeting Venue ......................................................................... 5
Ground Transportation .......................................................................................................... 6
Passports, Visas and Vaccinations ....................................................................................... 6
Weather and Recommended Attire ....................................................................................... 6
Communications/Devices ..................................................................................................... 7
Currency ............................................................................................................................... 7
Tipping .................................................................................................................................. 7
Emergency Numbers, Time Zone and Language .................................................................. 7
Tourist Information and Top Local Sites ................................................................................ 8
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Meeting Agenda
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Hotel Accommodations and Meeting Venue
Swissôtel Zürich
Address: Schulstrasse 44, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 317 3232
Website: https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/zurich/
Confirming your hotel room(s):
• Either call or email the Swissôtel Zürich
directly to confirm your sleeping room
reservation, and refer to the Booking Code:
FIN171019 to receive the group discounted
nightly rate:
• Email address: Reservations.Zurich@swissotel.com
• Phone: +41 44 317 3232
• Review the “Hotel Sleeping Room Details and Cancellation” information provided
below.
Special Group Rates:
Group rates are for the Classic room inclusive of service charge and VAT. A local city tax of CHF
2.50 per person/night will apply:
• CHF 220.00 plus CHF 2.50 local city tax (Classic single occupancy room)
• CHF 245.00 plus CHF 2.50 local city tax (Classic double occupancy room)
Sleeping Room Inclusions:
• Daily buffet breakfast. Single rooms to include 1 breakfast & double rooms to include 2
breakfasts.
• High speed Internet access
• Complimentary access to SPA & Sport and the highest pool in Zurich (The SPA and Sport
includes an infinity pool situated on the 32nd floor, offering breathtaking views of Zurich and
the Swiss Alps, with water jets and a pleasant temperature of 31.5°C (88.7°F)
• All rooms are non-smoking
Hotel Policies:
FPSB group rates are only offered during the open registration period:
Tuesday, 16 April – Tuesday, 30 April 2019
• All room reservations require a valid credit card to guarantee the reservation
• Check-in time is 15:00h local time
• Check-out time is 12:00h local time
• All guaranteed guest rooms will be held for late arrival
• For an early arrival, the room must be booked the night before at the full group rate
Cancellation Terms:
• Cancellations from 13 August 2019 – 12 September 2019:
Responsible for 1 night, charged to the credit card on file
• Cancellations from 13 September 2019 to arrival date:
Responsible for total room nights booked, charged to the credit card on file
• In the case of no shows, the hotel will charge for the full guaranteed period
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Ground Transportation
The Zürich International Airport (ZRH) is the closest airport to the Swissôtel Zürich. The Zürich
Airport railway station is located in the terminal and provides a direct five-minute commute to the
hotel. Trains S2, S16 or IR are the best direct routes and cost (for one-way) CHF 3.00- 5.00.
The SBB travel centre is located below the Airport Center in the Check-in 3 area. The ticket
counters are open from 06:15h to 22:30h. Arriving passengers can purchase tickets from the
machines in customs halls 1 and 2. There are also more ticket machines directly next to the SBB
travel centre.
Passports, Visas and Vaccinations
To enter Switzerland, everyone needs a valid travel document. Switzerland may allow EU/EFTA
citizens with expired travel documents to cross the border. Travel documents of third-country
nationals for a short stay not exceeding 90 days in any period of 180 days, however, must be valid
for at least three months after the planned departure from Switzerland and have been issued within
the previous ten years. The date of issue of the travel document is what counts, regardless of any
official extension.
In some cases, you may also need to obtain a visa. To find out if you need to obtain a visa and if
there are any requirements for your travel documents please visit the following link:
Switzerland Visa Requirements
No immunizations are required to enter Switzerland, although it is advisable to make sure your
standard vaccinations like tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella and polio are up to date
before traveling.
Weather and Recommended Attire
Weather:
Famous for its mountain and snow sports, Switzerland enjoys a moderate climate year-round with
four distinct seasons, though up in its famous, ski-laden alpine landscapes are colder than those at
lower altitudes. The North Atlantic Drift brings mild weather and mixes with dry air from the North
Arctic to cause great temperature changes and fluxing rain patterns. That being said, weather is
generally never unreasonably humid, too hot or too cold. More precipitation comes down in
mountainous regions with higher altitudes, whether rain or snow.
