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DETAILS, DETAILS!!

AIRLINE/RENTAL CAR TRAVEL DISCOUNTS:
Association Travel Concepts (ATC) has been selected as the official travel agency for the 2003 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 30-November 3, 2003. As the official travel agency, ATC has negotiated discounts with Delta, Continental, and Alamo Rental Car to bring you special airfares and car rental rates that are lower than those available to the public. When calling ATC, you will save 10% to 15% off the lowest available fare on Delta and Continental Airline tickets purchased more than 60 days prior to the meeting and discounts of 5% to 10% off the lowest available fares when purchased later than that. ATC will also search for the lowest available fare on ANY airline serving New Orleans, offer zone fares, and consolidator and net fares.

Web-only fares can also be found using the ATC online booking engine, which is accessible by following the links from the Society’s web site at www.asla.org/meetings/AM2003/neworleans.htm.
ATC provides personalized service, advance seat assignments, special meal requests on airline flights, frequent flier program updates, electronic ticketing, e-mail access for convenient booking of your tickets, and MORE….

To take advantage of these great rates and personalized service, contact:
Association Travel Concepts
Web: www.atcmeetings.com
E-Mail: reservations@atcmeetings.com
Phone: 800-458-9383
Fax: 858-362-3153

The above discounts apply for travel from October 28 through November 5, 2003. ATC is available for reservations from 9:00am until 7:30pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Some restrictions and service fees apply.

You may also call your own agency or the vendors directly and refer to the following ID numbers:

GETTING TO AND AROUND THE CITY:
To Downtown From the Airport:

• Airport Shuttle, Inc.: Costs $20.00/round trip and services the major city hotels. Tickets may be purchased in the baggage claim area on the ground floor of the airport.
• Taxi: Readily available at the airport at a fixed rate cost of $28 for two people. For parties of more than two, the fare is $12 per person.

Around the City:
Several options are available including buses, taxis, Canal Street ferry, and streetcars. A VisiTour pass is available from the Regional Transit Authority, which offers visitors an unlimited ride on all streetcar and bus lines at a cost of $5/day or $12/three days (prices subject to change); contact RTA at 504-248-3900. Parking is at a premium in many areas of the city, especially in the French Quarter. It is beneficial to rely on taxis and public transportation to reach points not within walking distance.

ON-SITE TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULE:
Hotel to Convention Center Transportation
Round trip shuttle bus service will link the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, Hotel Monteleone, and Courtyard by Marriott with the Morial Convention Center. This shuttle will depart every 20 minutes during the hours indicated below. Other meeting hotels lie within easy walking distance of the Morial Convention Center.

Shuttle Routes
Two shuttle routes will be in place for service between the hotels and the Morial Convention Center during meeting hours.

• Red Route
  New Orleans Marriott
  Hotel Monteleone (guests will need to cross the street for pick-up from the Marriott)
• Blue Route
  Courtyard by Marriott

Tour Transportation
Tour buses operate independently from the meeting shuttle service and will depart promptly from the Morial Convention Center. Please allow adequate time to arrive at the Morial Convention Center a half hour before your tour begins.

Gala Transportation
ASLA will provide round trip shuttle bus service to Mardi Gras World from all of the meeting hotels: New Orleans Marriott, Hotel Monteleone (guests use the New Orleans Marriott bus), Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites, and Residence Inn by Marriott. The round trip shuttle service will begin boarding at 6:30pm and will run continuously until 10:00pm. The last return bus will leave Mardi Gras World at 10:15pm to return to the meeting hotels.

WHAT TO WEAR:
The suggested meeting dress is business casual. This includes khaki slacks, polo-type shirts, blazers, or sweaters for men. Slacks, skirts, polo-type shirts or blouses, blazers; or sweaters are appropriate for women. Suits, ties, nine-to-five dresses, and heels are not required. Those attending tours should wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.

