To all
I am pleased to announce the venue and the meeting arrangements have been finalized.
Brisbane Australia
24-28th September 2012
The location is
Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove Campus
Building E Rooms 305-306
The location is not the city campus as I briefly discussed with people in Geneva but the kelvin grove campus (5 min bus ride from the City on a dedicated bus way)
Getting to Brisbane
Suggest you get an International flight direct into Brisbane. It saves time as the international Airport is smaller and immigration and customs clearance is easier than in Sydney or Melbourne. There are direct flights from Singapore, Korea, Japan, China and the US. There are 2 flights a day from LA (Qantas and Virgin Australia) and 1 from Dallas/FortWorth (Qantas) .
Getting from the Airport to the hotels
Can catch the AirTrain to the city
http://www.airtrain.com.au/products_cbd.php
and hop off at either Central or Roma St stations.
Hotels
Any hotel near King George Square in the City (Where the bus to the campus leaves from)
http://g.co/maps/nsst5 http://g.co/maps/nsst5
Suggested Hotels nearby are (in no particular order or price)
Sebel Hotel
http://www.mirvachotels.com/sebel-king-george-square-brisbane
Holiday Inn Brisbane (Roma St Station)
http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/brisbane/bnerm/hoteldetail/hotel-room -rates
Ibis Hotel
http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-2062-ibis-brisbane/index.shtml
Mercure Hotel
http://mercurebrisbane.com.au/
Rendezvous Hotel
http://www.choicehotels.com.au/en/clarion_collection-hotel-au809?cid=3116975 http://www.choicehotels.com.au/en/clarion_collection-hotel-au809?cid=311697 5&tab=0 &tab=0
Sofitel Brisbane (Central Station)
http://www.sofitelbrisbane.com.au/
Getting to the meeting
The QUT kelvin Grove Campus is on the main Northern Busway and buses leave almost every 5 min from under king George square from platforms 1D or 1E.
It is suggested you purchase a prepaid $30 electronic GoCard for the bus.
http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card
(no need to register)
You can get them from any 7 eleven store in the city there are a number of them around King George Square.
http://7eleven.com.au/stores?s=4000
Exploring
Suggest you take a ride up and down the river on the CityCat (use Go Card)
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/citycat-fe rry-services/index.htm
The terminal is at the end of Elizabeth St (a few blocks from King George Square)
Car Hire
There should be no need to hire a car but if you like you can hire a car and go exploring there are a number of car hire places in the city.
Hertz 55 Charlotte St.
Budget 53 Albert St.
Europcar 576 Queen St.
Things around Brisbane.
Going North (1-1/2hr drive)
Sunshine Coast
http://news.visitsunshinecoast.com.au/
Going South (1hr Drive)
Gold Coast
http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/
Immigration
Make sure you complete the ETA
http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/index.html (if eligible)
or obtain the appropriate visa to enter Australia.
Seeya there.
Simon