| Hi there, it's Ed Stapley, a reporter in London on a stint with Pursuits, and one of the most exhilarating times of the year is here: the World Economic Forum's 55th annual meeting in Davos. Global leaders are packing their bags for a busy week of meetings, interviews and discussions happening Jan. 20-24. I've programmed numerous global editorial events for Bloomberg Live over the past seven years, and the WEF always has the fastest pace to it. Schedules for the world's most influential people can open and close on the fly, and news can break at any moment. It's rewarding, inspiring and exhausting. But what's it like on the ground?  A few years back we published a skier's guide to Davos for those with slightly less burdened agendas. Photographer: Ed Stapley/Bloomberg With its many pop-up events spaces around the main Congress Centre, including Bloomberg House, the WEF sees a steady flow of chief executive officers, government leaders and celebrities crunching through the snow in their crampons and down feather-hooded jackets as they set the agenda for the year ahead. This year's theme is "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," a nod to the importance of people and countries coming together during these fractured times, and the ever-growing influence of technologies such as artificial intelligence. In addition to all the media and meetings, there's also fondue, skiing and a wide range of parties to enjoy. I'll never forget the Jason Derulo after-party I found myself at a few years ago in an intimate venue guarded by a team clutching an ominous clipboard. I was still riding high on getting past the clipboard when, midway through Derulo's set, someone with an earpiece and a furrowed brow stalked on to stage, placed their hand on the singer's shoulder during one of his open-shirted thrusts and said something in his ear. The music stopped. Derulo brought the mic sheepishly to his mouth and informed us that there had been a noise complaint and that the performance would have to end. Groans ensued from the crowd, followed by a crescendo of "Jason, Jason, Jason!"  Derulo pitching up at that Davos after-party. Photographer: Ed Stapley/Bloomberg A few minutes later, earpiece man came back on stage and said something else in Derulo's ear. This time with a grin, Derulo looked up at the audience and shouted, "We're gonna pay the fine!!" The crowd roared, and Derulo returned to singing his own name over the catchy, surprisingly nostalgic tunes. It's hardly surprising that noise complaints should surface in such a tightly concentrated town. The Swiss resort's glamorous, five-star reputation may be front and center—like Precise Tale Seehof with its Bella Vita spa's saunas and steam baths, and the Grandhotel Belvédère Davos with it's panoramic views and top-tier dining—but for many attending, Davos is largely a functional burg retrofitted for a week of intensely packed back-to-back meetings a stone's throw away from one another. World leaders may stay in luxury, but for the rest of us, the utilitarian, bare-bones lodgings near the main promenade are snapped up like gold dust. They may look and feel like university halls—including fold-down beds from the wall—but they fetch thousands of dollars for the week, and many businesses are dependent on them for a large portion of their annual income. Serendipitous connections and impromptu experiences are key parts of the proceedings, but a successful Davos still requires a good bit of planning. Restaurant reservations are their own extreme sport. I'll always book at the delightfully cozy Pot-au-feu, which has the best beef and venison steaks as well as exceptional meat and cheese fondue. The newly renovated Gentiana is also well worth a visit for its fondues and Burgundy snails, as is Stall Valär, which offers a spacious restaurant and bar with local Swiss dishes and a mean veal tartare.  Fondue action at the peerless Pot-au-feu restaurant. Photographer: Ed Stapley/Bloomberg Given how busy and crowded it all is, loading up with emergency snacks can be a good idea. The local Coop supermarket is your best friend here; whether you need noodles, Swiss chocolate or shower gel, it's got you. And, of course, bars are where some of the best "meetings" happen. The famous Tonic Piano Bar in Hotel Europe is usually packed full of Davos gossipers and dealmakers until the early hours, with a pianist taking requests. The party vibes continue at Chalet Bello, Tijuana Bar and Pöstli Club, if you can get in. No matter how much you plan your trip though, things can always go wrong. At my first Davos in 2019, we booked Matt Damon to speak about Water.org, a charity whose mission is to improve global access to safe water and sanitation. He arrived at the venue straight off his red-eye flight from LA looking as if he hadn't slept one bit and been partially dragged through a hedge. The airline had lost his suitcase, and he had no change of clothes or time to freshen up really before he was due on stage. Being a gentleman, I offered him my suit jacket, which, after briefly eyeing me up, he said wouldn't likely fit because of his stockier frame. (Suit yourself, Damon.) He went on stage in the end wearing a mix of his airplane clothes and a borrowed jumper, and absolutely nailed it, including a Bill Clinton impression that's stuck with me ever since. After, he did a host of unplanned social videos, which continued for a while, along with a bunch of selfies. It was all a gracious demonstration of how the show must go on. Connect with Ed on LinkedIn or via e-mail. | 
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