Davos Notebook

Davos is all about which colour your badge is – are you white, orange, purple, green or gray? Here’s what they all mean and, more importantly, what they get you into.

White badge: access all areas – those who get white badges range from corporate executives and government officials to media leaders (this year from Reuters: myself and my colleagues Paul Taylor and Lisa Jucca). Holders of white badges can attend all sessions, all lunches, dinners and night-caps, provided they sign up beforehand. Lunches are mostly held in hotels where chefs sharpen their knives to serve sizzling three-course meals to participants. Sessions open only to white badges are off-the record.

Orange badge: entry to limited areas of Congress Hall and hotels as media participants. You can get quite a lot of things done with orange badges but access is more limited compared with white badges.

Purple badge: reserved for technicians who work behind the scenes.

Green badge: reserved for officials accompanying heads of states.

Gray badge: reserved for WAGS of white badge executives.