EASL 2005 – USEFUL INFORMATION

Dear Participant,

Please find below information to facilitate your arrival and stay at the 40th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, in Paris, France, April 13-17, 2005.

VENUE
Le Palais des Congrès de Paris
2 Place de la Porte Maillot
Paris 75017, France
Tel: +33 1 4068 2550
Fax: +33 1 4068 2740
Website: www.palaisdescongres-paris.com

PARKING
Car parking is available on the basement level of the Convention center at participants' own expense. (Euro 2.60 per hour / Euro 25 per day.) Additional car parking is also available at the Le Meridien Etoile Hotel opposite the Palais des Congrès.

TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY
Paris has a very efficient transportation system that services the entire city, which includes the Metro network as well as buses, trains and taxis.
Registered participants and registered accompanying persons will receive a public transportation pass for unlimited free travel in zones 1 – 3 within Paris and the inner suburbs, (covering La Defense), on metros, buses, RER trains and SNCF Ile-de France trains.
The pass will be valid from Wednesday, April 13 until Sunday, April 17, 2005 inclusive.

The transportation pass will NOT be automatically included in the delegate registration envelope – Participants wishing to receive the public transportation pass are required to request the pass at the pre-paid registration desk at the Palais des Congrès from 08:00 on April 13, 2005.

HOTEL / PALAIS DES CONGRÈS SHUTTLE SERVICE
A shuttle service from only the Sofitel La Defense, Novotel La Defense & Ibis La Defense hotels will be provided to/from the Palais des Congrès :
Please refer to the meeting website ( http://www.easl.ch/easl2005/gen.asp#shuttle ) for the daily schedule.

POSTGRADUATE COURSE
The Postgraduate Course on Wednesday, April 13 at 14:00 will be held in 3 – 4 parallel halls:
Amphitheatre Bleu (2 nd floor),
Hall Havane (3 rd floor)
Hall Bordeaux (3 rd floor)
Hall 252AB (2 nd floor) (only if necessary)
There will be interactive transmissions to and from all the halls.
On Thursday, April 14, the Postgraduate Course will be held in the Grand Amphitheatre.

EARLY MORNING WORKSHOPS
From 07:30 – 08:30 on Thursday, April 14 and Friday, April 15.
Pre-registration is needed. Fee is Euro 20 per workshop.
You may register for Early Morning Workshops on-site dependent upon availability.

INDUSTRY SYMPOSIA
Please visit this website ( http://www.easl.ch/easl2005/symp.asp ) for a list of the industry sponsored symposia.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Posters should be set up starting on Thursday, April 14 at 14:00 hours and removed by Saturday, April 16 at 18:00 hours.

REGISTRATION DESK
The Registration Desk is located in Hall Maillot on the 2nd Floor of the Palais des Congrès . Participants are requested to follow the EASL signposting.

The Registration Desk will be open as follows:

HOSPITALITY DESK
The Hospitality Desk is situated adjacent to the on-site Registration Desk and will be open for tourist services and sale of tours during the meeting.

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, during meeting hours and are located in Hall Maillot (Exhibition Area).

SPEAKERS' LOUNGE
A speakers' lounge for invited speakers and oral presenters is situated in Hall 243. The speakers’ lounge is available every day during the meeting hours.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
If using a Power Point (or any other computer) presentation, please note you need to bring it on a floppy disk (3.5 "/1.44 MB) or on a CD (no ZIP disk!!) and load it on the meeting’s computer in the speakers’ lounge, at least 1 hour before the start of the session (during breaks).
IN ADDITION to the floppy disk and/or CD, you may also bring your presentation on a “disk on key”, using the USB port in the computer.

CLIMATE
Days are moderately cool and rainfall is a possibility.

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, Exhibition Area and other scheduled activities.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
Certificates of attendance will be available for all participants at the registration desk from Friday, April 15 from 10:00 onwards.

OFFICIAL OPENING & 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CEREMONY
The Official Opening & 40th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony will take place in the Grand Amphitheatre on Thursday, April 14 at 13:30 hours and will immediately be followed by General Session 1.

ORGAN CONCERT - NOTRE DAME DE PARIS CATHEDRAL
The Organ Concert will take place on Saturday April 16, 2005 at 20:30 at the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
Delegates will receive a voucher in their personal envelope. The voucher must be exchanged for the official concert ticket at the registration desk from Thursday, April 14 after 15:30 hours.
Tickets will be issued on a “first-come first-served” basis as seating in the cathedral is limited .
There will be no return shuttle after the Organ Concert

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
To ensure good order, please remember to bring 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