GENERAL INFORMATION

LANGUAGE
English is the official language of the Conference.

DATES
July 20 – 25, 2008.

HOTEL INTERNET
Rooms in the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel are equipped with wireless.  No connection is available in the Royal Wing. Internet can be provided to participants staying at the Royal Wing (up to 18 rooms at one time) through the Business Center (located on the bridge between the two hotels).

Please request cost for this service from the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel reception or the business center, upon your arrival.

Please note: The conference provides Internet services for checking e-mail messages, free of charge, as of Sunday, July 20, 2008 from 16:30 hours, and will be operational in accordance with session times for the duration of the conference.

BREAKFAST
Accommodation at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel (and Royal Wing) includes breakfast.  Guests staying at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel will be served breakfast in the Renaissance dining room and for guests staying at the Royal wing, breakfast will be served in the Royal Wing dining room.

REGISTRATION / HOSPITALITY DESK
Will operate at the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel, as follows:
Sunday, July 20, 2008:        12:00 – 19:00 hours
Monday, July 21, 2008:        07:30 – 18:00 hours
Tuesday, July 22, 2008:       08:00 – 18:00 hours
Wednesday, July 23, 2008:  08:00 – 14:00 hours
Thursday, July 24, 2008:      08:00 – 18:00 hours

PERSONAL ENVELOPE AND CONFERENCE BAG
Upon registration, you will receive a personal envelope and conference bag, containing your name badge invitation to the Get-Together Reception, exchange vouchers, program book and abstracts on CD Rom. 

Please remember to wear you name badge to all sessions and events.

GET-TOGETHER RECEPTION
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 19:45 hours
All participants and registered accompanying persons are invited to attend the Get-Together Reception being held at the Israel Museum, which includes a short tour of the museum.

FAREWELL DINNER (Optional) – SOLD OUT
Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 20:00 hours
Blaustein Hall
Mercaz Shimshon - Beit Shmuel
6 Eliahu Shama Street, Jerusalem
Tel: +972 2 620 3455/6

As this event is sold out, only those who previously purchased tickets are eligible to attend. 

LUNCH BREAK OPTIONS
Cash bars will be set up at the hotel, offering sandwiches and salads.  The hotel also has a coffee shop which offers hot and cold items.

CURRENCY / EXCHANGE
The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) is Israel’s currency. There are coins of 5, 10, 50 agorot and 1, 2, 5, 10 shekels, and notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 200.

International credit cards are accepted for payment in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Exchange offices and ATM machines are easily available throughout the city and at the Ben Gurion International Airport.

For currency conversion at updated rates see www.xe.net/pca

AIRPORT INFORMATION
Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international gateway to and from Israel. It is situated approximately 50km (31 miles) west of Jerusalem.  Journey to Jerusalem is approximately 45 minutes.

TRANSPORTATION TO JERUSALEM
By shared taxi (recommended mode of transportation)
Taxis are situated to the right of the Arrivals Hall, Nesher Company runs a sherut (shared taxi service), between the airport and Jerusalem. A fixed rate is charged per passenger. Cost as at June 17, from the airport to the Renaissance Hotel is 50 NIS (15 U$S). Shared taxi’s operate 24 hours a day.  Disadvantage is that passengers need to wait until the taxi has filled.

By Bus
Upon exit from customs, take either the elevator or escalator to the 2nd floor.  Exit the terminal either by gate number 21 or 23.  Cross over the road for Egged bus number 5 which serves as an internal transport line from Ben Gurion International Airport to El Al Junction.  Cost as at June 17 is 5 NIS (1.5 US$).

From El Al Junction, bus number 947 will take you to Jerusalem.  The bus operates from 06:20 to 22:00 hours, every half-hour. Tickets can be purchased onboard - 25 NIS (7.5 U$S) (cost as at June 17).

Buses arrive at Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station on Jaffa Road in west Jerusalem. From here it is another 5 minutes by car/taxi to the Renaissance Jerusalem Hotel.

Note: Busses do not run on Saturday (Shabbat) - from half hour before sunset on Friday till after sunset Saturday. In summer Shabbat starts as late as 19.10 and ends on 20.30 hours.

By Private Taxi
The Taxi Stations and dispatcher's counter at Terminal 3 are located on Level G of the Multi Level Road.
Cost as at June 17 is NIS 200 (U$S 61).
It is recommended not to use random Taxi services.
Rate 2 (25% extra) will apply in the following cases:
Night journeys between 21:00 and 05:59 hours the next day.
An additional NIS 2.7 will be applicable for each piece of luggage.

SHOPPING HOURS
Shopping centers are open as follows:
Sunday through Thursday:         09:30 to 21:00 hours
Friday:                                     09:30 to 14:00 hours
Shopping centers reopen after Shabbat.

Shops in the town are generally open as follows:
Sunday through Thursday:         09:00 to 19:00 hours
Friday:                                     09:00 to 14:00 hours

VISA
Participants are advised to please check with local travel agents if visas for entry to Israel are required, prior arrival.

CLIMATE
July is summer time in Israel, with temperatures in Jerusalem ranging from 17°C – 27°C (64°F – 81°F). No rain is expected.

CLOTHING
Clothing is informal for all occasions. Sunglasses, sunscreen and walking shoes are highly recommended. Please bring a light sweater for the evenings.

INSURANCE
The secretariat and organizers cannot accept liability for personal accidents or loss of or damage to private property or persons, during or indirectly arising from the 38th International Conference on Coordination Chemistry. Participants should make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.

LETTER OF INVITATION
Participants requiring a formal letter of invitation to enable them to make their arrangements to participate in the conference, may receive a letter via the website. Please note that this letter cannot be regarded as a commitment regarding scheduling or financial support from the organizers.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
Please do not hesitate to contact the organizers if you require any additional information or assistance. Please address all correspondence to:

38th ICCC
c/o Kenes International
PO Box 56
Ben-Gurion Airport 70100
Israel
Tel: +972 3 972 7500
Fax: +972 3 972 7555
E-mail: iccc38@kenes.com
Website: www.kenes.com/iccc38

EXHIBITION
A professional exhibition will be held concurrently with the conference. For details, please contact: Elda Schwartz, e-mail: eschwartz@kenes.com