Travel Information

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Symposium Hotel

The Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) is the host hotel for the 2013 PET symposium. It is also the site of symposium registration, sessions and most of the symposium social events. For convenience, we encourage all participants to make reservations at the IMU.

Indiana Memorial Union
900 East 7th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405

Reservations:

When making reservations, always refer to the Group Code. Unless you identify yourself as a symposium participant, you will be charged the normal hotel room rate, not the discounted symposium rate. We encourage you to make your reservation early. The symposium block of hotel rooms will be released to the general public on June 17, 2013. After this deadline, reservations will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Rates: PET participants will be entitled to a discounted hotel room rate of (all prices USD):

Internet Access: Free Hardwire and wireless internet access is available throughout the IMU. When checking in to the IMU, ask the registration staff person to provide you with a guest user name and password.

Parking: Free parking is available in two lots adjacent to the IMU, if you have a hotel reservation at the IMU. If you are staying off campus, parking is available in the IMU parking lots, but you will be charged to park there. Discounted parking passes will be available at the registration check-in desk. At discounted rates, parking is typically about $10/day.


Dormitory Option

Wilkie Residence Center:

For those seeking economical single room lodging, a block of air-conditioned rooms is available for symposium participants at the Wilkie Residence Center. Wilkie Center is located on the east side of campus and is a pleasant 15-20 walk to the IMU (see campus map).

Willkie Center features "suite-style" housing. All rooms are singles. Two single rooms share an adjoining bath. Rooms are air-conditioned, have wall-to-wall carpeting, a bed, dresser and desk with overhead and desk lighting. Linens including 2 sheets, lightweight coverlet, pillow, pillow case and small towel are provided. We recommend that you bring your own bath towel. It is your responsibility to provide your own toiletries. You may select your suite mate (room adjoining bathroom) or we will assign you a same gender suite mate (see housing reservations section, available on the symposium registration form). ADA accommodations are available. Any special needs/accommodations must be indicated on your housing form.

Cost: Rates are $49.90 plus 12% tax per night ($55.88) and are to be paid with your reservation through the symposium registration site.

Reservations: To reserve a single, air-conditioned room at Willkie Center, refer to the "Registration" section of this web site.

Reservation Deadline: July 4, 2013 (on-site reservations are not available).

Cancellation of Reservations: You may cancel reservations at Willkie center anytime up to June 27, 2013 by emailing your request to the Symposium Registrar at iuconfs@indiana.edu. A cancellation charge of one night's lodging will be assessed for any cancellation after June 27, 2013.


Airport

For those intending to fly to Bloomington, Indiana we recommend terminating your flight at the Indianapolis International Airport, www.indianapolisairport.com, which is about a one-hour and fifteen minute drive north of the Indiana University-Bloomington campus. Please note that Bloomington, Indiana is not served by a commercial airline.

Transportation from Airport

Transportation from Indianapolis Airport to campus and return

Shuttle: Go Express Travel (formerly Bloomington Shuttle)

Shuttle: Star of America

Limousine: Carey Indiana Services

Car Rental: Most major car rental companies

Bus Service: not available

Train Service: not available


Driving Instructions

If you are using MapQuest or a GPS, the IMU is located at 900 E. 7th Street Bloomington, IN 47405.

From the South:
The best route is from Louisville, Kentucky. Take I-65, the four-lane interstate, north from Louisville to Columbus, Indiana. (Approximately one hour drive.)

From Columbus, take Indiana Highway 46 west to Bloomington. (State highway is two lane and winds through the hills.) Travel east approximately one hour to Bloomington. Upon entering the commercial and residential district, Highway 46 becomes East Third Street . Continue heading west on Third Street through the stop lights at K-Mart/ College Mall Road (Red Lobster), Eastland Plaza, High Street, Jordan Avenue. (Third Street becomes one-way street heading west between the High Street and Jordan Avenue stop lights.) Turn right (north) at Indiana Avenue. Indiana Avenue is a one-way street going north. Go three blocks to the second stop (3-way stop), which is intersection of Seventh and Indiana. Turn right (east) on Seventh. Turn right at the second stop sign, into the Indiana Memorial Union circle drive/parking lot.

From the West:
From St. Louis and points west, take Interstate 70 east to Terre Haute.

From Terre Haute, take Indiana Highway 46 east to Bloomington. (State highway is two lane and winds through the hills.) Travel west approximately one hour to Bloomington. Once you have entered Bloomington, continue to College Avenue. College is one-way going south. Turn right on College and continue to 7th Street. Turn left (east) on 7th Street. Continue through the four-way and three-way stops (approximately eight blocks) to the Indiana Memorial Union.

From Evansville, IN, take Highway 41 north to Terre Haute. See directions above.

From Champaign-Urbana, IL, take Interstate 74 to Indianapolis . Take 465 Bypass southwest to Highway 37. See directions below.

From the North:
From Chicago, take Interstate 65 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass southwest to Highway 37.

From Detroit / Lansing areas, take Highway 69 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass southeast to Highway 37.

From Indianapolis, take Indiana Highway 37 (four-lane state highway with many series of stop lights) south. Travel south for approximately one hour to the first Bloomington exit (College Avenue/Business 37 exit). Continue south on College Avenue as it becomes one-way. Turn left (east) on 7th Street. Continue through the four-way and three-way stops (approximately eight blocks) to the Indiana Memorial Union. Turn left (east) on 7th Street.

From the East:
From Columbus, OH, take Interstate 70 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass south to Highway 37.

From Cincinnati, OH, take Interstate 74 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass south to Highway 37.

Follow directions listed above from Indianapolis.


Parking on Campus

If you are a guest of the Indiana Memorial Union Hotel, you will enjoy complimentary parking in either of the two IMU lots. One adjoins the building to the east; the other is immediately across the street.

If you are commuting you may also use the IMU lots, and you will receive a discounted parking voucher. Please pick up your voucher at the registration desk on opening day. The discounted rate will be $10.00 for a full day.


Travel Wiki

We have created a wiki page to help attendees coordinate travel plans. To obtain a link to it, please contact the General Chair.


Procedure to Request an Official Letter for Visa Application for Symposium Delegates and Exhibitors

International attendees may need a letter of "invitation" in order to obtain a visa to visit the United States. We strongly advise to start the visa application process as early as possible. Kindly note: the event organizer will not be able to contact or intervene with Embassy or Consulate offices on your behalf.

All symposium attendees and exhibitors must be registered and must have paid the required registration fees* before requesting an official letter for visa application purposes.

To ensure a successful request for a letter for visa application purposes, please be sure to send the following details to iuconfs@indiana.edu:

Please note that in the absence of the above mentioned information, or if you are not a symposium attendee or exhibitor, we will not be able to process your request.

As part of security procedures, many applications for visas are sent to the U.S. State Department for a security review. We advise attendees traveling to the United States to apply for a visa as early as possible (at least three months before the visa is needed.) Because of the number of visas being processed and the need to be thorough with the reviews, this can take as long as 8 weeks, especially for those countries that are on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List.

It is the traveler's responsibility to check and confirm current visa requirements to enter the United States. The Symposium Organizers cannot be held responsible for travellers that do not confirm their visa requirements or obtain the appropriate paperwork for travel to the symposium.

* Symposium registration fees are refundable (less the designated administrative fee) if the visa application is denied. The refund request must be received in writing 14 days before the symposium start date. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after that date.

Disclaimer: This procedure is intended to assist participants who need to obtain a visa to attend the symposium and is not an official invitation covering fees and/or any other expenses or financial support for attendance. The organizers can assume no responsibility for the outcome of your visa application.

Send requests to iuconfs@indiana.edu.