Dress for the Gala is casual and this year costumes are not only appropriate but also encouraged! For your needs, costumes can be rented from MGM Costume Rentals in New Orleans on 1617 St. Charles Avenue. They feature over 1,000 costumes ranging in price from $45-$1000. Appointments to select costumes can be made only by phone at 504-581-3999 and pickup and return of the costume is only a cab ride or a ride on the Canal Street Streetcar away!

The Fellows Investiture Dinner is black tie optional. For your convenience, tuxedos can be rented from the Gentlemen’s Quarter. For more details on rates and other information you can place your order via telephone at 504-522-7139. The address for Gentlemen’s Quarter is 232 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Delivery and pick up of the tuxedo available for a fee.

The suggested dress for the Closing Dinner is business attire; casual clothing is not appropriate. This includes suits, ties, and sport coats for men. Nine-to-five dresses, suits, or pantsuits are appropriate for women.

SPOUSE/GUEST PROGRAM:
As a special treat for the registered spouses and guests of landscape architects, a formal spouse program is offered. As always, the registration fee includes the Closing Dinner ticket and admittance to the general sessions and the EXPO. This year the fee also includes a Friday tour open only to spouses and guests–-New Orleans’ famed shopping and historic area, Magazine Street. In addition, a hospitality suite will be available in the Marriott Hotel on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by showing the spouse/guest badge. However, this badge does not permit entry into the education sessions; attendees desiring admittance to the education sessions must register at the member or nonmember rate. Make plans now to participate in the spouse/guest program and take advantage of all the program offers and make new friends along the way.

WEATHER:
New Orleans has a subtropical climate with pleasant year-round temperatures ranging from the mid-40s in winter to more than 90 degrees in the summer. Rainfall is common with a monthly average of about five inches of precipitation. In October and November, the temperatures fluctuate from a high of 80 degrees to a low of 50 degrees with a monthly average of three inches of rain. To obtain the most up-to-date weather forecast, please visit www.weather.com before coming to the meeting.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING POLICY:
Recognizing that receptions can create a potential for alcohol abuse, ASLA has issued a statement encouraging responsible drinking. Supporting this policy, all ASLA-sponsored receptions will offer nonalcoholic beers and soft drinks. Alcohol will not be served to anyone under the age of 21, in accordance with U.S. law.

TICKET PURCHASE AND COLLECTION:
Please note that a procedural change has been instituted this year: only registered attendees (full or one day) are permitted to purchase tickets to events requiring a separate fee, i.e., the tours, Gala, etc., and badges will be checked for all complimentary events, i.e., general sessions, education sessions, EXPO, Alumni Reunion, etc.

As always, tickets will be collected for all ticketed events. Anyone not presenting a ticket will be asked to purchase one at the door (pending availability); double payments will be refunded after the meeting. Only those individuals presenting a badge will be permitted to purchase tickets at the door. Be sure to purchase tickets well in advance to avoid disappointments.

CLOSING DINNER VOUCHER/TICKET EXCHANGE:
Purchasers of ASLA member, nonmember, or spouse/guest full meeting registrations will receive a complimentary closing banquet ticket voucher in the on-site registration packet. This voucher must be exchanged for a ticket no later than noon on Saturday, November 1, at the ticket exchange booth, located in the meeting registration area of the Morial Convention Center. All seats are on a first-come, first-served basis so it’s suggested this process be done as early as possible to ensure seating availability. ASLA again encourages attendees to sit by chapter. For groups wishing to sit together, it is recommended that one person collect the groups’ banquet vouchers and exchange them at one time. This process opens with registration on Wednesday, October 29, at 4:00pm.

AUDIO TAPING:
Did you attend a session you’d like to hear again or refer to in the future? Many sessions are taped and available for purchase. Visit the audiocassette sales table, located on the exhibit level of the Morial Convention Center, to make your purchase.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER:
This message center system will allow you to leave personalized electronic messages for fellow attendees. It is located in the registration area of the Morial Convention Center—be sure to stop by and check for your messages throughout the meeting. You will have access during regular registration hours.