Plan Your Stay
IAIA20 and COVID-19
20 March 2020
A message from IAIA Executive Director, David Bancroft
The IAIA20 conference has been rescheduled to May 2021 in Seville. Exact dates will be announced shortly.
The IAIA Board made this difficult decision to ensure the health and safety of our delegates, IAIA staff, everyone who would be involved in delivering IAIA20, and the people of Seville.
We have been monitoring the worldwide and regional conditions with COVID-19 in the context of our annual global conference. The conditions in Spain may improve later in the year, but COVID-19 is a pandemic and as such is a worldwide event. It has elevated levels of uncertainty in many areas that affect both the conference and the safety of our members: There are likely to be further waves of the virus across different regions. It is not possible to predict what travel restrictions will be in place over the coming months. We are also very aware that our delegates will be affected by the financial challenges that face the world economy. For these reasons the Board decided against holding IAIA20 in May and against postponing it to later in 2020, and instead decided to transfer it to 2021.
The location, program, and theme will carry over and remain the same – if you submitted a presentation, it can be forwarded to the 2021 program if you are still able to attend. If you registered for IAIA20, your registration can be carried forward to IAIA21, applied to a different IAIA event or membership renewal, or refunded in full. Please contactinfo@iaia.org for options.
Our local team at the AEEIA in Spain and our various IAIA20 Committees have put in countless hours to develop a fantastic event for you, from engaging and dynamic program content to inspiring and educational technical visits. They have poured their hearts into this event for you, and the Board of Directors and I want to express our sincere appreciation for their time and devotion. We are thankful for their ongoing commitment and flexibility surrounding this conference, and we look forward to working with them for another year.
The original site for IAIA21, Vancouver, will be hosting IAIA22 instead. We are grateful to the local team in Vancouver for being willing to reschedule, and we are excited to host the 2022 conference in such a dynamic city. Please stay tuned for exact dates and details; the websites will be updated as soon as possible.
IAIA is dedicated to continuing to offer you professional development opportunities during 2020. We are developing an online virtual event to provide both technical content and opportunities for expanded networking. What better way to spend your time social distancing than interacting with IAIA colleagues from around the world from the comfort of your own home. Stay tuned for more information.
I thank you for being part of the IAIA community and for your ongoing dedication to our mission and to the success of each year’s meeting. The strength of our community gives us confidence for the future. We remain indebted to you for coming to the IAIA conferences each year and for the many other volunteer activities that our members do.
Helpful links related to COVID-19:
HOST CITY
Seville is Spain’s third urban tourist destination. Visitors from the world over choose the city every year, attracted by the fame of its excellent weather, its delicious gastronomy, the hospitality of the people, and the chance to delight in one of the most beautiful, surprising cities in the world. Located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Seville has undergone great changes in recent years, the result of the endeavours of a dynamic, modern society, where the quality of the services and the incorporation of technological innovation show it to be the leading tourist product in the south of Europe.
CONFERENCE HOTELS
Accommodation is in high demand for May 2020 in Seville; availability, particularly near the venue, will be limited. Delegates are advised to book their hotel stay as soon as possible. The Fibes conference venue is located outside of the city center. With limited hotels located walking distance from the venue, IAIA has arranged blocks of rooms at selected hotels near the venue.
The first block deadline is 21 January 2020. After that date, hotels will release a portion of the blocked rooms. Delegates are responsible for booking their own hotel stays. If you need assistance, please contact the hotel block management company, Kenes (iaia2020@kenes.com).
CLICK HERE FOR FULL HOTEL DETAILS AND BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS
CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERACTIVE GOOGLE MAP OF SUGGESTED HOTELS
CLIMATE
Seville has a Mediterranean climate, featuring very hot, dry summers and mild, partially wet winters. In May, the average temperature is 26°C (79°F) during the day and 13°C (55°F) at night, with 3 rain days.
LANGUAGE USED (SEVILLE)
Spanish is the primary language in Seville and the Andalusian region.
In the hotels and shops, English is usually the second language spoken.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
All foreign visitors to Spain must have a valid passport. To find out if you will need a visitor visa, you will need to check the entry requirements with your local Spanish embassy or consulate. You can also visit the Ministry of the Interior for more information on the requirements for entry into Spain. All travelers are advised to bring invitation letters, copies of all receipts (event registration, accommodation, flights, etc.), and proof of sufficient funds to support your travel.
