Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel
739 Canal Street at Bourbon
New Orleans, LA 70130
Telephone: 1-504-962-0500
Reservations: 1-888-487-9644 (US and Canada)
Reservation Fax: 1-504-962-0554
http://www.astorcrowneplaza.com/

Hotel Reservation Deadline: Monday, December 15, 2003

Location

The Astor Crowne Plaza is the gateway hotel to New Orleans's most exciting destination, the world famous French Quarter. Located where Bourbon Street meets Canal Street, the Astor Crowne Plaza allows for quick access to both the excitement of Bourbon Street and the nearby downtown attractions of Harrah's Casino, Aquarium of The Americas, Riverwalk Shopping Center, Morial Convention Center, the New Orleans Sports Arena and the Superdome.

Your support in staying at the Astor Crowne Plaza helps keep the conference costs down, which directly affects you. SIAM guarantees the hotel we will fill a certain number of “room nights” (rooms per night) during the conference. SIAM incurs penalties if too many attendees opt to stay in other hotels in the area or neglect to indicate to the hotel they are with the SIAM conference. At this time, conference costs do not include meeting room rental. If SIAM fails to fill the contracted room block, SIAM is then charged the cost for the meeting rooms on a daily basis, along with a hefty penalty. This will increase future registration fees to cover these additional risks.

Reservations

SIAM is holding a block of rooms at the Astor Crowne Plaza. These rooms are being held on a first-come, first-served basis at the following discounted rates:

Reservation Deadline

Monday, December 15, 2003 (or until the Room Block is filled)
Single/Double $135.00 – 145.00 per night plus 13.0% tax and $3.00 occupancy tax

Student Rate
$100 per night plus 13% tax and $3.00 occupancy tax
Valid Student ID must be presented at time of check-in.
Limited availability. All rooms sold on a first-come, first-servedbasis.

All rooms based on availability.
All rates are subject to state and local occupancy taxes.

All rooms will be held for meeting attendee use until Monday, December 15, 2003. After that date, reservations will depend on availability. Your reservation is not confirmed until acknowledged in writing by the hotel or verified by phone. When making reservations by phone, be sure to identify yourself as an attendee of the SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms. Please be aware the room block fills quickly, so we suggest you make your hotel and travel plans early. After the room block fills, reservations at the SIAM price will depend upon availability. Fax 504-962-0554 or mail the Hotel Reservation Form directly to Astor Crowne Plaza. You may also make your reservation by phone by calling 1-888-487-9644. Remember to get your confirmation number!

When making your reservation, remember that the Welcome Reception is scheduled for Saturday, January 10. This is an excellent networking opportunity!

Deposit
The Astor Crowne Plaza requires a credit card to confirm and guarantee your reservation. They accept Carte Blanche, Japan Credit Bureau, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Euro Card and American Express. The hotel will send out e-mail confirmations upon request.

Cancellations
If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please do so before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on your arrival date or your credit card will be billed for the first night plus tax. You can contact the hotel at 1-888-487-9644. Remember to get a cancellation number!

Check-In and Check-Out
Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM.

Hotel Room-Sharing List
A hotel room-sharing list is available for those who wish to share a room with another attendee at the meeting to reduce expenses. If you are interested in finding a roommate, please fill in and submit the Hotel Room-Sharing List Form. SIAM can only give you the name of other interested attendees; it is up to you to make the arrangements.

Climate
The average temperature in New Orleans during January varies between 63° F (17°C) and 45° F (7°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.

Fax and E-mail Capabilities
SIAM cannot offer e-mail access for individual attendees. We suggest you bring your own laptop computer and use the telephone line in your room. If you do not have a laptop computer, the hotel has a Business Center at which you can access the Internet for a fee.

Tourist Information
Please visit http://www.neworleanscvb.com/ or http://www.neworleansonline.com/ to learn more about New Orleans and the diverse attractions the city offers. The Astor Crowne Plaza’s web site is http://www.astorcrowneplaza.com/

Telephone Messages
To reach an attendee or to leave a message, call 1-504-962-0500. The hotel will either connect you with the SIAM registration desk or forward a message to the attendee’s room.