Climatic conditions vary through Switzerland’s four seasons year-round. Many tourists come to
Switzerland for winter activities (December-February), particularly the Alps around Christmas time
and the New Year, which coincides with the country’s coldest, snowiest weather. January and
February’s temperatures range from the low -2°C (28°F) to a more moderate 7°C (45°F). However,
warmer spring (March-May), summer (June-August) and autumn (September-November)
conditions are more clement and therefore receive plenty of fanfare. Sunny days in Switzerland are
perfect for admiring views of its picturesque greenery and are ideal for sightseeing whether you
hike, bike or boat. A hot summer’s highest temperature can even surpass 30°C (86°F).
Recommended Attire:
We recommend professional attire for meetings and business casual for social functions.
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Communications/Devices
Voltage, Electricity and Plugs:
In Switzerland the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You
can use your electric appliances in Switzerland, if the standard voltage in your
country is in between 220 - 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most
of Asia and Africa).Type J is used almost exclusively in Switzerland and
Liechtenstein.
Communications:
If you wish to use your cell phone to make local calls in Bangkok and/or access other data via your
cell phone, be sure to contact your service provider to discuss international calling/data plans
available to you.
WhatsApp Messenger:
WhatsApp Messenger is a free messaging app that uses your phone's internet connection to let you
send and receive messages, calls, photos, videos, documents and voice messages. There is no
extra charge to send WhatsApp messages internationally.
Internet:
Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the Swissôtel Zürich for hotel guests.
Currency
Swiss Franc (CHF; symbol SFr) = 100 centimes (called centimes in
French, rappen in German and centesimi in Italian). Notes are in
denominations of SFr1,000, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in
denominations of SFr5, 2, 1, 1/2 and 20, 10 and 5 centimes.
Credit and debit cards are accepted at most places throughout
Switzerland, including American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard
and Visa.
Tipping
A service charge is typically added into your bill at restaurants in Switzerland. If this is the case, you
do not need to leave an additional tip. However, if you are exceptionally happy with your service,
you can round the bill to the nearest franc.
Emergency Numbers, Time Zone and Language
Emergency Numbers:
In the case of an emergency, you can dial 112 from your mobile or landline. Swiss police services
can be reached at 117; you will not need to dial an area code.
Time Zone:
Switzerland is in the Central European Summer Time Zone (CET) and is (GMT+1 ).
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Language:
German (63.5% of the population) in central and eastern areas, French (22.5%) in the west and
Italian (8.1%) in the south. Romansch (0.5%), the fourth national language, is spoken in parts of the
southeast. English (as a second or third language) is widely spoken.
Tourist Information and Top Local Sites
Culinary Experiences:
Swiss cuisine is hearty, filling fare and different regions bear various degrees of influence from their
German, French and Italian neighbors. With wheat farming less suited to higher altitudes, Swiss
farmers have instead focused on dairy, which explains the large number of Swiss cheeses and their
success.
Though not native to Europe (they were introduced by the Spaniards returning from Latin America),
potatoes are now a Swiss staple, as are cured sausages and air-dried meats, while lake fish such
as trout and char are commonly found on menus.
Those with a sweet tooth will be in heaven; as Switzerland is, of course, at the forefront of chocolate
manufacturing, producing some of the best sweet stuff on the planet. The little-exported Swiss wine,
in particular whites, are excellent, and domestic beer, both lager and dark ales, are also widely
available.
Specialties:
• Fondue: A delicious concoction of Gruyère and Vacherin cheese, melted and mixed with
white wine, flour, Kirsch and a little garlic.
• Raclette: Cheese melted over a fire or grill and served with onions, pickles and bread or
jacket potatoes.
• Berner platte: A selection of meats and sausages cooked with sauerkraut, beans and boiled
potatoes.
• Viande sèchée: Dried beef or pork from Valais and the Grisons (where it is called
bündnerfleisch),served with bread.
• Rösti:A flat, round hot cake made with shredded fried potatoes.
• Fondue bourguignonne: Cubes of seasoned meat cooked in oil or butter and served with
various sauces.
• Älpermagronen: A swiss play on macaroni and cheese with cream, potatoes and fried
apples and onions.
• Leckerli: Ginger honey cakes topped with icing sugar, originally from Basel. Often
decorated in Bern with a white sugar ‘bear’.
