AGIFORS Annual Symposium 2003
General Information

City Facts | Airports | Ground Transportation | Hotel | Accommodations
Registration Information | Attire | Contact Information

City Facts

Airports

CDG - Charles De Gaulle Airport
ORY - Paris Orly Airport

Ground Transportation

From CDG Airport:

The free shuttle bus connecting Aérogare 1 with Aérogare 2 also transports passengers to the Roissy rail station, from which fast RER trains (Line B) leave every 15 minutes daily between 5am to midnight for such Métro stations as Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Luxembourg, Port Royal, and Denfert-Rochereau. A typical RER fare from Roissy to any point in central Paris is 11 euros in first class or 7.45 euros in second.

You can also take either of two Air France shuttle buses, both of which depart from Roissy for points within central Paris. Line 2 departs at 12-minute intervals every day between 5: 45am and 11pm, charging 9.90 euros each way for the 40-minute transit to the Place de l'Etoile, with a stop en route at Porte Maillot. Line 4 departs at 30-minute intervals every day between 7am and 9: 30pm, charging 11 euros for the 50-minute trip to the Gare Montparnasse, making an intermediate stop at the Gare de Lyon en route. From any of those points within central Paris, Métro lines can carry you on to virtually any other point within the city.

Another option, the Roissybus (tel. 01-48-04-18-24), departs from a point near the corner of the rue Scribe and place de l'Opéra every 15 minutes from 5: 45am to 11pm. The cost for the 50-minute ride is 7.30 euros.

Taxis from Roissy into the city run about 38 euros on the meter. At night (8pm-7am), fares are about 40% higher. Long queues of both taxis and passengers form outside each of the airport's terminals in a surprisingly orderly fashion.

From ORY Airport:

Orly has two terminals: Orly Sud (south) for international flights and Orly Ouest (west) for domestic flights. A free shuttle bus links them together. Air France buses leave from exit E of Orly Ouest and from exit K, Platform 5 of Orly Sud every 12 minutes from 5: 45am to 11pm, for Gare des Invalides in central Paris at a cost of 7.60 euros one-way. Other buses depart for place Denfert-Rochereau in the south of Paris at a cost of 5.60 euros.

An alternative method for reaching central Paris involves taking a monorail (Orly Val) to the RER station of Anthony, then the RER train into downtown Paris. The Orly Val makes stops at the north and south terminals, and continues at 8-minute intervals for the 10-minute ride to the Anthony RER station. At Anthony, you'll board an RER train (Line B) for the 30-minute ride into the city. The cost of the Orly Val monorail plus the RER (Line B) transit into Paris is 8.65 euros, a fare that might seem a bit expensive, but which offsets the horrendous construction costs of a monorail that sails above the congested roadways encircling the airport.

A taxi from Orly to the center of Paris costs about 30 euros, more at night and on weekends. Returning to the airport, buses to Orly leave from the Invalides terminal to either Orly Sud or Orly Ouest every 15 minutes, taking about 30 minutes.

 About the town:

The Métro (tel. 08-36-68-77-14) is the easiest and most efficient way to get around Paris. Most stations display a map of the system at the entrance. Within Paris, you can transfer between the subway and the RER regional trains for no additional cost. To make sure you catch the right train, find your destination, and then visually follow the line it's on to the end of the route and note its name. This is the sign you look for in the stations and the name you'll see on the train. Transfer stations are known as correspondences (note that some require long walks--Châtelet-Les Halles is the most notorious).

The Paris Métro runs daily from 5: 30am to 1am, at which time all underground trains reach their final terminus at the end of each of their respective lines. Be alert that the last train may pass through central Paris as much as an hour before that time.

Conference Hotel

Hotel Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres is located near by the city center, Paris Expo, the heliport, Roland Garros tennis courts, Parc des Princes stadium, and the Auquaboulevard. With easy access to all major airports, the hotel boasts a swimming pool with panoramic view (on 22nd floor). The hotel provides the ideal dinning setting to suit all occasions and satisfy every taste from the highly commended Relais de Sevres gastronomic restaurant, to typically Parisian La Brasserie.

Accommodations

This year’s symposium will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres.  A limited number of rooms have been reserved at Hotel Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres. To make room reservations, please send a completed hotel registration form via fax to Celine Fichel of Hotel Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres. Reservations must be received by 14th August 2003 to obtain the nightly conference rate of 190 euros for single/double occupancy (which includes one breakfast). A major credit card is required to hold your reservation.  A major credit card is required to hold your reservations. Cancellations must be received at least 15 days prior the arrival date to forego charges.

To make your reservation, please contact the hotel directly using the following registration form.

Registration Information

The registration fee includes conference materials, all scheduled meals outlined in the agenda, and a full day excursion to Monet’s house in Giverny and the Chateau of Versailles on Wednesday, September 17th. The early registration fee is 450 euros per delegate and 200 euros per guest/child before August 31, 2003.  Registration fees received after August 31, 2003 will be considered late and will incur a 50 euros late fee, no exceptions (500 euros per delegate and 250 euros per guest/child). You may register for the conference via the AGIFORS website using any major credit card. Major credit cards, traveler’s checks, or company check will be accepted at the on-site registration.  No cash or personal checks will be accepted on-site.

Please complete and submit the on-line Reservation Form.

Attire

Business Events - Business Casual
Welcome Reception - Business Casual
Social Events - Evening Casual

The average temperature in Paris in September: : 52F – 70F (11C – 21C)

Contact Information

If someone needs to contact you during the AGIFORS Symposium, you can be reached at the Hotel.

Hotel Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres
Phone       (33) (0)1 40 60 33 44
Fascimile:  (33) (0) 1 40 60 30 18
8-12, Rue Louis Armand
75015 Paris, France

Conference Organizer

Elizabeth Bradford
Phone:      +1 817 931 5792
Fascimile:  +1 817 931 9170