FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we provide you with answers to the most frequently asked questions about the XXXVI INC World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress with the aim to help you.

The city airport is “Chennai International Airport”, which is only 6.8 miles from the Congress Hotel; 6.6 miles from The Westin Velachery Hotel and 8.5 miles from Crowne Plaza Hotel. It takes between 25 and 45 minutes to arrive by car, depending on traffic conditions.

Transfers to and from the Airport are included in the hotel rates that the Organizing Committee has blocked for the Congress. We suggest you arrange your transfer service during your hotel booking process.

Please remember to label your bags with personal tags.

The organizers do not take responsibility for any individual, medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are advised to arrange their own insurance policies before departure from their countries, as required.

While every attempt is made to ensure efficient, trouble-free hospitality, including hotel accommodation, sightseeing and tours, participants are advised that the organizers are in no way liable in the event of any necessary modifications, including changes to itineraries for tours due to delays or cancellations of flights/other circumstances beyond the organizers’ control.

Please consult your doctor regarding the necessary precautions before visiting India. If you are from or have recently visited Africa, South America or an area infected with yellow fever, proof of vaccination is required within five days of arrival in India.

Drinking bottled water at all times is strongly recommended. Avoid eating uncooked food such as salads at any location outside the Congress. Avoid raw vegetables, uncooked seafood and peeled fruit outside the venue.

No. Drinking bottled water at all times is strongly recommended. Avoid eating uncooked food such as salads, raw vegetables, uncooked seafood and peeled fruit at any location outside the Congress.

Should you require medication during the trip, please contact the hotel.

We suggest that you carry a copy of your passport with you and leave your original passport at the hotel. Should you lose your passport, please inform KW Conferences Staff.

Please make sure you process your visa as you will be required to produce it on entry to the country. Kindly check how to proceed in the following link:

www.nutfruitcongress.org/chennai2017/accommodation

Your security is paramount and all venues in the city: give due importance to it. Please expect your bags to be checked / subjected to luggage scanners in airports, hotels, shopping malls and shops. The security personnel may frisk you. This is in your own interest and requires compliance.

Use the official Tourist Information Stands in order to get advice and avoid unsolicited help from taxi drivers or resellers.

Women on their own shouldn’t walk on the street during at night.

Follow the attire requirements to enter any temples, tombs, or sacred buildings.

Make a copy of all your credit cards, airline tickets, passport and important documents, front and back. It is recommended to leave your passport and valuable belongings in a safe at the hotel.

Don’t buy collectibles which are more than 100 years old as it may draw the attention of the Customs Authorities.

Beware of pickpockets in public places.

India has both GSM and CDMA (WLL) mobile systems. Please contact your mobile service provider prior to travel to ascertain their roaming partners and tariffs in India. If you plan on making many local calls in India from your mobile phone, your service provider may be able to give you an Indian SIM card.

The country code for India is 91

The area or STD code for Chennai is 44

Dialing to India
To an Indian landline: International access code 00 or +, then 91, then the area code followed by the landline number.
To an Indian mobile: International access code 00 or +, then 91 followed by the 10-digit mobile number

Dialing within India

From Indian landline to Indian landline:

Local call: Just the landline number.
Long distance call: 0, then the area code followed by landline number.

From Indian landline to Indian mobile:
Local call: Just the 10 digit mobile number.
Long distance call: 0, then the 10 digit mobile number.
From Indian mobile to Indian landline:
Local or long distance call: 0, then the area code, followed by the landline number.
From Indian mobile to Indian mobile:
Local Call: Just the 10 digit mobile number.
Long distance call: 0, then the mobile number.

Dialing from India
The international access code when dialing from India is 00 or + when dialing from a mobile phone.

If you want to make direct calls from the hotel room please read the instructions in your room. Remember, calls made in your room will be at your own expense.

The local currency for India is the Indian Rupee (₹ ).

INR are available in paper denominations of 10, 50, 100, 500 and 2,000 and also as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10.

The easiest way to pay is by credit card. International credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and shops. However, you are advised to carry local currency for taxis and street purchases.

