Logistics and Transportation

Travel by Air

Air travel arrangements should be made so that you fly into the Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) airport.

Mount Rainier rises above Tacoma. Courtesy USGS.

The workshop will begin on Wednesday, July 18 with a reception at 4:30 pm and dinner at 5:30 pm at the University of Washington Tacoma, Jane Russell Commons, William W Phillip Hall (campus map). The first workshop session will be at 6:30 pm. Please make your plans so that you will be able to attend the first session (and the reception and dinner if possible). We will conclude by 11:30 am on Saturday, July 21 so please schedule departure flights for 1:30 pm or later. It is essential that you attend the entire workshop. Transportation to and from the airport takes 30-40 minutes.

The grant has funds to pay for your transportation (including plane ticket, ground transportation, and parking), but not baggage fees or meals en route. You can either use our travel agent, CI Travel, or purchase your own ticket.

If you choose to use CI Travel, please contact Michelle Haines to make your travel arrangements. Her email address is , the toll-free office number is 1-877-627-8810 and her direct line is 757-390-2013. Her office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time), Monday-Friday. In order to make your travel arrangements you will need to provide the information given below. If your plans change after the purchase of the ticket and you will not be able to attend the workshop, you will need to reimburse us for the full cost of the ticket.

your full name exactly as it appears on your driver's license (including any initials if on your driver's license)
your date of birth
departure and return city
dates and approximate times of arrival and departure
if you have a specific flight you would like, please send the travel agent the flight times, numbers, and your frequent flier number (if applicable), recognizing that our intention is to use economical flights.

If you choose to book your own flight, you will need to purchase your ticket and email us the receipt by May 18, 2012. Please choose an economical flight even if it is not with your preferred airline. Also, if your total transportation expenses will be more than $600, you will need to clear this with Heather Macdonald prior to purchasing your plane ticket. If you book your own flight, reimbursements will be issued ~five to six weeks after the workshop takes place.

Local ground transportation The workshop organizers will coordinate ground transportation from the Seattle-Tacoma airport via the SuperShuttle or a taxi (~$60). We will arrange for groups of participants who are arriving close to each other in time to share a ride. If you do not want to wait and choose to take your own ground transportation it will be at your own expense. Another option would be to take a Sound Transit Bus (~$4).

Travel by Car

The workshop will take place at the University of Washington Tacoma in Tacoma, WA. The workshop hotel is the Courtyard Mariott Tacoma Downtown, located at 1515 Commerce Street. For directions to the hotel by car, please see the hotel information page.

Lodging

Room reservations for three nights (July 18, 19, and 20) will be made for everyone attending the workshop at the Courtyard Marriott Tacoma in Tacoma, WA. The workshop venue is less than three blocks from the hotel. Each participant will have a shared room with two beds, a phone, Internet access, refrigerator and microwave. Participants who want a single room will need to pay a single supplement of $75 per night.

Communications

The hotel rooms include a telephone and messages can be left at the hotel desk - 253-591-9100. Wireless internet access is also provided by the hotel and will be available in the meeting rooms on campus.

Meals

We will have most meals at the University of Washington Tacoma (either in our meeting room or nearby). In the evenings, meals will be at local restaurants or on campus. Breakfast will be at the hotel. All meals will include vegetarian offerings. Please provide information on the registration form if you require special meals. Our funding does not cover the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

To bring

Please bring a laptop computer and water bottle (we will not be providing bottled water).

What to expect

The workshop will be held at the University of Washington Tacoma. Tacoma is a small city on Puget Sound, about 30 miles south of Seattle. The climate is typical of the Pacific Northwest. Plan to bring clothes you can layer. The meeting rooms may be air conditioned.