If you are required to obtain a visa, be sure to submit your application early, as the process can take weeks to months in some cases. If you need an invitation letter, please contact info@iaia.org no later than 5 May 2020. Requests received after this date will not be accommodated. Registration and payment must be received by IAIAHQ before an invitation letter will be provided.
Please note that IAIA has no influence in visa application procedures or the approval/denial of individual applications by embassies. All countries have different requirements; it is the sole responsibility of each delegate to inquire on the proper procedure from their country’s embassy in an effort to procure their visitor visa.
TRANSPORTATION TO SEVILLE
By Air: Situated only 10 km from the city centre, Seville’s San Pablo International Airport was designed to cater for eight million passengers a year. There are regular flights to many Spanish provincial capitals and over 30 international destinations.
By Train: Santa Justa Station AVE High-Speed Train Services are centred at the Santa Justa Station, the terminal for the AVE High-Speed train and the Talgo 200 services.
By Road: Seville has a toll-free motorway to Madrid, the A4, and to the rest of the provincial capitals of Andalusia through the new high-capacity A49 and A92 highways.
TRANSPORTATION WITHIN SEVILLE
There are several possibilities to reach FIBES by public transportation.
City Bus: 3 lines from TUSSAM, the public transport company from Seville, reach to FIBES:
B4 from San Bernardo (where many hotels are located) takes 30 minutes from San Bernardo to FIBES.
27 goes from Plaza del Duque in the heart of city center to FIBES.
LE is the express bus that takes only 25 minutes from San Bernardo (city center) to FIBES.
Fare: Single ticket €1.40.
Suburban train: The Metro Centro Tram C4 runs between San Bernardo, Santa Justa – Main train station of Seville and FIBES Congress Center every half hour from 6:19 in the morning until 22:03 and takes 12-14 minutes to FIBES. Fare: €1.20.
Public/ rented bicycle: In Seville there is the possibility of picking up a bike and dropping it off in a different point of the city. This service is called Sevici. A €150 deposit is required for short-term subscriptions, but registration and rental fees are very affordable, ranging from free to €15. See http://en.sevici.es/ for more details.
See http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/gettingaround/bus_tram.htm for more information.
BUSINESS HOURS
Most businesses are open Monday - Saturday 10:00-20:00, but these times can vary. Most local shops will be closed on Sunday.
SMOKING
In Spain smoking is forbidden in enclosed public spaces, which includes restaurants, bars, shops, and public transport.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS
In Spain, as in most of Europe, the official currency is the Euro (€). Money can be exchanged in banks, at post offices, or in currency exchange booths (bureaux de change); post offices and banks tend to offer the best rates.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all widely accepted in Seville for most things including shopping, restaurants, and hotel bills.
TIPPING
Tipping is never a service charge and in Spain it is not a custom or legal requirement, but you can tip to show gratitude for good service, especially in restaurants or bars (where you should tip in cash rather than on your credit card to ensure that the server, not the owner, receives the money). Tipping taxi drivers is at the discretion of the customer but is appreciated if they help you with information about the city or if he/she is very kindly with you.
ELECTRICITY
The electrical current in Spain is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); continental-type plugs that have two round prongs are needed. With 110-volt devices a voltage converter is needed, unless the appliance is designed to also work with 220 volts electricity (dual voltage). A voltage converter may not be easy to find, so it is recommended to get one before coming to Spain.
TAXES
In Spain, the current VAT rate applied to restaurant, hotel, and transport services is 10%. The general VAT rate of 21% is applied to venue hire, audiovisual equipment, performances, catering, hospitality staff and stand construction. The reduced VAT rate of 4% is applied to basic foods, books and pharmaceutical products.
If you live outside the European Union, you can claim back 21% VAT, the tax you pay when you make your purchases.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Seville has 5 tourist offices:
Oficina Sevilla Centro | laredo.turismo@sevilla.org
Punto Información Tuurística de Sevilla-Macarena | macarena.turismo@sevilla.org
Seville Airport | otasevilla@andalucia.org
Santa Justa Station | othusta@andalucia.org
Constitucion | otsevilla@andalucia.org
Helpful web sites:
www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
www.spain.info/en_GB/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/grandes-ciudades/sevilla.html