A block of rooms has been reserved at the Plaza El Bosque Park and Suites, Santiago; Marriott Plaza, Buenos Aires; and the InterContinental, São Paulo.  The Council of Great Lakes Governors in Chicago will assist mission participants in securing hotel reservations.  Participants need to fill out the participant travel information form BY 5:00 P.M. EST ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008, to secure reservations.  Cancellations can be made up to 60 days prior to arrival without penalty.

CHILE

PLAZA EL BOSQUE PARK & SUITES – SANTIAGO, CHILE
Ebro 2828
Las Condes
Santiago, Chile
http://www.plazaelbosque.cl/p%26s/_index.html

Room Rate: $140 (This price is inclusive of VAT.  Foreign guests, who pay their account in dollars or by credit card and submit their documents for entry into the country at the check out, shall be exempt from this tax.)  Breakfast buffet included.

Arrival Date: April 20, 2008*                Departure Date: April 23, 2008
Check in: 2:00 p.m.                             Check Out: 12:00 p.m.

*Participants should consider booking a room for Saturday, April 19, as flights from the U.S. will arrive between 6 and 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 20.  Early check-in is not guaranteed.

ARGENTINA 

MARRIOTT PLAZA HOTEL – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Florida 1005
Buenos Aires, Argentina
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/buear-marriott-plaza-hotel-buenos-aires

Room Rate: $176 (excludes 21% tax)

Arrival Date: April 23, 2008                  Departure Date: April 27, 2008*
Check in: 3:00 p.m.                             Check Out: 12:00 p.m.

*If you do not plan to stay with the group in Buenos Aires for the free weekend please make sure to mark this on the travel information form.

BRAZIL

INTERCONTINENTAL - SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
Alameda Santos 1123
Sao Paulo, 01419-001 Brazil
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel/saoha?&firstpoint=dcb1&cm_mmc=mdpr-_-yahoosspUS-_-ic-_-prop

Room Rate: $167 Superior (excludes 5% tax)
                  $184 Deluxe (excludes 5% tax)
Buffet breakfast is included in both rates.

Arrival Date: April 27, 2008                  Departure Date: April 29, 2008
Check in: 3:00 p.m.                             Check Out: 12:00 p.m.

Mission participants will need to secure their own flight arrangements for the mission.  Due to logistic complications, CGLG cannot obtain a discounted group rate. Sunnie Rossi at Bannockburn Travel is available to assist you.

Bannockburn Travel Management, Inc.
Contact: Sunnie Rossi
Phone: (847) 597-5923
E-mail: srossi@bannockburn.com

“Group” Internal South America Flights
For the internal South America flights, we would like participants to book the following flights:

Wednesday, April 23—Aerolinas Argentinas Flt 1285 departs Santiago at 10:25 a.m. arrives Buenos Aires at 1:20 p.m.

Sunday, April 27— Aerolinas Argentinas Flt 1244 departs Buenos Aires 4:10 p.m. arrives São Paulo at 6:57 p.m.

Here is a sample itinerary with cost information:

ARGENTINA

U.S. citizens DO NOT need a visa for business travel to Argentina.  A valid U.S. passport is required.

BRAZIL

Mission participants will need to apply for a business visa.  

Procedures: 
Submission is required of one visa application (see attached file named “Visa Application Form”) per applicant, properly and completely filled in.

Minnesota and Wisconsin participants: http://www.brazilconsulatechicago.org/uploads/file/visaformChicago.doc

Ohio participants: http://www.brasilemb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=1

In section 21 “Purpose of Trip”  please check the second box titled “ U.S.-based personnel involved in business development activities, including negotiating contracts, marketing opportunity assessments, specifying orders for contracts, customer relations related activities, performance assessments, project reviews, and establishing a frame work for doing business in Brazil.”

Each visa application form must be duly signed by the applicant and must be submitted with the following documentation:

• passport with a minimum validity of six months (it must also have at least one blank page available for the visa stamp);

• for non-Americans returning to the U.S., copy of green card or valid American visa allowing for re-entry into the U.S.;

• for non-Americans without a green card or valid re-entry visa into the U.S., valid visa to country of final destination after trip to Brazil (this requirement does not apply to applicants returning to country of citizenship);

• one recent 2" x 2" passport-type photo, in color or black and white, front view, full face, light background (snapshots are not accepted);

• letter from the employer or sponsoring company, on letterhead stationery signed by a senior manager (an equivalent to Vice-President or above), briefly introducing the applicant (please specify employment status/position held in the company by applicant) and clearly stating the precise nature of the business to be conducted by applicant in Brazil; the employer or sponsoring company shall also specifically attest to each of the following statements: that the visa applicant will maintain his residency in the United States, that the visa applicant's trip to Brazil is of a short-term nature, that the goal of the visa applicant's trip to Brazil is strictly for business meetings not involving any technical assistance, not to exceed the legally authorized stay per visit, and that the visa applicant has no intention to immigrate to Brazil;

We have created a letter template for your use (see attached file named “Company Letter for Brazil Visa Application”).*

• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (only if the applicant has traveled within the last 90 days to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, or Venezuela);

• If you are mailing in your application, you will need to provide a self-addressed stamped return envelope.
  

