General Information

Access/Security

Name badges will be provided to Participants and Accompanying Persons at registration and will be required for admission to all Congress events.

Airport & Airport Transportation

Logan International Airport is approximately 5 miles from the Hynes Convention Center and all Congress hotels. Taxi fare from the airport to the convention center is approximately $25-$35USD and takes about 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.  Public transportation is offered by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the “T”) and features both subway and bus services. Limousines and private shuttle services are also available.

Banks, Currency and Foreign Exchange

Banks are typically open from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Several banks have extended hours on Thursday evenings.  Most banks can exchange currency.

Credit cards, Debit cards and Travelers Checks are widely accepted throughout Boston and the city is well served by an extensive network of ATMs.

Climate

The weather in Boston in September/October can be quite varied. Typically we have pleasant days with temperatures between 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit (10-18 Celsius) and cooler nights. However it can also be colder or hotter. It is advisable to check the forecast before arriving in Boston.

Congress Timetable

All IFA Boston 2012 Congress scientific sessions will be held at the Hynes Convention Center. Plenary and parallel sessions will start at 8:30am. The Monday and Tuesday sessions will end at 2:30pm. Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will end at 2:15pm.

Congress catering and refreshment services will be available daily: welcome coffee and tea at 8:00am; coffee, tea and other beverages from 9:45am to 10:15am; light lunch from 11:15am to 12:15pm (12:30pm on Monday and Tuesday) and afternoon refreshments Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after the scientific sessions have concluded.

Social Program events will be held at various times and locations. Please consult the Social Program section of this Invitation Program for details.

Currency Exchange

All rates set forth in the Invitation Program are in U.S. Dollars.

Dress Code

Business attire is requested for all Congress functions and social events unless otherwise indicated.

Disclaimer

All reasonable efforts will be made to hold the 66^th IFA Congress and to present the printed program as scheduled under circumstances which assure the comfort and safety of the Congress Participants. However, neither the International Fiscal Association nor any of its Branches, nor their officers, employees, representatives or agents, shall have any liability to any person as a result of any cancellation of the Congress or any of the arrangements, programs or plans connected therewith or any loss, injury, damage or inconvenience which may be suffered by any person while travelling to or from, or during such person's presence in, the United States in connection with the Congress. Partic­ipants are advised to consider procuring their own insurance against any such occurrences.

Educational Credits

Attending the IFA Con­gress sessions qualifies some Participants for continuing education credits. Please check with your professional organization for details.

A certificate of attendance will be included in your Congress bag.

Electricity

Electricity used in Boston is 120 Volts; the fre­quency is 50 Hz. The plugs are known as “Type A plugs” and feature 2 parallel flat blades.  Adapters may be required for electrical equipment from other countries.

Emergencies

First aid service is available at the Hynes Convention Center.

The emergency telephone number in the United States for police, fire or ambulance is 911.

Exhibition Hall

The Congress Exhibition Hall will be in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on the second floor of the Hynes Convention Center.  The exhibition area will include exhibits by our Sponsors, information on future Congresses, the Internet Café, Congress food service and plenty of room for Participants to meet and network.

Exhibition Hall Hours:

Sunday, September 30, 2012, 8:00pm -10:00pm
Monday, October 1, 2012,  8:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday, October 4, 2012,  8:00am - 4:00pm

For Exhibits or Sponsorship, please contact our Sponsorship Director, Michael Davis, at
michaeld@ifausa.org.

IFA Boston 2012 Congress Organizer

Before and after the Congress:

IFA Boston 2012 – Experient
P.O. Box 4088
Frederick, MD 21705-4088

Phone: +1-847-996-5876
Email: IFA@experient-inc.com

Website: www.ifaboston2012.com

Insurance and Liability

The Organizers will accept no liability for personal injuries sustained by or for loss or damage to property belonging to Congress Participants, either during or as a result of the Congress or during all events.

Participants and Accompanying Persons are strongly recommended to seek insurance coverage for health and accident, lost luggage and trip cancellation.

Internet Cafe IFA Boston 2012

Participants will have access to Internet facilities at an Internet Cafe located within the Auditorium (Exhibit Hall) on the 2^nd floor of the Hynes Convention Center. In addition, the Hynes Convention Center features complimentary Wi-Fi services for Participants.

Lost Property

Please report any lost or unattended items immediately to the Congress staff. Should you lose anything while at the Hynes Convention Center, please inquire at the Congress Registration Desk, where any lost property will be held.

Message Center

In lieu of a fixed message center, the Boston Congress will feature Participant-to-Participant messaging through our Technology Desk (see below).

Official Language

The Congress language is English. All sessions will be conducted in English.

Passports & Visa

All overseas visitors are required to have a valid passport to enter the United States. Some visitors may be required to obtain other documentation such as an entry visa; others may qualify for the Visa Waiver Program.

As a general planning guideline, if a visa is needed to enter the United States, a traveler should apply for his or her visa as soon as possible, and no later than 60 days before the travel date. Visa applicants may need to schedule an interview appointment as a first step in the visa process at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Since wait times vary by embassy and time of year, we strongly encourage travelers to start the process as soon as possible.

