General Information
Information regarding e-mail will be posted here when available.
Local Area
Visit the New Orleans Web site (http://www.neworleansonline.com/) for more information about the area.
The average temperature in New Orleans during January varies between 43° F (6°C) and 62° F (17°C). Please remember meeting room temperatures and personal comfort zones vary widely. It is recommended that you bring a sweater or jacket to the sessions.
Membership
Please visit http://www.siam.org/membership/ for information about joining SIAM.
Transportation
By Air
SIAM has selected Uniglobe Wings Travel to assist attendees in making travel arrangements. To book your reservations through Uniglobe Wings Travel, contact Amy Hueber at +1-215-628-3322 or toll free (US and Canada) at 866-71-WINGS. Press two (2) when you hear the recording, and ask to be transferred to Amy. Be sure to mention you are attending the SIAM SODA Conference. Uniglobe Wings Travel will issue your ticket and mail it to you. Please be aware there is a fee for this service.
You also have the choice of using your own travel agent or an Internet service. There are many web sites available to allow you to search for and purchase airline tickets online. Expedia (http://www.expedia.com), Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com), and Travelocity (http://www.travelocity.com) are just a few.
Ground Transportation
Public Transportation from Airport
Taxis are available at the airport for transportation to the hotel. Please visit Astor Crowne Plaza web site, http://www.astorcrowneplaza.com/ and click on “Map and Directions” to find local directions. SIAM also suggests you contact the hotel directly for any shared transportation information.
By Train
Amtrak has a rail station in New Orleans. To make train reservations through Amtrak, call (800) USA-RAIL, go to http://www.amtrak.com or contact Uniglobe Wings Travel. Taxis are available at the train station for transportation to the hotel.
Rental Cars
Many major car rental companies have offices inside the airport terminal. You can make your arrangements when you arrive at the airport or you can make them through Uniglobe Wings Travel or your own travel agent. Uniglobe Wings Travel can make your car rental reservations at the same time you make your flight reservations. See information above regarding how to reach Uniglobe Wings Travel.
Driving Directions
If renting a car, please obtain a map and directions from your rental car company. Another option is to visit Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com), or another similar web site. SIAM highly recommends you contact the hotel directly at +1-504-962-0500 or visit their web site for driving directions.
Visa Information
International attendees at conferences in the US may already be aware that there have been changes to the visa program for scientific visitors, which affect even people from visa waiver countries. The site http://www.nationalacademies.org/visas/, maintained by The National Academies, provides guidance on obtaining the necessary documents.