Upon arrival in India, foreign currencies can be changed for Rupees at foreign exchange counters at airports. These booths are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currency can also be changed at front desks of star-rated hotels.

Please ensure that you receive a certificate of exchange, which will be required for the re-conversion of any unused currency. It is illegal to exchange foreign currency other than through authorized bureaux de change or banks. Traveler’s cheques may not be accepted at all banks or hotels.

Banking hours are usually from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday. Banks are closed on weekends and public holidays.

Tips are normally 10% of the bill at restaurants, but tip less if the bill includes a service charge. This is different from a service tax levied by the government. One is not expected to tip taxi drivers. But if you have hired a cab/taxi for a long period, then it is only goodwill to tip the driver a small amount. Even if it isn’t much, a tip is valued and will be accepted graciously.

Radio Taxis: These services operate modern fleets with reliable drivers and government approved tariffs. Available by prior booking, they are clean, air-conditioned, equipped with tamper-proof meters and are GPS-monitored, making them safe for tourists. If booking by mobile phone, you will receive an SMS with the driver’s name, mobile number and car number 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. Since charges vary with distance, the estimated fare can be clarified with a customer care executive prior to travel. A 25% night-surcharge on the total fare is applicable between midnight and 5:00 AM.

Ola Cabs +91 44 3355 3355

Easy Cabs +91 44 4343 4343

Meru Cabs +91 44 4422 4422

Uber Cabs +91 44 39563956

It is recommended to download the App for booking cabs.

Private Taxis: Hotel front desks will usually arrange reliable taxis but will require advance notice in order to do so. Taxis are willing to wait at intermediate stops for a nominal charge. It is best to elaborate on the places you wish to visit, the total time you wish to spend sightseeing and the total number of passengers. A taxi can then be booked for a fixed rate.

Auto Rickshaws: Three-wheeled auto rickshaws or autos are a convenient way to travel within the city. They cost half the fare of a taxi, but are more expensive than taking a bus. Usually autos are metered, but it is good to fix the fare as they literally take you for a ride. The ubiquitous three-wheelers can be found clustered together at auto stands around the city. Hailing an auto is done by simply flagging down an empty one as it whizzes merrily past.

The voltage in India is 220 volts. You will require a voltage converter if you are carrying a device that does not work on 220 Volts. Wall sockets accommodate plugs with two or three round pins. Should you wish to use appliances of 110 volts, most hotels will provide adaptors on request but it is better to carry your own for convenience. Most laptops have adaptors that accept 110-240 volts, but will still need plugs of the type shown below.

See http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/d/

Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT. During the Congress, IST is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of London, 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of Paris, 9 hours 30 minutes ahead of New York and 2 hours 30 minutes behind Singapore. We do not change time during summer. All of India has just one time zone.

Apart from Tamil and Hindi language, English also falls in the category of the official language. It is also widely spoken by the people and is mainly used in business, education and other white-collar professions.

Chennai/Madras has a tropical savanna climate with dry winters. The month of May is characterized by gradually rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 45ºC and lows around 30ºC.

All Congress venues and hotels have air conditioning.

Yes, non-Members can also register for the Congress.

You can register online by visiting the following link: https://nutfruitcongress.org/chennai2017/registration.

You can also download the available PDF, complete it with the required details and send the page by e-mail to inc@nutfruit.org or fax it to +34 977 315 028.

The registration form must be completed in its entirety. Non-Member Delegates must also complete the additional information.

Confirmation letters will be sent on receipt of payment, which must be made at the time of booking.

The registration starts in December 2016 and will close when full capacity is reached.

After May 8, 2017 registrations will be accepted on-site at the ITC Grand Chola Hotel, beginning on Wednesday May 17 at 09:00 AM. Please consult the program for registration hours.

There will be a special Hospitality desk at ITC Grand Chola Hotel in the Hibiscus Lounge between May 17 and May 21, 2017. Please consult the program for registration hours.

Early bird closing date is February 15, 2017. All registrations received after February 15, 2017 will be treated as regular registrations with the corresponding fee.

If payment is received by 8 May, 2017, INC will confirm the registration in two weeks. If confirmation is not received in two weeks, please contact us to ensure your registration form has been received correctly.