*Minnesota and Wisconsin companies need a letter from a Brazilian company or organization that is inviting or will be contacted by the applicant, on its letterhead, signed by the management in charge of the area that the applicant intends to be in contact with, informing:

• job position and job description of the contact person in Brazil;
• assignment description and information about the end-purpose of the intended activities in Brazil (sales, purchases, coordination, auditing, etc);
• date(s) and place(s) of the meetings and information on periodicity, average length and assignment description of future trips, if any;
• financial responsibility for the trip, if applicable.

The Council's Brazil Trade Office will provide this letter for you.

The following fees must be included in the application package:

• $60 fee for business visa.

• $130 non-refundable processing fee for US citizens in reciprocity for the identical fee paid by Brazilian citizens who apply for a visa to the U.S. 

• $10 non-refundable handling fee if you choose to submit your visa application by mail or if any individual other than yourself or an immediate member of your family submits the application in person.

NOTE: Business visas are good for multiple entries but must be used within 90 days from date of issue. Each State in the United States is serviced by a specific Brazilian Consulate.  Each Consulate has different rules and regulations for processing visa applications.

Please find the Consulate’s requirements below:
Brazilian Consulate General in Chicago - Processes visa applications for Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3050
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 464-0244/464-0245
Fax: (312) 464-0299
www.brazilianconsulatechicago.org

The Consulate accepts applications by mail or in person (by the applicant or by an individual representing the applicant).

The Consulate will ONLY accept applications mailed via the United States Postal Service.  Applications will not be accepted if they are sent via private courier.

The Consulate General in Chicago only accepts payments with Money Order issued by the U.S. Postal Service payable to “Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago." They will not accept personal checks, credit cards, or any other form of payment.

If applicant mails in a visa application, he/she must include a self-addressed pre-stamped envelope.  Private courier envelopes will NOT be accepted.

Brazil Embassy in Washington D.C. – processes visa applications for Ohio

Consular Service
3009 Whitehaven Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 238-2828
Fax: (202) 238-2818
e-mail: consular@brasilemb.org
www.brasilemb.org

Payment will ONLY be accepted via US Post Office Money Order, payable to the “Brazilian Embassy.”

U.S. citizens traveling on business trips are allowed to enter Chile without a visa for a period of 90 days renewable in Chile.  At the immigration booth a US$131 fee has to be paid in cash or by credit card.  It is recommended that participants carry enough cash to cover the fee in case the credit card machines are not working.  This fee is based on the principle of reciprocity.  This fee is paid only once and it is valid until the expiration of the passport.

CGLG representatives in Chile will arrange airport to hotel transportation for those arriving the morning of Sunday, April 20, in Santiago.  Mission participants will be met after they have cleared customs.

On Wednesday, April 23, ground transportation from the Plaza El Bosque Park and Suites to the Santiago airport will be provided for mission participants who are scheduled on Aerolinas Argentinas Flt 1285 departing Santiago at 10:25 a.m. to Buenos Aires.  Transportation will be waiting in Buenos Aires to transport the group to the Marriott Plaza.  Mission participants not on the above-mentioned flight will be responsible for their own transportation.

On Sunday, April 27, ground transportation from the Marriott Plaza to the Buenos Aires airport will be provided for mission participants who are scheduled on Aerolinas Argentinas Flt 1244 departing Buenos Aires at 4:10 p.m. to São Paulo.  Transportation will be waiting in São Paulo to transport the group to the InterContinental.  Mission participants not on the above-mentioned flight will be responsible for their own transportation.

There will be one trip made to the São Paulo airport on Tuesday, April 29.  A specific departure time will be determined upon review of flight schedules.  Those not traveling with the group will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation.  

Each participant will receive instructions on the location of individual appointments, the distance to those appointments from the hotel and the best mode of transport to travel to the appointment.  Cost of travel to the meetings (by taxi, etc.) will be the responsibility of the individual participant.

The Council recommends that participants stay in Buenos Aires the weekend of April 25-27.  Recommended activities include:

• Architectural Tour
• City Bike Tour
• Tango Show
• Gourmet Tour
• Sports Tour
• Farm Tour
• Tours of the Delta