Conference information
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A.  GENERAL INFORMATION  


A1.  Conference Site

The conference will be held in the Porthania building of the University of Helsinki, in the centre of Helsinki.
Address: Yliopistonkatu 3, 00170 Helsinki


A2. Travelling to Helsinki

There are direct flight connections daily to Helsinki from all major European cities and numerous direct intercontinental flights. Helsinki can also be reached by ferries from Germany, Estonia and Sweden.

Transportation from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the centre of Helsinki (approx. 16 km/30 min) by Finnair airport bus costs EUR 4,90 and by taxi roughly EUR 25-30. The shared airport taxi (minibus) is also available and can be booked at the Yellow Line/Airport Taxi desk in the arrival hall (after customs) of the airport. The minibus takes passengers to their hotels. Taxis in Finland accept major credit cards.

Travelling to Finland, a visa is required of the citizens of some countries. Kindly contact your nearest Finnish embassy or consulate.


A3.  Weather and Dress

The weather in Helsinki in August is mostly warm. Daily maximum temperature varies around 20°C with 17 hours of daylight. Dress for all events will be informal.


A4. Currency, Bank, Credit cards

The monetary unit of Finland is euro (EUR, €), which is divided into 100 cents. All Finnish banks exchange foreign currency on weekdays (Mon-Fri) during banking hours. During the weekends and in the evenings foreign currency
can be exchanged e.g. at money exchange offices, at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and in hotels. Cash machines are
also widespread. Major credit cards are widely accepted by hotels, shops and restaurants.


A5.  Check-in at the Conference site

The registration and information desk at Porthania (Yliopistonkatu 3) is open as follows:

Monday August 4  12.00-17.00
Tuesday August 5  08.00-17.00
Wednesday August 6  08.00-13.00  

Other conference days will be announced later.


A6.  Meals

Coffee and tea will be served during the breaks on the conference days. Lunches are not included in the registration fees. There are different kinds of restaurants and cafés close to the conference site.


B.  SOCIAL PROGRAMME

B1
. Monday, August 4

OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE AND GET-TOGETHER PARTY at 17.00


B2. Tuesday, August 5

CITY RECEPTION  18.00-19.00
Reception hosted by the City of Helsinki.

B3. Thursday, August 7

EXCURSION TO SUOMENLINNA FORTRESS ISLAND  17.30-19.30
The excursion begins with a short boat trip from the Market Square to the fortress island of Suomenlinna. Built in the 18th century to defend Helsinki against attacks from the sea, Suomenlinna was known as "the Gibraltar of the North". This over 250-year-old sea fortress is listed as one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites and its walls, fortifi­cations
and museums are today a popular tourist attraction. After the walking tour in Suomenlinna the participants  have
a possibility to return by boat to the Market Square or spend the evening at Restaurant Walhalla, where the
Conference Dinner will be served (reservation and payment for the dinner should be made in advance).
Excursion is included in the registration fees. Warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Reception hosted by the City of Helsinki.

B4. Thursday, August 7

CONFERENCE DINNER AT FORTRESS RESTAURANT WALHALLA at 19.30
After the walking tour in Suomenlinna the Conference Dinner with special programme will be served at Restaurant Walhalla in the historic milieu of the sea fortress. Return by boat to the Market Square. Price: EUR 50 per person.



C
.  REGISTRATION

Participants should register to the Conference and make all reservations in advance on the enclosed registration form. The form should be returned by fax or by mail to the congress office CONGRESZON LTD. preferably by 15 April 2003:

CONGRESZON LTD.
Address:  Itälahdenkatu 22A, FIN-00210 Helsinki, Finland
Telephone:  +358-9-5840 9351
Fax:  +358-9-5840 9555
E-mail: transformation.groups@congreszon.fi 
 

All inquiries concerning registration and accommodation should be sent to Congreszon.

C1.  Registration fees:      until April 15      after April 15

Participant                               EUR 100              EUR 125
Accompanying person              EUR  25               EUR  25

Participant's registration fee includes the scientific programme with conference material, coffee/tea during the breaks and following social programme: Opening of the Conference and Get-together Party on Monday, 4 August,
City Reception on Tuesday, 5 August, Excursion to Suomenlinna on Thursday, 7August.

Accompanying person's registration fee includes the following social programme: Opening of the Conference and Get-together Party on Monday, 4 August, City Reception on Tuesday, 5 August, Excursion to Suomenlinna on
Thursday, 7 August.

Invited speakers are exempted from the registration fees. Please note that the registration fee for the accompanying persons must still be paid.

C2.  Payments

All payments should be made in euros (EUR) in advance when making the reservations.

Methods of payment

1. By bank transfer to the account of CONGRESZON LTD.
Bank: SAMPO BANK, 00075 Sampo, Helsinki, Finland
IBAN (Int. Bank Account No.): FI18 8000 1070 7668 53     SWIFT / BIC code: PSPBFIHH.
Account No. for Finnish participants: 800010-70766853
Please use 'Transformation Groups' and the participant’s name as a reference.

2. By following credit cards: Eurocard, MasterCard and VISA
Bank drafts or personal cheques cannot be accepted.

C3.  Confirmation and Cancellation

Congreszon will confirm registration and reservations upon receipt of the registration form and payment.

All cancellations should be made to Congreszon. If a written notice of cancellation is received by 30 June 2003,
the registration fee less handling fee of EUR 60 will be refunded. After 30 June 2003, no refunds will be made.

In case of hotel cancellation, the deposit of one night’s room rate, less bank charge, will be refunded, if a written
notice of cancellation is received by 30 June 2003. After that date no refunds will be made.



D.  ACCOMMODATION



CONGRESZON will arrange accommodation for the participants. Block reservations have been made in the hotels listed below. Participants should make their hotel reservations in advance on the registration form. A deposit of one night's room rate is to be paid when making the reservation. The hotel deposit will be forwarded to the hotel and it will be deducted from the final hotel bill.

Please note that the hotel rooms will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis. To increase your chances of obtaining your accommodation in a hotel of your choice, kindly return the form as soon as possible.


Hotels/Hostel                                                                     

SOKOS HOTEL HELSINKI
Address: Kluuvikatu 8, 00100 Helsinki, tel.: +358 9 43 320, fax: +358 9 176 014
First class hotel in the centre of Helsinki, approx. 100 m from the conference site.
Room rates: Single room EUR 136 and double room  EUR 162 per night

HOTEL CUMULUS KAISANIEMI
Address: Kaisaniemenkatu 7, 00100 Helsinki, tel.: + 358 9 172 881,  fax: + 358 9 605 379
Tourist class hotel in the centre of Helsinki, approx. 300 m from the conference site.
Room rates: Single room EUR 101 and double room  EUR 128 per night

HOTEL MARTTA
Address: Uudenmaankatu 24, 00120 Helsinki, tel.: + 358 9 618 7400,  fax: + 358 9 618 7401
Tourist class hotel near the centre of Helsinki, approx. 1 km from the conference site.
Room rates:  Single room EUR 97 and double room  EUR 120 per night


EUROHOSTEL
Address: Linnankatu 9, 00160 Helsinki, tel.: +358 9 622 0470, fax: +358 9 655 044
Comfortable hostel near the centre of Helsinki, approx. 1 km from the conference site.
Room rates:  Single room EUR 49,70 and double room  EUR 55,40 per night

All room rates include breakfast and VAT (value added tax). Rooms in the above mentioned hotels are with bath
or shower, TV, radio and telephone. Rooms at Eurohostel are without private facilities.