After May 8, 2017, registrations will be accepted on-site at ITC Grand Chola Hotel, beginning on Wednesday May 17, at 09.00 AM. Please consult the program for registrations hours.

For registrations on-site, payments will be accepted only with a personal credit card (cash will not be accepted).

Delegate’s registration includes meetings, lunches and evening social events.

The Accompanying Person’s registration includes morning tours with lunch (ONLY if they are marked on the congress registration form) and evening social events.

No. The cost of the hotel is NOT included.

Please use the hotel reservation form for hotel booking: https://nutfruitcongress.org/chennai2017/accommodation

If you have further questions or need additional information, please contact:

Name: Ms. Mamta Roy
Tel: +91 124 4636 721
Fax: +91 124 4102 075

E-mail: inc2017hotels@kwconferences.com

You can book, modify or cancel your hotel reservation by visiting the following link:

https://nutfruitcongress.org/chennai2017/accommodation

If you have further questions or need additional information, please contact:

Contact Names: Ms. Mamta Roy
Tel: +91 124 4636 721
Fax: +91 124 4102 075

E-mail: inc2017hotels@kwconferences.com

Accommodation will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Yes. Please mark them on the registration form. Specific food requests are only guaranteed at the Gala Dinner.

Your badge will be delivered in the INC registration desk. Please consult the program for registration hours. To obtain the badge, participants must be registered and proper fees must be paid. Your name badge is required in order to attend all congress events.

All the information related to your congress registration will appear on your badge: Name, Surname, Company Name and Country.

The list of participants will be available to INC members at the Virtual Meeting Point and Congress App three months prior to the congress and will be updated daily. Access to the Virtual Meeting Point will be available in the Congress web site.

Only INC Members can access the Congress Meeting Point. To be allowed access to the Meeting Point, your INC Membership must be paid. We inform you that ONLY participants who have paid both their membership and their congress registration will appear at the Meeting Point.

Access to the Virtual Meeting Point will be available on the Congress web site and Congress App three months prior to the congress and will be updated daily.

Registration fees do NOT include insurance of any kind. The Congress Organizers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. The insurance should be purchased in your country of origin, if you feel necessary.

Full refund will be given to EARLY registrants if cancellation is received prior to April 1, 2017 and a 10% administrative fee will be charged for cancellations received after March 31, 2017.

A 10% administrative fee will be charged for all the REGULAR registrations. No refunds will be made for no-shows or if you cancel after May 1, 2017, whatever the reason. Cancellations must be made in writing and you must have written acknowledgement from the INC secretariat to be entitled to a refund. If you are unable to attend, a substitute delegate may be registered before May 1, 2017. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the organizers to alter the content, timings or venue. The organizers will not accept liability for any transport disruption or individual transport delays and in such circumstances normal cancellation terms apply.

In the event of a terrorist alert or incident that prevents the running of the congress, the organizers reserve the right to retain up to 50% of the fees as a contribution to registration location, marketing and central administration costs.

According to the Spanish Data Protection Act of Personal Character (LOPD) 15/1999, we inform you that personal data provided is confidential and part of files owned by INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL (INC), the purpose of which is to fulfill the registration for the event ‘INC XXXVI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress’ at Chennai (India) and to provide you with information about our activities through electronic means, unless you state otherwise. You can exercise your rights of access, rectification, cancellation and where appropriate, opposition, by sending a letter accompanied by a photocopy of your ID to the following address: C/ de la Fruita Seca, 4 –Tecnoparc- 43204 REUS (Spain), or also by sending an e-mail to inc@nutfruit.org.

If you have any questions or need additional information, you can email inc@nutfruit.org, call +34 977 331 416 or fax to +34 977 315 028.

An entry visa is essential for all foreigners visiting India. There are several types of visas, including conference, tourist and business visas. Those travelling specifically for a conference should apply for a Conference Visa. A Conference Visa allows tourism, but a Tourist Visa does not allow the holder to attend a conference. Note that many private visa assistance companies are not familiar with the Indian Conference Visa application process, and may recommend that you apply for a Business Visa, which is incorrect. Read more