• Kirsch: A clear hard spirit made from sour cherries, also the star of Kirschtorte, a layered
sponge cake soaked in the liquor.
• Chasselas: A grape widely used to produce dry and delicate Swiss white wines.
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Uetliberg Mountain
Standing an impressive 2,858 feet above sea level, Uetliberg Mountain
offers some of the best views of Zurich and the surrounding Alps. Once
at the top, travelers will find multiple trails for hiking, biking and
sledding. Paragliding at the mountain's peak is another popular pastime
here.
Though traveling to and from this local attraction will set you back about
an hour, visitors rave about Uetliberg Mountain's stunning views and
superb hiking paths. For an educational twist on your average hike,
take the mountain's Path of the Planets, which is designed to mimic the
sizes of and distances between the solar system's planets. The trail
stretches between Uetliberg and Felsenegg mountains and takes about
two hours to complete.
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Uetliberg Mountain, which sits less than 5 miles
southwest of the city center, is by train (cars are not allowed on the mountain). A direct train departs
from Hauptbahnhof station every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends.
Round-trip train tickets cost 17.20 Swiss francs (about $18) for adults and 8.60 francs (roughly $9)
for kids ages 6 to 16. Train travel is free for visitors with Zurich Cards. In addition to the mountain's
outdoor activities, travelers will find restrooms, a restaurant and a hotel on-site. The mountain itself
is free to visit 24 hours a day.
Old Town (Altstadt)
Zurich's Old Town is the historic part of town – and
by historic, we mean medieval. Winding cobblestone
alleys run alongside quintessential Zurich attractions
like the Great Minster. You'll also find several
acclaimed museums – such as the Swiss National
Museum and the Museum of Art – and hotels in and
around the district.
Though all of the neighborhood's buildings are worth
admiring, when visiting Old Town, be sure to check
out Muhlesteg Footbridge. This bridge, which is famous for its array of love locks, comes highly
recommended by past travelers. But those traveling with kids should consider visiting during the
day. Old Town boasts the highest concentration of nightclubs in Switzerland, which come alive once
the sun goes down.
Bahnhofstrasse
One of Zurich's must-dos is a stroll along the sleek
storefronts of Bahnhofstrasse. Stretching across Old
Town from Hauptbahnhof station to Lake Zurich,
Bahnhofstrasse features a variety of high-end shops,
including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chanel and Giorgio
Armani. Swiss shops like the dessert-focused
Confiserie Sprungli and the jewelry-centric Gubelin
AG can also be found here.
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According to recent travelers, if it's budget shopping you're after, head to the Niederdorf and
Langstrasse areas instead of Bahnhofstrasse. Though Bahnhofstrasse is free to visit, this shopping
area is better suited for window shopping, unless you're prepared to drop some serious cash during
your visit.
Getting to and from Bahnhofstrasse is easy thanks to the city's tram system, which stops at four
stations – Bahnhofstrasse, Rennweg, Paradeplatz and Boersenstrasse – in the area.
Museum of Art (Kunsthaus
Zurich)
With its assortment of works, some say
the Museum of Art, or the Kunsthaus
Zurich as it's called in German, is one of –
if not the – best museums in the city.
Among an interesting collection of Swiss
artists, the museum also hangs works by
Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Marc
Chagall and Claude Monet.
While the entire museum is worth
perusing, previous travelers said a visit to
the top floors are a must. On the upper
floors you'll find the museum's most iconic works, including Vincent van Gogh's "Self Portrait with
Bandaged Ear" and Andy Warhol's "Big Torn Campbell's Soup Can." And before leaving, be sure to
check out Auguste Rodin's The Gates of Hell bronze sculpture, which sits just outside the museum's
entrance.
Zoo Zurich
Nestled within Kreis 7 is Zoo Zurich, where more
than 380 animal species from all over the world
reside. The zoo features several areas, including
an elephant park, a petting zoo and a miniature
rainforest.
According to past visitors, Zoo Zurich's grounds
are immaculately kept and easy to navigate.
Although some previous travelers bemoaned the
zoo's high entrance fees, most said it's worth a
visit. The zoo's international efforts to protect
endangered species is another high point for
animal lovers.
We are looking forward to another successful FPSB Global Meeting in Switzerland.
If you have any questions regarding registration or hotel logistics, please contact our Global Event
Planner, Carrie Critchlow at ccritchlow@fpsb.org. See you in October!
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