So who is going to be there then apart from Gordon Brown, David Cameron & Bill Gates?

http://www.weforum.org/events/world-...l-meeting-2013

I will be there for the first time ever working so please, anyone who has been (in whatever capacity) share your views on it & what I can expect (apart from very high security of course)...

Already confirmed is Angela Merkel. From Switzerland at least three members of the Federal government, most likely Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann and Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, but possibly also Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and Interior Minister Alain Berset. From abroad, already confirmed of course is the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti who will give the opening speech.

Also present, among dozens of other state leaders, will be the State President of Azerbaijan, Mr Aliyev. In fact the supreme chief of SOCAR which has taken over ESSO Schweiz. Just right now, ESSO Glattbrugg is redone into a SOCAR station, and apparently will be fully re-docarated tomorrow evening. Some major folks from Qatar, possibly even the ruling Emir, are also expected. As are a number of Latin American leaders. And of course Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan and Nursultan Nazerbayev, two almost traditional "habitués" of the WEF

In case you are interested in the airplanes and not in the chaps, you can book roundtrips by special buses inside the airport aerea via
www.buchairnet.ch
some of the tours are already fully booked but others still have places available

OP, sorry for this brief, i typed but lost my previous & just about off to bed.

Check the weather for Davos, last year 3 meters of snow

Clothing:
Anyway make sure you have suitable footwear for walking on the pavements of Davos town, expect them to be Ice/Snow.

Appreciate you will be offered chauffer much of the the time, but believe maybe you will choose to walk from some venues to another, there is immense security, half of which I understand, but prefer not to speak on open forum and maybe a quarter you will realise on your 1st visit.

If you have gloves, scarf, warm hat bring them. There are many high range / Disgner Shops in Davos Town, or alternatively a small C&A opposite the main Coop & micros centre.

Sunglasses are a must, for the reflection from the Snow mountains all around

will write more another time, night night.

You forgot....Rolf-Dieter Heuer

Director-General, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Switzerland

Lots of police and security personnel

The Air Force will be providing a constant airborne watch with F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers flying out of Meiringen airfield. Special procedures in place for all air traffic in the eastern part of Switzerland. Advance clearance required for all traffic inbound Samedan. Intensive helicopter operations shuttling from ZRH & Dübendorf up to Davos.

Not just around Davos but about 6-7 security on every Hotel reception with airport-style x-ray machines & conveyor belts set-up too.

Glad I'm not staying in any Hotel there, no fun being checked every time you go outside.

i go skiing every year during WEF. it is awesome. the bigwigs book out all the hotels but rarely ski so you have the slopes to yourself...

Among the political leaders present are the Presidents of Niigeria and South Africa and Prime Minister Medvedyev from Russia. Also political leaders from China, Vietnam and Laos are expected

There are more than 1000 industry leaders arriving but only between 100 and 150 heads-of-government/heads-of-state, But indeed several 100 ministers and government mid-file officials.

Mr Battlekitten is going. He is the one skidding about in leather soled shoes, no scarf or hat or gloves.

I did get him a nice smart down jacket and rubber soled footwear but it got "forgotten". Groan.

Edit for typo

tell me about it, bus loads of spotters everywhere, now takes ages to get from 1 side of the airport to the other. its fun watching the police escort the fleets amg g wagons.

also a shame seeing the nice jets from countries that cant afford a pot to piss in, for SA its and old 737 from the SA air force, currently parked on gate A02

here

http://www.buchairnet.ch/de/tour/2013_schedule.pdf

you can see the schedules of the buses. all the tours are exactly planned, co-ordinated with airport and security and police. No, the various moves do not take ages, but less than 15 minutes, usually only 10 minutes. There in fact are some either retired or off-duty policemen and ATC controllers among the tour-guides

What, no Tony Bliar (and that is not a typo!). How can the WEF take place without the participation of the World's Saviour?! We are all doomed I fear!

According to the Guardian (.co.uk) Blair will be there

It takes ages if you work at the airport and need to drive around but are delayed because of extra traffic... there was already a stau for 15 mins on 1 of the main internal roads

Did not find Tony Blair among the speakers, BUT Gordon Brown will give a speech on Saturday, and on Friday, up from 14.15, there will be a speech by King Abdullah II bn Hussein, the King of Jordan.

Wolfy, the name is Bliar, as in liar, OK?

Amazingly, anyone who can provide live pictures will see that they have heavily salted the roads but not properly cleared them of snow in the village itself.

Taking detours around the Congress Centre (directed by Police) to the Promenade is quite difficult up the hills in a rear wheel drive car (Mercedes)...