PRAGUE EL CONFERENCE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001052 SIPDIS SIPDIS DCMS, MANAGEMENT OFFICERS, AND CONSULS GENERAL; EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT APER OTRA AFSI EZ SUBJECT: PRAGUE EL CONFERENCE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION REF: A. PRAGUE 666 ¶B. PRAGUE 791 ¶C. PRAGUE 1013 PRAGUE 00001052 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Embassy Prague welcomes participants of the Prague EL Conference, which will take place on September 6-8 (Ref A, B). A country clearance cable has been sent granting entry to all conference participants (Ref C). If you know of someone who is planning to attend the Conference but is not listed on the country clearance cable, please contact Sarah Peck, pecksc@state.gov, immediately. ¶2. (U) A "Conference Guide" and a detailed conference schedule will be sent to all participants by email later this week. As described in these materials, the Welcome Dinner will take place at Ambassador Cabaniss's residence on Wednesday, September 6. The Conference sessions will take place at two locations: the Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday, September 7, and the facilities of Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) on Friday, September 8. Transportation will be provided to and from the Welcome Dinner, and to both conference locations. -------------- CONFERENCE FEE -------------- ¶3. (U) As a reminder to posts, all participants are required to pay a $175 Conference Fee. (We are pleased to announce that we were able to lower the Conference Fee described in Ref B.) The Conference Fee includes the cost of conference facilities, DVC services, refreshments, two catered lunches, the Welcome Dinner, and transportation. Because the fee includes the cost of one dinner and two lunches, posts can reduce the M&IE disbursement to participants if desired. The $175 Conference Fee will be paid in two installments, as described in paras. 4-6 below. -------------- Part 1: $120 fee -------------- ¶4. First, the Intercontinental Hotel will charge all participants a $120 fee. This fee is for the services and facilities provided by the Intercontinental Hotel, e.g., the conference room, a catered working lunch, transportation, refreshments, and DVC services. INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL GUESTS: will simply be charged the $120 fee on their hotel bill. ANGELO/OTHER HOTEL GUESTS: are required to pay the $120 fee prior to commencement of the first conference session on Thursday, September 7. These participants can pay the fee in one of two ways: ¶A. (Recommended) Prepare a short letter for the Intercontinental Hotel prior to your arrival in Prague. Include your name, credit card number and expiry date, phone number, a reference to the U.S. Embassy Conference, and a statement authorizing the Hotel to charge the $120 fee to your credit card. Sign the letter and fax it to Mr. Sovadina at the Intercontinental Hotel. The fax number is: (420) 296 631 123. His direct phone number is (420) 296 630 966 if you have any questions. We advise paying before September 1. ¶B. Pay the fee at the Intercontinental reception the afternoon of September 6, or the morning of September 7 prior to the first conference session. -------------- Part 2: 1200 Czech Crowns fee -------------- ¶5. (U) Second, an Embassy representative will collect 1200 Czech Crowns (approximately $55) in cash from all participants when they register at the Conference Check-In. This 1200 CZK charge is for non-hotel related expenses, e.g., the Welcome Dinner, the catered lunch at RFE/RL on the second day of the conference, and incidental expenses. Therefore, do NOT/NOT pay this to your hotel. Participants can obtain Czech Crowns by exchanging money at the airport or their hotel, or at any number of conveniently located ATM machines throughout the city. ¶6. (U) IMPORTANT NOTE: All participants are expected to PRAGUE 00001052 002.2 OF 002 attend the Welcome Dinner, the two working lunches, and all formal conference sessions. These events are not optional. Therefore, participants must pay the entire Conference Fee before they can attend the Conference. We cannot refund any portion of the Fee. -------------- CONFERENCE CHECK-IN -------------- ¶7. (U) Conference Check-In (separate from hotel check-in) will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel and the Angelo Hotel from 16:00 to 18:00 on Wednesday, September 6. Participants staying at other hotels are strongly advised to go to the Intercontinental (not the Angelo) on September 6 during these hours to Check-In and pay the Conference Fee. Following Check-In, all participants will be provided transportation to the Welcome Dinner. The shuttle buses will depart at 18:30 from both the Intercontinental and Angelo Hotels. (Conference Check-In will continue Thursday morning, September 7, for those who arrive late. However, participants are urged to complete their Check-In on September 6.) -------------- QUESTIONS? -------------- ¶8. (U) Please contact Sarah Peck, pecksc@state.gov. CABANISS