Please note that you can request a letter of invitation through the Boston Congress on-line registration process or with the Registration Form enclosed with this Invitation Program. 

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-Visit Program.

Currently, 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:

Photographer

An official photographer will be present during the Congress. Photographs will be available on the Congress website after the Congress.

Poster Program

Closer to the Congress, up to a maximum of ten (10) candidates will be selected for the 2012 Poster Program. A list of delegates in thePoster Program will be distributed in the Congress kits. Posters will be available for view­ing at the Hynes Convention Center.

Preview Room

A preview room (speaker-ready room) will be available for Chairs, Panelists and Secretaries of all Panels to check/finalize their audiovisual presentations for the respective sessions.

Questionnaire/Evaluation

Participants are kindly requested to complete a Congress Questionnaire which will be available in the Congress Kit. This Questionnaire is an important tool to provide your input and suggestions to IFA. An IFA 2012 Boston Congress T-Shirt will be provided to those who return a completed Congress Questionnaire to the Welcome Desk on October 3 and 4, 2012.

Refreshment Breaks

Food and beverage (including vegetarian food) will be served during the light lunch breaks each day in the Auditorium on the 2^nd floor of the Hynes Convention Center.  Coffee and tea will be available at 8:00am prior to morning sessions and a coffee/tea break will be held from 9:45am to 10:15am each day and from 2:30pm-4:00pm Monday-Wednesday.

Registration and Information Desks

Congress Registration, Tour Registration, Boston Information and our Technology desks will be located on the 2^ndfloor of the Hynes Convention Center in the hallway outside the Auditorium. 

On-site hours for registration and information:

Sunday, September 30, 2012, 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Monday, October 1, 2012, 7:30am – 4:00pm
Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 7:30am – 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7:30am – 4:00pm
Thursday, October 4, 2012, 7:30am – 4:00pm

Restaurants

From the Back Bay to Chinatown to the Seaport to Beacon Hill to Kenmore to Cambridge and much much more, you will find a wide variety of restaurants where all kinds of culinary  specialties are served.

Shopping

Stores in Boston are open 7 days a week.  Generally stores are open from 10:00am – 8:00pm.

The Hynes Convention Center and most of the Congress Hotels are conveniently connected to the Prudential Center and Copley Place shopping areas, both of which feature a wide variety of stores and restaurants. The Congress venue is also just one block away from Boston’s famous Newbury Street.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is banned in Boston in all indoor public places and in all workplaces. The Congress will be a smoke-free event and smoking shall not be permitted in the Hynes Convention Center.

Sponsorship Opportunities

For Exhibit or Sponsorship opportunities, please contact our Sponsorship Director, Michael Davis, at michaeld@ifausa.org. 

Taxes

Massachusetts imposes a sales tax on certain goods, services and meals at the rate of 6.25%. Clothing with a value less than $175, certain grocery foods and magazines/newspapers are exempt from the sales tax.

There is no procedure in the US for any type of GST reclamation.

Taxis

Licensed taxis can be recognized by the sign "TAXI" on the roof of the vehicle.

Technology Desk

Located on the second floor of the Hynes Convention Center, the Congress Technology Desk will be available to assist Participants with downloading Boston Congress apps and other technology for use at the Congress.

Time

Boston normally is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  During the Congress, Boston will be on Eastern Daylight Savings Time, 4 hours behind GMT.

Tipping

In Boston, tips and gratuities are typically not included in a bill. In general a gratuity of 15%-20% (on the pre-tax total bill) is considered to be a suitable gratuity. This applies to waiters, waitresses, bartenders and taxi drivers.  At hotels, doormen and porters are generally offered $1-$2 per item of luggage.

Transportation (Congress and Social Programs)

Transportation to and from the Congress hotels to the Hynes Convention Center will not be provided. Most of the hotels are within 4-10 minutes walking distance of the Congress.

Transportation will be provided to the Evening at the Museum of Fine Arts (Monday evening) and the Gala Dinner at the Science Museum (Thursday evening).

For the Cultural evening at the Boston Pops, there will be limited transportation as Symphony Hall is a pleasant 5-10 minute walk from the Hynes Convention Center and most hotels. While we encourage Participants and Accompanying Persons to walk to Symphony Hall, we are mindful that certain attire does not lend itself to walking and we will provide some transportation services. In the event of inclement weather, full transportation will be provided.

Pick-up and drop-off for all Congress transportation will be at the Boylston Street entrance of the Hynes Convention Center.

Transportation (Public)

Public transportation is readily available and convenient in Boston through the MBTA (the “T”). A map of the T is included in your Congress Kits and more information can be found at www.mbta.com.

Travel Insurance

It is recommended that Participants and Accompanying Persons purchase adequate coverage for health, travel and private liability insurance before departing their home countries. The Congress organizers cannot take responsibility for personal injury, loss or damage to private, personal property of Participants and Accompanying Persons.

Venue and Dates

The 66th Congress of the International Fiscal Association will be held from Sunday, September 30, 2012 to Thursday, October 4, 2012 at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02115.