PRAGUE EL CONFERENCE: FORMAL REGISTRATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000791

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: FORMAL REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS

REF: PRAGUE 00666

PRAGUE 00000791 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Embassy Prague will host an Entry Level (EL)
Conference September 6-8, 2006 (reftel). The Conference will
focus on transformational diplomacy tradecraft and career
development. The purpose of this cable is to provide
instructions for formal registration and basic logistical
information. Please note, the formal registration deadline
has been extended to July 26, 2006.


2. (U) Number of participants: Embassy Prague is grateful for
the overwhelming interest in the Conference, and has
therefore increased the number of participants from 30 to 50
to try to accommodate as many entry level participants as
possible. However, due to limited space at the conference
venue and hotel, we request each post to limit its delegation
to no more than two participants. Posts that have nominated
more than two participants are asked to specify which
participants should be placed on a waiting list.


3. (U) Schedule: the Welcome Dinner at the residence of
Ambassador Cabaniss will begin at 1900 on September 6.
Participants are asked to arrive in Prague mid-afternoon on
that date (preferably no later than 1600),so that they have
time to check-in to the hotel, register for the Conference,
and catch the Dinner shuttle bus departing from the hotel at

1830. The Conference will begin promptly at 0900 on September
7, and last until 1630 on September 8. The Embassy is
planning optional social events for the evenings of September
7-8 and the weekend of September 9-10.


4. (U) Formal Conference Registration: Embassy Prague
requests posts to formally register their participants no
later than Wednesday, July 26 by transmitting a cable
providing the information listed below for each participant.

-- Name
-- Title
-- Date of Birth
-- Passport number
-- Security Clearance Level
-- Arrival and departure dates to and from Prague
-- Telephone, fax, and unclassified email address
-- Whether the person will be accompanied by anyone (if so,
please provide the name and passport number of each
accompanying person)
-- Any special needs or requests


5. (U) Please title the cable "Prague EL Conference
Registration," use AMGT and PREL tags, and put Sarah Peck in
the Pass line. (Posts that have previously transmitted a
cable are asked to resend with all the requested information,
including the new information, included).


6. (U) Registration and Cancellation deadlines: posts must
formally register their participants on or before July 26.
Pre-registered participants will have priority for the 50
available slots (subject to the "two participant" limitation
mentioned above in paragraph 2). After July 26, people on the
waiting list will be offered an opportunity to fill vacant
slots. If the need to cancel the registration should arise,
posts are asked to cancel as soon as possible -- and in any
case before August 6 -- to avoid hotel penalties and to
ensure that others who wish to attend the Conference can do
so.


7. (U) Hotel Reservations: Embassy Prague has reserved a
block of rooms at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel, where
the conference will take place. We have negotiated a daily
rate of $217 US dollars (the per diem rate for the Czech
Republic). This rate is valid for single or double occupancy,
and includes breakfast. All rooms have an Internet
connection. Participants are advised to make their
reservations immediately, but certainly before the Conference
registration deadline of July 26. When making a reservation,
please ask for the U.S. Embassy Conference rate and provide
the code, which is "ELC".

Contact details for the hotel:

Intercontinental Hotel Praha
Namesti Curieovich
110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Front Desk: (420) 296-631-111
Fax: (420) 224-811-216
Email: Prague@intercontinental.com

PRAGUE 00000791 002.2 OF 002


Website: www.intercontinental.com/Prague

Conference contact:

Mr. Ondrej Novotny
Tel: (420) 296-630-924
Email: ondrej.novotny@ichotelsgroup.com


8. (U) Travel Reservations: participants are reminded that
September is peak tourist season in Prague. Therefore,
participants are advised to make their travel arrangements to
Prague as soon as possible to ensure a seat and competitive
fares. The Prague-Ruzyne airport is 30-45 minutes from the
hotel by taxi (AAA Taxi is recommended, and located right
outside the terminal.) The estimated cost from the airport is
600-700 Czech Crowns. The main train station is conveniently
located within minutes of the hotel.


9. (U) Conference fees: the hotel will charge a $207 fee per
participant. This hotel fee, which the hotel will add to the
bill of each participant, includes the cost of the conference
facilities for two days, DVC services, refreshments provided
throughout the day, two catered lunches, and shuttle bus
service from the hotel to the Ambassador's residence for the
Welcome Dinner. In addition, Embassy Prague will charge
participants a separate Embassy fee of $30, payable in cash
upon registration. This fee covers the cost of the Welcome
Dinner and incidential expenses. The combined Conference fees
total $237; however, because the fees include the cost of one
dinner and two lunches, posts can reduce the M&IE
disbursement to participants by $93, reducing the total cost
of the Conference fees to $144.


10. (U) Family members: Embassy Prague warmly welcomes the
family members, friends and or child care providers
("guests") of participants. Guests are welcome to attend the
optional social events planned for the evenings of September
7-8 (a barbecue at the Embassy and a dinner cruise),and the
weekend of September 9-10. The Embassy will provide
participants and their guests welcome kits with tourist
information about Prague, but does not plan to organize
social events for guests during the day. Participants are
advised that due to space limitations, guests may not attend
the Conference sessions or the Welcome Dinner on September 6.
The Embassy asks participants who plan to bring children to
make their own arrangements for child care providers. The
Embassy will provide the contact information for a nanny
service upon request. The hotel may also have referrals to
reputable services.


11. (U) Attire: participants should wear business attire at
the Welcome Dinner and during the Conference sessions. Casual
attire is appropriate for all optional social events and for
touring the city. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
because the streets and sidewalks are paved with
cobblestones.


12. (U) Currency Exchange: Embassy Prague will not provide
currency exchange services. However, money can be exchanged
at the airport, in the hotel, and at accredited exchange
places conveniently located near the hotel. Most banks have
24-hour ATMs, which dispense Czech Crowns.


13. (U) Questions? For hotel related questions, please
contact the Intercontinental Hotel directly. The point of
contact is Mr. Ondrej Novotny, (420) 296-630-924,
ondrej.novotny@ichotelsgroup.com. For questions relating to
the Conference, please contact Political Officer Sarah Peck,
(410) 257-002-312, pecksc@state.gov.
CABANISS