espid

GENERAL INFORMATION

Venue
The meeting venue is MCH Messe Kongresszentrum Basel
Messeplatz 21
CH-4021 Basel
Tel: +41 58 206 3137
Fax: +41 58 206 2185
Website: www.congress.ch

Date
Wednesday, May 3 – Friday, May 5, 2006

Official Language
The official language of the meeting is English

Climate
The average temperature in Basel in May ranges between 7-16°C.

Clothing
During the entire meeting, attire will be casual and informal.

Official Carrier
Swiss International Air Lines is the official carrier for the 24th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases – ESPID and is offering special meeting fares to all participants, which offers reductions of up to 25% depending on the fare type, route and space availability. The fares are valid for all flights to Switzerland on the entire SWISS network, including flights operated by partner airlines under the LX flight number (except British Airways operated flights). To take advantage of these special fares, please contact your local SWISS travel office or any of the following ticketing agents:
Austria0810 810 840  Belgium078 15 53 19 
Canada1 877 359 7947  Denmark70 10 50 64 
Finland09 6937 9034  France0 820 040 506 
Germany01803 000 337  Hong Kong3002 1330 
Ireland1890 200515  Italy848 868 120 
Japan0120 66 77 88  Luxembourg34 2080 83 70 
Netherlands0900 202 0232  Portugal808 200 487 
Singapore6823 2010  South Africa0860 04 05 06 
Spain901 11 67 12  Sweden(0)8 587 704 45 
Switzerland0848 85 2000  UK0845 601 0956 
USA - Lyon Travel1 800 639 3849    

For countries not listed, please check the SWISS offices contact list on: http://www.swiss.com/web/PRINT/contacts-worldwide-offices.htm

Quoting the following tour code: CXX 6076.

Airport Information
International flights arrive to Zurich airport and participants can reach Basel within 1.5 hours by direct train. Domestic flights arrive to Basel Airport and is a short drive away to the Messe Kongresszentrum. Basel airport also has selected international connections! Public bus transport is available from the airport to the city (approximately 15 minutes drive).
Public transportation in Basel
During the 24th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases all participants staying at any hotel in Basel are entitled to free and unlimited use of the public transportation system in Basel with the “Mobility Ticket”. The ticket is limited for inner-city use only (zones 10, 11 and 13) and is not valid for a ride outside the city (e.g.: over the border to Germany, France or other cantons in Switzerland). The Mobility Ticket is handed out upon check-in at the hotel where the participant is booked and must be carried on you while using the public transportation in Basel.

Registration Desk
The Registration Desk will be open as follows:
Tuesday, May 2 17:00-19:00 hours
Wednesday, May 3 07:30-20:00 hours
Thursday, May 4 07:00-19:00 hours
Friday, May 5 07:00-17:30 hours

Registration desk – closes on Thursday at 19:00
ESPID Membership Desk
The Membership Desk will operate at the MCH Messe Kongresszentrum as follows:
Wednesday, May 3rd    Between 10:30 - 11:00   /   12:30 - 13:45   /   15:15 - 15:45
Thursday, May 4th Between 08:00 - 10:30   /   12:00 - 13:15   /   15:45 - 16:15
Friday, May 5th Between 08:00 - 10:30   /   12:30 - 13:45   /   14:45 - 15:00
Personal Envelope and Meeting Bag
Upon registration, you will receive a personal envelope containing a name badge and invitations to social events. You will also receive a meeting bag containing the Final Program and Book of Abstracts. Please wear your name badge to all sessions and social events
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 3rd, at 18:20 in the MCH Messe Kongresszentrum in Hall A and will be followed by the Get-Together Reception – (included in the registration fee).
Meet the Professor Workshops
Meet the Professor Workshops will be held on Thursday, May 4th and Friday, May 5th between 07:30 – 08:30. Participation is included in the registration fee, however pre-registration is necessary. Please contact the ESPID Membership Desk for an entry pass. Participation is limited to 100 participants and will be on a “first come, first served” basis.
ESPID Research Lunch (for ESPID Members Only)
ESPID has created Research Lunches where members who are actively involved in basic and clinical research can communicate in an informal and interactive way. This offers the opportunity to meet experts working in the same field, to form networks, to initiate international and multicentre clinical trials or just to exchange experiences. Each Research Lunch will be chaired by a co-ordinator(s). One or two invited experts will highlight some aspects of the chosen topic. Interested ESPID members are invited to join the discussion, to give additional information, make proposals, etc. Adequate AV support is provided.
The Research Lunches will be held on Thursday, May 4th and Friday, May 5th. (The lunch is included in the registration fee) Pre-registration is necessary. Please contact the ESPID Membership Desk for an entry pass. Participation is limited to 30 participants per lunch and will be on a "first come, first served basis".
Internet Zone
Sponsored by Novartis Vaccines
Participants will have the usage of free Wi-Fi connection; Internet services will be available to participants in the exhibition area, from Tuesday, May 2nd after 17:00 and will be operational from the start until the end of session time each day.

Trade Exhibition
An exhibition by pharmaceutical companies will take place within the framework of the Meeting. Potential exhibitors can request information from the Meeting Secretariat.
Please contact Mrs Avital Rosen-Topel at arosen@kenes.com
Liability and Insurance
The organizer is not able to take any responsibility whatsoever for injury or damage involving persons and property during the meeting. Participants are advised to take their own personal insurance.

ESPID 2006 Secretariat
Kenes International / ESPID 2006
17 Rue du Cendrier, PO Box 1726
CH-1211, Geneva 1, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 908 0488
Fax: +41 22 732 2850
E-mail: espid@kenes.com