| Congress highlights | Accommodations | Travel and Transportation | Local Information | Other Important Information |
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The Scientific Program and most other events of the IBC will take place at the convention center of St. Louis, America's Center, during the week of August 1-7, 1999. The Congress will convene at the Opening Session on Sunday, August 1st, with welcoming ceremonies, plenary lectures, and entertainment; this will be followed by an all-Congress reception. The Scientific Program will be presented from August 2nd to 7th in plenary lectures, interdisciplinary keynote symposia, general symposia, and poster sessions. Commercial and other Exhibits and scientific posters will be set up in a large exhibit space at the Center. All scientific sessions will end by 6:30 p.m., leaving evenings free for social and cultural events, banquets, and receptions, which will be held in various venues around St. Louis. The Congress will conclude with a closing session on Saturday, August 7th, which will include award ceremonies and the General Assembly meeting of the IABMS. The Nomenclature Section will be held the week prior to the Congress (July 26 to 30) at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Receptions, field trips, excursions, and other social events will also be planned prior to, during, and after the Congress.
Conferon, Inc. will be handling the housing needs for the XVI IBC. We have large blocks of rooms in seven downtown hotels: Adams Mark, Drury Inn Convention Center, Holiday Inn Select, Hyatt Regency, Marriott Pavilion, Mayfair Wyndham Grand Heritage, and Regal Riverfront. See Housing Information for hotel rates and procedures, see Map of Downtown St. Louis for locations, and register online with the Registration Form. A very limited number of dorm spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Approximately six million people a year visit St. Louis, most of them in the summertime. There will be other conventions and groups in town that week, as well as a five-day home stand for the Cardinals Baseball Team, so please make your reservations early.
Attendees who have indicated on their Pre-Registration Form that they are interested in sharing a room will find included with this brochure a copy of the list of potential roommates. Attendees are responsible for making their own arrangements with roommates and only one roommate should make the hotel reservation. It is recommended that you make your reservations early. XVI IBC assumes no responsibility for any difficulties or consequences arising from a shared room and recommends that potential roommates be screened carefully.
Breakfast (full or continental) may be available with some room plans. No overall meal plans will be available, but food service and restaurants are available in America's Center and in close proximity outside the Center.
If you will require child care during your stay, the XVI IBC can furnish you with a list of local providers. Attendees are responsible for making their own arrangements with the provider. XVI IBC assumes no responsibility for any difficulties or consequences arising from the use of a child care provider and recommends that the provider be screened carefully.
XVI IBC is pleased to offer Congress attendees discounted airfares on TWA and Continental Airlines. Your travel agent or the TWA Convention Desk at 1-800/325-4933 can make arrangements for your TWA flight, using the code V16245. If you choose Continental, your travel agent or the MeetingWorks Department at 1-800/468-7022 can assist you, using the Meeting Reference Number J8YYCH.
Lambert St. Louis International Airport is located approximately 20 miles from downtown St. Louis and transfers are convenient with buses, taxis and airport limos running almost 24 hours a day. There is a MetroLink (St. Louis' light-rail system) station at the Airport which has six downtown stops, one of which is just across the street from the America's Center. Adult fares are $1.25 (Riders should pay particular attention to the Validation procedures when riding MetroLink). For information, MetroLink's phone number is 314/923-3028. Bi-State Development Agency operates the public bus lines and their phone number is 314/982-1432. A number of taxi companies operate from the airport and fares from the Airport to downtown will run approximately $20-$25. All fares are subject to increase.
Car Rental services available at the Airport are Avis, Budget, Hertz and National. As with most downtown areas, however, parking is at a premium and we encourage the use of public transportation.
Saint Louis, a metropolitan area of some 2.4 million people, is centrally located in the United States and well served by an international airport, rail lines, and highways. There is a light rail train line, Metrolink, that runs from the airport to downtown St. Louis, with a stop adjacent to the America's Center, and public bus lines throughout the St. Louis area. Taxis and rental cars are also available at the airport; the latter may be booked in advance, and future updates of this page will have information about special rates. Hotel rooms reserved for the Congress are within walking distance of America's Center (1-5 blocks) or within similar short walking distance of nearby MetroLink stations. Shuttle service will be provided between the hotels, the dormitories, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the America's Center.
Additional information regarding travel to St. Louis, including official travel agencies and special Congress airfares, will be provided in future updates of this website.
St. Louis in August can be nearly tropical, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20° C to 35° C (67° F to 95° F), and warm evenings. America's Center and hotel rooms are fully air-conditioned, however. Be sure to bring cool, comfortable clothing and a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun. It is advisable to bring a light jacket or sweater for air-conditioned rooms, or the occasional cool evening.
Order your Cardinals' tickets NOW! Visit the highly-recognizable, cookie-cutter baseball yard called Busch Stadium where last year, the Cardinals' own Big Mac (Mark McGwire) not only broke the record for most home-runs in a season - he blasted it into the atmosphere! Limited seats are available at the low price of $16.00 for Loge Reserved seats on Monday evening, August 2nd or Wednesday, August 4th when St. Louis hosts the San Diego Padres. Game time is 7:10 p.m. Indicate your choice and number of tickets on the Registration Form and add the cost to your other fees. There can be no refunds on baseball tickets.
*Some Field Trips include non-refundable deposits
The official language will be English. No simultaneous translation service will be provided. All talks, discussions, workshops, Contributed Posters and submitted materials must be in English.
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For XVI IBC information:
Office of the Secretariat c/o Missouri Botanical Garden Post Office Box 299 St. Louis Missouri 63166-0299 Phone: 314/577-5175 Fax: 314/577-9589 E-mail: ibc16@mobot.org |
Nomenclature Section Site:
Missouri Botanical Garden, Ridgeway Center 4344 Shaw Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63110 |
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Congress Site:
America's Center 701 Convention Plaza St. Louis, Missouri 63101 |
For Commercial Exhibit Information:
Marilynn Maury, AIBS 107 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100 Sterling, Virginia 20164 USA Phone: 703/834-0812 Ext. 203 Fax: 703/834-1160 E-mail: mmaury@aibs.org |
Correspondence concerning general matters of the Congress should be addressed to the Congress Secretary General:
| Secretary General, XVI IBC
c/o Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299 St. Louis, MO 63166-0299 U.S.A. |
Telephone: 01-314-577-5175
Fax: 01-314-577-9589 E-mail: ibc16@mobot.org http://www.ibc99.org |