Information for Delegates

OVERVIEW

The following document provides information to assist you prior to arrival in Melbourne . It has details on the conference venue, program, workshop sessions and social activities.

VENUE

Sofitel Melbourne
25 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: + 61 3 9653 0000
Fax: + 61 3 9650 4261
Website: www.sofitelmelbourne.com.au

LOCATION

The main conference venue for the 12 th International Metropolis Conference is Sofitel Melbourne, which is located at the top end of Collins Street , in the heart of the city's premier shopping, dining and theatre precinct. The Secretariat Desk and Speakers Room are located at the Sofitel, and this will be the venue for plenary sessions, lunches and some workshops.

Some workshop sessions will take place in other venues which are a short walk from the Sofitel, including the Mercure Hotel, Anzac House, Shell Building , Monash City Premises, Australian National University . A map indicating conference venues will be available at the registration desk and in the conference program.

TRAVEL

All visitors to Australia , with the exception of those travelling from New Zealand , will require a visa or electronic travel authority. For information visit: http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/index.htm .

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

TRANSPORT FROM MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO HOTELS

Once you have cleared immigration and customs (customs are very strict in Australia ; ensure that you are not carrying foods or other restricted items) you will find taxi ranks. Transfer by taxi from Melbourne Airport to the city centre takes around 30 minutes and costs approximately AUD $50.00

REGISTRATION

The Conference Secretariat and Registration Desk will be located at the Sofitel Melbourne on the first floor outside the Grand Ballroom.

Registration times are as follows:

Monday 8 October - 8.00am 5.00pm
Tuesday 9 October - 8.00am 5.00pm
Wednesday 10 October - 8.00am 5.00pm
Thursday 11 October - 8.00 am 5.00 pm
Friday 12 October - 8.00am 12 Noon

Delegate bags and conference materials are available at the registration desk only at the times indicated above. We request that registered conference participants pick up their satchel and conference materials at the Sofitel Hotel before attending the pre-conference activities on Monday 8 th October. In order to facilitate this, the conference secretariat will open at 8am .

CONFERENCE TIMES

PLENARY SESSIONS

All plenary sessions will take place in the Sofitel Melbourne. A complete list of plenary sessions will be included in the conference program, which will be distributed on-site. For latest updates to the program please visit: http://www.metropolis2007.org/plenary.php .

WORKSHOP SESSIONS

The Conference will include more than 75 workshops. Workshops will take place between 2:15 and 5:30 pm on

•  Tuesday 9 October
•  Wednesday 10 October
•  Thursday 11 October

Workshops are either 90 minutes or 180 minutes in length.

A complete workshop program is available and can be accessed on the conference website: http://www.metropolis2007.org/workshopdetails.php.

PROGRAM

A complete printed program will be distributed at the conference. For latest updates to the program please visit www.metropolis2007.org .

At the Conference, a bulletin board, located next to the Conference Secretariat, will display any changes to the program or news about special events.

PROCEEDINGS

Copies of presentations will be made available on the website www.metropolis2007.org following the conference.

SPEAKER'S ROOM

All electronic presentations must be prepared in a PowerPoint format to be loaded in advance of your presentation.

Please bring your presentation to the Speaker's Room, located in the Victoria Suite of the Sofitel Melbourne. Your presentation must be stored on a USB stick, CD-Rom or floppy disk and it must be delivered at least two hours PRIOR to your presentation.

PRINTING FACILITIES

Copy facilities will be available at the business centre of the Sofitel Hotel Melbourne. If you would like to make copies of your paper or presentation to be distributed to conference delegates, please note charges incurred will be at presenter's expense.

INTERNET

Internet facilities are available free of charge for conference delegates near the registration desk.

NAME BADGES

At the conference secretariat's registration desk, all registered delegates, members of the press, accompanying guests and exhibitors are kindly requested to wear their name badge when attending all conference activities and social events. A replacement fee of AUD $5.00 will be charged for every lost or forgotten badge. In order to facilitate the duplication of the badge, please present a copy of your registration confirmation letter or onsite registration form as proof of your registration.

ADMISSION CARDS FOR SOCIAL EVENTS

You will receive admission cards to all social events that you have nominated on your registration form. These will be in an envelope in your conference satchel. Do not forget to take the admission cards to the conference's social events, as you will need them for entry and they will be checked for security reasons . If you do not receive them, please go to the conference secretariat desk in order to inform organisers of the events you wish to attend.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers wearing blue polo shirts and green “Ask Me” badges will be assisting delegates on tours and directing everyone to breakout venues.

COMMUNITY TOURS

On Monday 8 October buses will depart from Sofitel Melbourne for the pre-conference tours at 9.15am . Conference assistants will be onsite, on the first floor outside the Grand Ballroom, to direct delegates to the buses waiting in the driveway of the Sofitel. Note: there will be a break for lunch and opportunity to purchase food.

MESSAGES

Messages for delegates will be left on the bulletin board next to the Conference Secretariat and Registration Desk. Contact number at the Sofitel Melbourne is + 61 3 9653 0000. Callers wishing to leave a message should ask to be transferred to the Metropolis Conference Secretariat. Delegates are advised to consult the message board during conference breaks.

CATERING

Morning, afternoon teas and lunches will be provided during the conference. Lunch vouchers will need to be presented each day .

SMOKING

Delegates are requested to refrain from smoking, as smoking is not permitted in and around the Sofitel Hotel area.

WEATHER

Melbourne 's weather in Spring ( October) is generally mild with temperatures ranging from 15-24C.

INCIDENTAL EXPENSES

The Conference Organisers or the Events Management Office will not be responsible for any incidental expenses incurred by delegates during the conference.

Prior to arrival, if you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact Irene Thavarajah, the Conference Manager at + 61 3 9905 1344 or on her mobile at +61 408 512 783 (from overseas) or 0408 512 783 (in Australia).

Registration Desk staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and provide you with conference-related assistance.

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