Where and when is the actual conference?The fall conference this year will be held in Providence, RI. There will be tutorials on Wednesday, November 20, and the conference itself will start in the morning on Thursday, November 21 and run through Saturday November 23 at noon. The tutorials will be held in the conference hotel, the Westin; the conference sessions will take place in the RI Convention Center which is adjacent to the hotel. What kind of clothes should I pack?Typically, the dress at conferences is fairly casual, but professional. Presenters usually are dressed up a bit, but other attendees might wear slacks or nice jeans to the sessions. The gala event on Friday night is going to have a band, so if you like to dance, you may want to bring along something fun to wear for dancing that night. The weather in Providence is often cold and wet in November, but if you are staying in the conference hotel, the Westin, you need not brave the weather at all once you get to the hotel. The convention center is attached to the hotel by an enclosed walkway, and in the other direction from the hotel, you can get to a large shopping center with literally more than a dozen places to eat (Providence Place) all without going outside. How can I get to Providence?Providence is easily accessible by plane, trains and automobiles (and even buses). The local airport is called TF Green, which is serviced by American, United, SouthWest, Delta, Northwest, and more. See the airline listings on the airport web site for more information. From the airport, you can take a shuttle, taxi, or bus into downtown where the conference is held. The Amtrak station is within walking distance from the hotel, and it is on the regular Northeast schedule. For anyone planning to drive, the RI Convention Center has published directions that will get you to the Convention Center and the Westin. Or you can see the map from the Westin. If you are staying at the Westin, you will get a better rate using the valet service at the hotel than you will parking in the parking lot. If you have the choice, we recommend using the train rather than driving because parking downtown can be expensive. As for taking the bus, Bonanza Bus offers regular service into Providence from Boston and New York City, and while the main bus station is a bit far from the hotel, there is a free shuttle from the station that takes you to downtown. If you are flying into Logan Airport in Boston, you can also take Bonanza Bus from there to get to Providence. See their full schedule on the web. The RI Visitor's Bureau has more complete information available about transportation options. Once I have traveled to Providence, what else can I do in the area?There are a number of different guides to the area including:
Providence is known for its restaurants, so we have also included several dining guides too.
And, if you really must leave Providence, we have a few places that you might want to check out in the area.
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