2017 OVERVIEW COURSE OF FINANCIAL SECTOR ISSUES
Finance and Risk in a Global Environment
June 19-23, 2017
World Bank Group, - Main Complex - Preston Auditorium
1818 H. Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COURSE PARTICIPANTS
I.
Course venue: Preston Auditorium, 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington DC, 20433
Security: Participants will go through the World Bank Group Security checkpoint
entrance at the corner of 18th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Please arrive at the
address above 15-30 minutes before the first session of each day. You will require a
government-issued picture ID, such as a passport or a driver’s license. Please be sure
to bring this with you every day of the conference. All your belongings and bags you
bring with you will be scanned and checked through security.
From the security checkpoint, proceed straight to the end of the lobby.
II.
Registration: At the registration desk you will receive 2 badges:
 a course participant name badge;
 an official World Bank security ID badge;
Please be sure to keep both IDs visible at all times whilst in the World Bank buildings
throughout the week. These badges will allow you to enter the building freely.
III.
Dress Code: Dress code for this conference is business casual.
Emergency Contacts:
NAME
WORK
Nana Afram
202-473-3352
WBG Emergency: (202-458-8888)
MOBILE
301-404-0198
Email
[email protected]
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IV.
Social Events:
1. Monday, June 19 – Friday, May 23 from 8:00 am – 8:30 am: Breakfast at the Preston
Auditorium foyer.
2. Monday, June 19, 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Group photo, taken at the World Bank
Headquarter Atrium
3. Monday, June 19, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch, hosted by the World Bank to be held at
the MC East Dining Room
V.
Attachments: WBG Map; WBG facilities to include cafeterias; DC Weather, hotels and
transportation.
Map of World Bank Buildings (see the red arrow for our event venue entrance)
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WEATHER IN WASHINGTON DC
Average temperature: 70F (21C) degrees
Average high temperature: 85F (29C) degrees
Average low temperature: 50F (10C) degrees
June in DC is hot. The weather is hot and humid but you can enjoy walking around the sites,
monuments, and museums. It would be wise to bring light clothing.
TRANSPORTATION
1. Public Transportation: in Washington there are two major forms of public transportation,
the Metrobus and the Metrorail, often simply called “the Metro.” The Metrorail is the
underground subway system; the Metrobus is the public bus system. One Washington Circle
is located close to Foggy Bottom Metro Station. The Metro website can be accessed at
http://www.wmata.com/ for further information.
The bus fare within Washington, DC is $1.80. Bus operators do not carry money and,
therefore, cannot give change. Please have the exact fare when boarding a bus. Call 202-6377000 for information on bus or Metrorail schedules, location of stops, fares and routes.
2. Taxicabs: another convenient way to get around the city is by taxicab. Authorized taxicab
drivers must have their credentials (certification, license) visible in the taxicab. Prices in
Washington D.C. are by meter.
The taxi driver should be given a tip of 10-15% of the total fare, and no less than $.25 in any
case. Below is a listing of some of the major taxicab companies in the city.
Diamond Cabs
Yellow Cabs
202-387-6200; http://www.dcdiamondcabs.com/
202-544-1212; http://www.dcyellowcab.com/
TIPPING
The standard rate is approximately 15% of the total charge. This is the most common practice in
restaurants, nightclubs, etc. You are not expected to leave tips at cafeterias or luncheon counters,
nor do you tip theater ushers, store or hotel clerks.
At hotels, there is no service charge added to your bill, so tips are expected for all special room
or valet services. The person who carries your bag and escorts you to your room should be given
a minimum of $1.00 per piece of luggage. Leaving a tip for the maid at the end of your stay is
optional.
BANKING
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There are a number of commercial banks throughout the city that can provide you with regular
banking services, if needed. Some of these are the following, usually open between 8:30 AM and
5:00 PM, Monday through Friday:
Credit Union at the World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Level C1
Bank of America, 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Capital One Bank, 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Wells Fargo Bank, 1800 K Street, NW
SHOPPING
Pentagon City Shopping Mall – take the Metro Subway Blue Line towards Franconia.
Get off at the Pentagon City Stop. Follow signs to the shopping mall
Tysons Corner Shopping Mall – take the Metro Subway Silver line towards WiehleReston East. Get off at the Tysons Corner Stop. Follow signs to the shopping mall
Getting Around Georgetown - The red, black and yellow-striped DC Circulator bus
links cultural, entertainment and business destinations within the city. The DuPontGeorgetown- Rosslyn line runs from the DuPont South metro station to the Rosslyn
metro station, with stops along M Street. The Union Station-Georgetown line runs from
Union Station to Georgetown via K Street and back to Union Station with stops on M
Street traveling eastbound. The fare is $1. For more information, visit
www.dccirculator.com. Georgetown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington,
DC, served as a major port and commercial center during colonial times because of its
prime location on the Potomac River. Today, Georgetown is a vibrant community with
upscale shops, bars and restaurants along its cobblestone streets. Many of the homes
along the tree-lined streets are 200-year-old restored row houses with beautiful gardens.
Georgetown housing is expensive, so most Georgetown University students live on
campus or rent apartments uptown or nearby in Virginia
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO WASHINGTON DC
Washington occupies 69 square miles (178 square kilometers) of the District of Columbia –
the federal zone carved from the states of Maryland and Virginia nearly 200 years ago. The
layout of the city was designed by French engineer, Major Pierre L’Enfant. The city is
divided into four sections: Northeast (N.E.), Northwest (N.W.), Southeast (S.E.) and
southwest (S.W.). The Capitol, the building that houses the United States Congress, is the
geometric center of the city. If you are asking directions, it is very important that you know
exactly which is the section referred to, so that you do not go, for instance to 9 th and G
Streets, Southeast, if you are supposed to go to 9th and G Streets, Northwest. Streets running
north and south are numbered; those running east and west are lettered (the letters J, X and
Z are omitted, however).
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There are a number of hotels close to the World Bank Group. However, they tend to be sold
out very quickly. The Metrorail is very efficient so booking nearby hotels at fairly
reasonable cost is an option in case you need to commute to the course.
Below are a couple of hotels close to the World Bank Group.
HOTELS:
Concordia: 202-557-2000
1250 New Hampshire Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20036
DuPont Circle Hotel: 202-483-6000
1500 New Hampshire Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20036
Georgetown Suites: 202-298-7800
1000 29th St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Melrose Hotel: 202-955-6400
2430 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Lombardy: 202-828-2600
2019 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006
Kimpton Hotel Palomar: 202-448-1800
2121 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
State Plaza: 202-861-8200
2117 E St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Club Quarters: 202-463-6400
839 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006
One Washington Circle Hotel: 202- 872-1680
1 Washington Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
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