The Conference will be held in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Activities will take place at the conference hotel, The Omni Hotel at California Plaza and at the host institution The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
The Omni Hotel at California Plaza is the official conference hotel. The Omni is a downtown luxury hotel that sits atop Los Angeles' historic Bunker Hill. It is adjacent to the Museum of Contemporary Art and just a block away from the world renowned Frank Gehry building, Disney Hall home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Los Angeles World Airport (LAX) - This is the major international airport for the region (lawa.org)
Burbank (Bob Hope) Airport (burbankairport.com) is a smaller airport located near downtown Los Angeles.
Taxis are available on the Arrivals level of all terminals. Journey time to/from downtown Los Angeles is 25-50 minutes depending on traffic.
Only licensed LA taxis can pick up from LAX airport. They have a fixed fare of approximately $48.50 (US$) plus gratuities for trips between the airport and downtown Los Angeles. Taxi fare from Burbank airport to downtown Los Angeles is approximately $55 plus gratuities. Travel time ranges from 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic.
Shuttles (shared vans that may make multiple stops)- Several companies provide 24 hour shared van service between LAX airport and surrounding areas. They cost around $20-25 to downtown LA. You do not need advance reservations. They make regular stops at all LAX terminals. Shuttle services also operate from Burbank Airport to downtown Los Angeles and are approximately $25.00.
Car rental: Major car rental firms including Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise are represented at LAX and Burbank.
The electrical power supply (voltage and frequency) is the same throughout the United States. It is 120 volts, 60 hz. This may differ from the power supply system in your home country.
Please check your electrical devices to see if you will need adapters or transformers when in Los Angeles. For detailed information you can refer to the following link. http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/world+electricity+guide.html
Tipping for good service is expected in the United States. If the service is not satisfactory you need not offer a tip. Some general guide lines:
Tips are usually offered to taxi drivers, hotel bellmen who help with baggage, doormen who obtain a taxi for you, the hotel staff who clean the rooms and the concierges.
For taxis the general rule is 10% of the cost of the ride and for others $3 to $5 depending on the service.
In restaurant the diner adds the tip to the cost of the meal. The tip is generally not included in the bill except for groups of eight or more. The standard range is 15% to 20% of the cost of the meal.
Smoking is not allowed in most public places in Los Angeles including restaurants and bars. Both conference venues, FIDM, and the Omni hotel, are smoke free buildings. The Omni charges a $250 penalty for smoking an in any of their rooms.
International travelers may need a visa in addition to a passport to attend the IFFTI 2013 Conference in Los Angeles.
If you are not certain that a visa is required for travel to the US please check the US State Department site travel.state.gov/visa/in the Visas – Consular Affairs section.
To assist with your visa
application the conference committee can
issue a letter of invitation confirming your registration for the
conference. If you need an invitation
letter, please so indicate when
you register. Be sure to supply your
name, address, phone number, passport number and date of birth. We will return an official invitation letter
to you via email. Visa letters will not
be mailed.
Please check the US Department of State visa requirements. The letter from the conference may not be the only documentation required. The IFFTI 2013 Conference cannot assist with obtaining a visa beyond providing the invitation letter. Any questions about the visa process or requirements should be addressed to the US Embassy or Consulate in your country.
