Travel/Hotel/Weather Information

Conference Venue

The conference meetings will be held in SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. ASU SkySong is an innovation center designed to help companies grow by providing business services and programs offered or facilitated by Arizona State University.

Hotel Information

The conference will not be held at a hotel, it is held at the venue described above. Two recommended hotels with negotiated rates and features are located near Fashion Square Mall, about 1.5 miles from the conference venue.

 

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Old Town Scottsdale

$119.00 Standard Single/Double Occupancy (+ tax)

$139.00 Poolside Single/Double Occupancy (+ tax)

The online registration for the hotel block will expire on Friday 29 March 2013!

Features

  • complimentary high-speed wireless or wired internet access
  • complimentary deluxe continental breakfast each morning that includes hot items such as eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy
  • complimentary nightly manager’s reception every evening offering beer, wine, and soft drinks with light snacks
  • shuttle service to and from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and within a 3 mile radius of the hotel (daily 7am-10pm)
  • 24 hour business and fitness center
  • access to an outdoor heated pool and spa.

 

Weather

The weather in Phoenix in late April is typically warm (98F, 37C), sunny days, and temperate nights (70F, 21C). Humidity is very low, and no chance of precipitation. If you have sunglasses you should plan to bring them! For up to date weather information, check here.

Transportation between locations

You are encouraged to rent a car to travel between locations. However, if you do not, we will be providing transportation for those who need it. You must let us know in advance if you need transportation between locations.

Between Sky Harbor Airport and the host Hotel, Holiday Inn Express:

The hotel offers a free shuttle to pick you up at the airport. Please call the hotel directly in advance to arrange this: (480) 675-7665

Transportation between the host hotel and SkySong (the Confernece Center), Olive & Ivy (reception), or Old Town Tortilla Factory (Banquet)

Please fill out, copy and paste this form into an email to alaina@alainalevine.com with your transportation requests.
 
Name:­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________
 
Cell Phone (if it works in the US): ______________________________
 
Email:  _____________________________________
 
Hotel: _________________________________________
 
I need transportation (please mark with an X all that you need):
 
Monday 22 April 2013:
From Holiday Inn Express to SkySong: ____
From SkySong to Olive & Ivy (reception): _______
 
Tuesday 23 April 2013:
From Holiday Inn Express to SkySong: _____
From SkySong to Holiday Inn Express: ______
From either SkySong or Holiday Inn Express to Old Town Tortilla Factory: ____
From Old Town Tortilla Factory to Holiday Inn Express: ____
Wednesday 24 April 2013:
From Holiday Inn Express to SkySong: _____
From SkySong to Holiday Inn Express: ______

Parking at SkySong

If you are renting a care and plan to drive to SkySong, parking is free in the uncovered spaces only. Please do not park in a covered space.

Travel to Arizona

The major airport serving the area is Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), which sees over 1,500 flights per day, and serves nearly 40 Million passengers per year. Flights from many international locations arrive directly in Phoenix, resulting in convenient travel plans. Most international flights arrive at Terminal 4, Level 3, east end near Starbucks. For flights from Canada, check with the airline for terminal and gate information as sometimes customs and immigration clearance takes place in Canadian departure area.

International Travel Tips (taken from skyharbor.com)

  • To enter the United States by air, all travelers, including citizens, must have valid passports.
  • Passport and visa requirements of the country you are visiting are available at www.travel.state.gov.
  • Register valuable items you are taking out of the United States with the U.S. Customs Port Director's Office, in the South Air Cargo Complex, 3002 E. Old Tower Road, Suite 400; (602) 914-1400.
  • Read important travel information from Customs & Border Protection.
  • Find out more about Global Entry, an iniative from Customs & Border Protection
  • Get health-related information for travelers, including vaccination requirements by destination country, from the Centers for Disease Control.
  • Buy or sell your foreign currency at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4.
  • Get a prepaid foreign currency card in Euros or British pounds sterling.
  • Information for passengers with duty-free liquids and connecting flights

Tra​vel to/from Sky Harbor Airport

Renting a car is easy in Phoenix, and permits visitors to explore the Phoenix metropolitan area, as well as the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and other natural attractions near Phoenix. The following car rental companies operate at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Listed below are links to rental car agencies’ Web sites (this information taken from SkyHarbor.com):

Advantage 800-777-5500 (602) 252-4935
Alamo 800-462-5266 (602) 244-0897
Avis 800-331-1212 (602) 261-5900
Budget 800-527-7000 (602) 261-5950
Dollar 800-800-4000 (602) 275-0011
Enterprise 800-736-8222 (602) 225-0588
Fox 800-225-4369 (602) 252-4399
Hertz 800-654-3131 (602) 267-8822
National 800-227-7368 (602) 275-4771
Payless 800-729-5377 (602) 681-9589
Sixt 888-749-8227  
Thrifty 800-847-4389 (602) 244-0311

City of Phoenix Rental Car Center Information Desk

Phone: (602) 683-3741
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (MST), Monday - Friday (except holidays).

Things to see in Arizona

Phoenix is just a few short hours from the Grand Canyon National Monument. This site will post links to tours, which conference participants can sign up for. The tours will take place the weekend before the conference begins.

Grand Canyon

Vast, magnificent and inarguably beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark – and a natural wonder that you simply have to see to believe. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, steep, rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River traces a swift course southwest.

Sedona

As well as having a solid reputation as an artists’ enclave, Sedona offers visitors a wealth of trails ranging from leisurely jaunts to long, challenging backpacking treks. New Age spiritualists come to the area for its celebrated vortices and mystical sources of energy. Among the state’s most photographed backdrops is Red Rock Crossing, where immense sandstone cliffs are reflected in the waters of Oak Creek.