Dear Participant

Please find below information to facilitate your arrival and stay at the 38th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, in Geneva, Switzerland, July 3-6, 2003.

PALEXPO - MEETING VENUE
The EASL Meeting venue is the Palexpo Exhibition and Conference Center
PO Box 112, CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 761 1111; Fax: +41 22 798 0100

Palexpo is located 500 meters from the Geneva International Airport.

FROM THE AIRPORT TO PALEXPO
1. For those who wish to walk:
It is approximately a 10 - 15 minute walk from the airport to Palexpo (follow the signs)

2. For those who wish to take the bus:
Bus 18: Airport to Gd-Saconnex Place (8 minutes) and Bus 5: From Gd-Saconnex Place to Palexpo (3 minutes)

Entry to the building for the EASL 2003 Meeting is through doors 3-5 (Registration Area). All session halls, posters, exhibitions and refreshment facilities are located in one complex.

FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY
Geneva International Airport is served by railway and with a regular bus service from the airport to the city.

PARKING AT PALEXPO
Parking is available at the Palexpo Conference Center. The parking rate is CHF 12.00 per day. Alternatively you may use the parking meters, for which the fee is CHF 1.20 per hour.

LOCAL TRANSPORT
Participants can use Geneva Public Transport, free of charge, between July 3-6, 2002 when wearing their EASL Meeting Badge.

Palexpo is served by bus number 5 which runs regularly throughout the day and stops directly outside the following hotels:
Intercontinental - Cornavin - Suisse - Bernina - Warwick - Cristal - Strasbourg - Royal Manotel - Auteuil Manotel - Edelweiss Manotel - Ascot Manotel

The Hotel Epsom is at about 7-10 min. walk to Cornavin Station where participants can catch bus number 5.

The following hotels have a free shuttle bus to Palexpo:
Movenpick - Ramada

LANGUAGE
The official language of the Meeting is English. Simultaneous translation will not be provided.

CLIMATE
The weather in Geneva in July is warm and pleasant during the day and slightly cooler in the evening. Rain is a possibility.

BANKING & EXCHANGE
The Swiss monetary system is the Swiss Franc.

The "Banque Cantonale de Genéve" has a branch office in Grand-Saconnex which is located within 5 minutes walking distance from Palexpo at the following address:

Route de Ferney 169, CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex
Tel: +4122 809 76 20
Fax: +4122 809 76 30

Opening hours: 08.30-12.15 / 14.00-16.30.
Their office in Palexpo is only manned during major public events.
There is also an UBS branch at the Geneva Airport which is open from 06.30 till 21.00.

REGISTRATION DESK
The Registration Desk will be open as follows:

HOSPITALITY DESK
A Hospitality Desk will be open for the duration of the Meeting, to provide full tourist facility services, including additional hotel accommodation, car rental services, tours etc.

BADGES
Upon registration you will receive your personal envelope containing your badge. All participants, accompanying persons and exhibitors are kindly requested to wear their badges throughout the meeting in order to be admitted to the lecture halls and other scheduled activities.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY & WELCOME RECEPTION
The Official Opening Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 3 at 19:30 in Hall A and will be followed by a Welcome Reception in the Exhibition Hall.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Wednesday, July 2
Coffee will be served next to the session halls (included in Registration Fee).La Brasserie Restaurant will be open for lunches (not included in the Registration Fee).

Thursday, July 3
Coffee will be served in the exhibition area in Hall 2.
Lunch Boxes will be served outside the Mini Symposia meeting halls, prior to the Extra Meeting Activities, (included in Registration Fee).

Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6
Coffee and Buffet Lunch will be served in the Exhibition Area in Hall 2 (included in the Registration Fee).

EXHIBITION
A commercial Exhibition will take place during the Meeting. Please refer to the List of Exhibitors for further information.
The exhibition will be open as follows:

INTERNET SERVICES
Internet Services for checking e-mail messages are available, free of charge, in the exhibition area during session hours.

EARLY MORNING WORKSHOPS
From 07:30 - 08:30 on Friday, 4 July, Saturday, 5 July and Sunday, 6 July.
Pre-registration is needed. You may register for Early Morning Workshops on site dependent upon availability.

INDUSTRY SYMPOSIA
Please visit this website for a list of the industry sponsored symposia.

INVITED SPEAKERS' LOUNGE
The invited speakers' lounge is located in office number 4, Entrance Level. (Please follow the signs).

SPEAKERS' READY ROOM
The Speakers' Ready Room is located next to Halls A, B & C (Please follow the signs). Audiovisual equipment for checking power point presentations and 35mm slide projection is available.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
If using a Power Point (or any other computer) presentation, please note you need to bring it on an "IBM compatible" floppy disk (3.5 "/1.44 MB) or on a CD or on a "disk on key" (using the USB port in the computer).

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Posters should be set up starting on Thursday, July 3 at 14:00 hours and removed by Saturday, July 5 at 18:00 hours.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
To ensure good order, please remember to bring your confirmation of your paid registration to the Registration Desk upon your arrival to the meeting.

Looking forward to welcoming you to the meeting.
The Meeting Secretariat