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Addis Ababa: Africa's Meeting Place Welcomes the World to the ATA 9th Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium in 2004 Why did ATA choose Addis Ababa as the venue for its 25th Anniversary Jubilee Congress and 9th Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium? To begin with it's today's political capital of Africa, home of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, (UNECA). More than 95 embassies from all over the world have their missions in Addis Ababa. This makes the capital of Ethiopia a city where one finds the highest concentration of embassies in the world after Washington DC, New York and London. Addis Ababa is easily accessible, having daily flights to and from cities in Europe. Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Kenya Airways, Egypt Air, Saudia and others serve Addis Ababa. Perhaps what makes Addis unique is that the national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, serves many cities in Africa&emdash; making it the most accessible city on the continent. United Nations Conference Centre: The UNCC is one of the most modern and sophisticated conference centres in the world, offering state-of-the-art facilities, including: • Conference Room capable of seating 600 delegates plus 180 in the gallery. • Conference Room accommodating 400 delegates plus 48 in the gallery. • Four Conference Rooms, each with a seating capacity of 114. Simultaneous interpretation facilities. • Small meeting rooms for 20 to 30 people; briefing rooms; office suites; a press centre with the most up-to-date electronic equipment to transmit audio and video reports • Business Centre; cafeteria; lounges; delegates dining room; press bar and an exhibition area. Africa Hall: Also in the United Nations compound is the famous and historic Africa Hall where the Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed in 1963. Many conferences are still being held there. It has a seating capacity for 272 delegates with 100 microphones and 335 seats in the gallery. It has simultaneous interpretation facilities. Sheraton Addis: The Sheraton Addis offers modern conference facilities with simultaneous interpretation; big tv screens and executive boardrooms. Up to 500 participants can be seated in the main hall. The Sheraton Addis is set in beautiful grounds, overlooking the capital city. Aside from the conference facilities, the hotel has 3 restaurants; a gazebo for light meals by the swimming pool; a musical fountain; cozy bars, and a health centre. This luxury collection hotel is ideal for those who wish to have their meetings and accommodations at the same place. Hilton Addis Ababa: The Hilton Hotel offers a banquet hall for meetings of up to 500 participants. There are also two meeting rooms that can sit up to 20 people and another two for up to eight persons. Overhead projectors, flip charts, projection screens and video projectors are available. Simultaneous interpretation system is not available as of the present moment. Full details on a special page in this edition of Africa Travel Magazine. Shebelle Ethiopia Conference Services Conference Organizer: Shebelle Conference Services is managed by Mr. Yohannes Kifle, who has over 20 years experience in conference organizing. From 1982 to 1988, as the Deputy and then General Manager of the National Tourism Organization, he was responsible for organizing the annual Heads of State and Government Summits, which were hosted by the Ethiopian Government. In 1988, he was appointed as Chief of Protocol of the OAU, a position he held until August 1999. In that position, he was responsible for the physical organization of the OAU Summits, the biannual Council of Ministers as well as many other meetings organized by the OAU during the course of each year. He has, inter-alia, organized the African Leaders meetings in Abuja, Nigeria; Algiers, Algeria; Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Tunis, Tunisia and in several other African capitals. Shebelle will organize all that is required for a smooth and successful meeting in Addis Ababa, including: • Book and rent conference halls. • Book hotel accommodation for participants and organizers. • Arrange air travel and send PTS (Prepaid tickets) to any participant worldwide. • Arrange local transportation by bus or vehicles of various standards. • Meet and assist participants on arrival and departure. • Arrange visas for participants coming from countries where there are no Ethiopian Embassies or Missions. • Engage conference staff such as secretaries, ushers, clerks, etc. • Duplicate and prepare documents to the specification of conference organizers. • Arrange conference halls and committee rooms, as required. • Provide protocol services. • Employ interpreters and translators. • Negotiate special group rates for air travel and hotel accommodation. • Arrange payment of per diem and other expenses in foreign currency. Please write or call: Mr. Yohannes Kifle, Managing Director Shebelle Ethiopia Conference Services P.O. Box 29508, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: 251-1-510558, 251-1-533737 Fax: 251-1-501239 E-mail- yohannes.k@telecom.net.et Haile Selassie's Palace reflects Addis Ababa's Royal Legacy by Jerry W. Bird.. The Royal Palace of Emperor Haile Selassie, a highlight of the ATA 25th Jubilee Congress, was an exciting venue on our journalists' group tour in February 2000. Ethiopia, realm of the romantic Queen of Sheba, King Lalibela, and a host of other royals, has always been a magnet for hordes of invaders and generations of explorers. Today it attracts travelers like ourselves, representing all walks of life from around the world. Each visitor is eager to discover the country's legendary fascination and perhaps unlock its mysteries.   Royal Rails and the Lion of Judah Having originated a magazine series called, "Railways of the World," I am always keen on new experiences in rail travel. Seeing future opportunities here in Addis, I joined my associate Yohannes Kifle and an attractive BBC female reporter to tour the classic train depot in the heart of Addis Ababa. Here we boarded two sets of antique railcars, which were once the pride of the Emperor and family, and a had a close up look at a vintage 1950s 'Lion of Judah' engine. Given Aladdin's 3 wishes, I would restore Emperor Haile Sellasie's 'Lion of Judah' railway engine, hook it up to the prized set of French and British coaches, and operate luxury excursion tours on the Franco-Ethiopian Railway. Built in the 1930s, the 482 mile line stretches from Addis Ababa, via Nazaret, the Rift Valley and Dire Dawa, to Djibouti, a French protectorate on the Gulf of Aden. In a 5-minute BBC interview, hoping my message would cause a spark, I said, "Think of the much needed income such a tour would generate for the Ethiopian economy." I've followed the last decade's amazing railway renaissance. After a visit to Emperor Selassie's palace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa's ornate railway station (gare) is the ideal venue for such an historic journey. Yes, the lordly Lion of Judah's engine lacks wheels, and the dust covered coaches shows neglect from being shunted aside during the Marxist regime. However, with some good old fashioned TLC (tender loving care) each museum piece would soon be in shining order. The Emperor's train is still not widely available for public view; fortunately we and our BBC friend received special permission.