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My first Davos - what I learned | My first Davos - what I learned |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Anthony Reuben Business reporter, BBC News, Davos | By Anthony Reuben Business reporter, BBC News, Davos |
My first trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos is coming to an end, which makes it a good time to reflect on what I have learned from four days in a Swiss ski resort with a vast selection of world leaders and business bosses. | My first trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos is coming to an end, which makes it a good time to reflect on what I have learned from four days in a Swiss ski resort with a vast selection of world leaders and business bosses. |
Here are my key findings: | Here are my key findings: |
Badge colour is important | Badge colour is important |
Two of us have been in the Swiss ski resort of Davos for the BBC News website. | |
It was the first time for both of us, but my colleague got the white badge and I got an orange one. | It was the first time for both of us, but my colleague got the white badge and I got an orange one. |
You'd think that wouldn't make much difference, but you'd be wrong. | You'd think that wouldn't make much difference, but you'd be wrong. |
Davos runs an almost caste-like system of badges. | Davos runs an almost caste-like system of badges. |
A white badge means you're one of the delegates - you might be the chief executive of a company or the leader of a country (although that would also get you a little holographic sticker to add to your badge), or a senior journalist. | A white badge means you're one of the delegates - you might be the chief executive of a company or the leader of a country (although that would also get you a little holographic sticker to add to your badge), or a senior journalist. |
An orange badge means you're just a run-of-the-mill working journalist. | An orange badge means you're just a run-of-the-mill working journalist. |
We're not in the dotcom era any more | We're not in the dotcom era any more |
I was told that I didn't need to wear a suit and that "business casual" dress would be fine. | I was told that I didn't need to wear a suit and that "business casual" dress would be fine. |
This was not true - almost every man attending the forum was wearing a suit, either with or without a tie. | This was not true - almost every man attending the forum was wearing a suit, either with or without a tie. |
The only people at the whole event wearing a jumper were Financial Times editor Lionel Barber and me. | The only people at the whole event wearing a jumper were Financial Times editor Lionel Barber and me. |
That badge colour thing really is important | That badge colour thing really is important |
There are other badges for staff, security personnel, partners of delegates, volunteers, technical staff and the entourages of people important enough to have them. | There are other badges for staff, security personnel, partners of delegates, volunteers, technical staff and the entourages of people important enough to have them. |
Walking down an icy road, I heard a snippet of conversation from a passing group of women. | Walking down an icy road, I heard a snippet of conversation from a passing group of women. |
One of them said, "and then this orange badge just came and sat down right next to me!" as if she was talking about some sort of social outcast. | One of them said, "and then this orange badge just came and sat down right next to me!" as if she was talking about some sort of social outcast. |
And it's not just about the contempt - there are practical differences too. | And it's not just about the contempt - there are practical differences too. |
My colleague emailed a major car company to see if he could get to interview its boss during the week. | My colleague emailed a major car company to see if he could get to interview its boss during the week. |
The press officer replied asking what colour badge he had! | The press officer replied asking what colour badge he had! |
Swiss plugs are different | Swiss plugs are different |
The BBC's coverage was almost scuppered by my failure to bring a Swiss adapter. | The BBC's coverage was almost scuppered by my failure to bring a Swiss adapter. |
Swiss plugs are different to those from everywhere else in the world, and contrary to the advice of colleagues, using a normal European adapter and pushing it in a bit harder does not work. | Swiss plugs are different to those from everywhere else in the world, and contrary to the advice of colleagues, using a normal European adapter and pushing it in a bit harder does not work. |
Fortunately I was saved by the technical support desk of an international consultancy firm, which lent me one for the week. | Fortunately I was saved by the technical support desk of an international consultancy firm, which lent me one for the week. |
On the down side, it turned out that a Swiss adapter attached to a European adapter looks like a small gun through an X-ray machine, according to the Davos security, which held me up for some time. | On the down side, it turned out that a Swiss adapter attached to a European adapter looks like a small gun through an X-ray machine, according to the Davos security, which held me up for some time. |
It's pretty cold | It's pretty cold |
I know it goes without saying, but this ski resort in January is quite cold. | I know it goes without saying, but this ski resort in January is quite cold. |
On a few days it was sunny and not too bad for some of the time, but when returning to the hotel after dark or setting off for a breakfast meeting it was brutally, nose-hair freezingly cold. | On a few days it was sunny and not too bad for some of the time, but when returning to the hotel after dark or setting off for a breakfast meeting it was brutally, nose-hair freezingly cold. |
White badges really are better than orange ones | |
My colleague and I had to enter the conference centre through different entrances. He was allowed to attend many more sessions and events than I was, and his photo and biography appeared in the enormous directory of delegates, while I was just one of the huddled masses of nameless reporters. | My colleague and I had to enter the conference centre through different entrances. He was allowed to attend many more sessions and events than I was, and his photo and biography appeared in the enormous directory of delegates, while I was just one of the huddled masses of nameless reporters. |
I suppose I shouldn't complain. I got to spend a week working in a posh ski resort and mingling with leaders of countries and companies alike. | I suppose I shouldn't complain. I got to spend a week working in a posh ski resort and mingling with leaders of countries and companies alike. |
I had a meal with Malaysian ministers and cocktails with company chiefs. | |
But my colleague did rub it in terribly. | But my colleague did rub it in terribly. |
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