The European Society
of Human Genetics

General Information

General Information

 

Airports
Gothenburg Airport (GPT - Landvetter)
Gothenburg City Airport (GSE)

 

Badges
Participants should collect name badges from the conference registration desks. As only registered participants will be permitted to attend the Scientific Sessions, the Exhibition and poster areas, you are kindly asked to wear your badge when entering the congress venue.
Accompanying persons and exhibitors will also receive badges to allow access to the appropriate areas.
Lost badges can be replaced at the registration desk. However, a handling fee of EURO 50.- will be charged.

 

Bank services - Money matters
Banks are usually open Monday through Friday from 10.00 hrs to 15.00 hrs although on some days banks may stay open until 18.00 hrs. All banks are closed on weekends and on public holidays. Banks at airports, ports and main railway stations are generally open longer.
All major credit cards are accepted in Sweden. Cash dispensers are marked “Bankomat” or “Minuten” and are available at the airports and all over the city as well as in the conference venue (Entrance 5 inside and outside).

 

Cancellations and Refunds
Notice of cancellation had to be made in writing by registered letter or fax to the Congress Office.
The policy for refunding registration fees is as follows:
Written cancellation received:
- Before April 15, 2010: 75% refund
- Between April 15 and May 21, 2010: 25% refund
- After May 21, 2010: no refund
The date of the postmark or fax ID is the basis for considering refunds. Refunds will be made after the congress.

 

Car Parking
in the Car Park. Address: Ã…vägen 34, SE-412 51 Gothenburg.
Parking cards can be purchased from machines on levels 2 and 3 in the Car Park. The machines accept VISA, Master Card, American Express, Diners,
petrol cards and 10 SEK coins. Open 7 days a week from 07.00 to 24.00.
Rates:
Car park per hour: SEK 5.00
Car park 7-days card: SEK 300.00

 

Certificate of Attendance
Confirmations of attendance will be issued at the registration desk.

 

Climate
The weather in May is generally nice, evenings may be cooler and of course occasional rain showers have to be expected.

 

Cloakroom and Luggage
A cloakroom and luggage storage is available in the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre.

  

CME credits

The European Society of Human Genetics is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists. The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), www.uems.net
The European Human Genetics Conference is designated for a maximum of 20 hours of European external CME credits. Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.
EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). To convert EACCME credit to AMA PRA category 1 credit, contact the AMA.
EACCME credits: Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. The EACCME credit system is based on 1 ECMEC per hour with a maximum of 3 ECMECs for half a day and 6 ECMECs for a full-day event.
The rules of the EACCME state that participants are kindly asked to fill in the feedback form included in the conference bag. It can be returned to the registration desk.

 

Coffee Breaks and Lunch
During the session breaks refreshments (coffee, tea, and water) will be served free of charge to participants wearing name badges.
Lunch tickets for lunch boxes for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, had to be pre-ordered on the registration form - they cannot be purchased on site. Please note that lunch tickets are not refundable.
Those participants who have not pre-ordered a lunch bag have the following options to choose from.
- Cash Bar, Exhibition/Poster hall - open during Exhibition opening hrs
The Cash Bar serves various types of sandwiches, hot dogs, Hamburgers, snacks and pastries, coffee/tea and other beverages.
- EDEN Restaurant (access via the Exhibiton/Poster hall) - open Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 11.30 - 14.00 hrs
Warm lunch buffet (SEK 225) with the choice of a meat, fish or vegetarian dish, a delicious salad buffet, completed with a desert. The price includes water or alcohol free beer and coffee or tea.

 

Conference venue
The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre
Mässans Gata 20
Gothenburg, Sweden
www.svenskamassan.se

 

Currency
The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish Crown (SEK). 10 SEK = 1,03 EUR = 1,32 USD = 0,89 GBP = 122 JPY = 1,46 CHF as per May 2010

 

Drinking water
The tap water in Sweden is of excellent quality and can be used without concern.

 

Electricity Supply
230V - 50Hz AC using CEE 7/17 Euro 2 pin and CEE 7/4 “Schuko” plug/sockets. Connectors can be obtained from your hotel reception or electronic stores.

 

Emergencies
A paramedic is on duty in the conference center during meeting hours. Please contact the information desk of the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre or the registration desk.
For emergencies outside the conference center: European Emergency Call: 112 from a cell phone (even without inserted pin card).

 

Exhibition opening hours

Sunday, June 13, 2010: 08.30 - 18.00 hrs
Monday, June 14, 2010: 08.30 - 18.00 hrs
Tuesday, June 15, 2010: 08.30 - 13.30 hrs

 

GSM cell phone roaming
GSM cell/mobile phone roaming is available without any problems for all major international providers. It is advisable to inquire beforehand at your provider which roaming company in Sweden offers the cheapest tariffs.

 

Insurance
In registering for the ESHG 2010 participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress office assume any liability whatsoever. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.

 

Internet
An internet café as well as a WIFI access will be available in the exhibition area. You many also find small Internet cafés throughout the city.

 

Language
The official language of the congress will be English (no simultaneous translation). Swedish is the official languages in Sweden.

 

Message Centre
A Message Centre is available in the Registration Area.

 

Pharmacies
Pharmacies (“Apotek”) are generally open during normal shopping hours (see below). Delegates pay the full cost of any prescription drugs.

 

Poster Removal
The organisers cannot assume any liability for loss or damage of posters displayed in the poster area. Posters that were not removed after the end of the meeting on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 14.00 hrs, will be removed by the staff and will not be kept or mailed to the author after the meeting.

  

Preview Room
Equipment for a final check of the sequence of your presentation is available in the preview room. All presenters should bring their electronic presentation to the preview room preferably in the morning of the day of the talk, but not later than 2 hours before the start of the session.

 

Registration Desk opening hours

Saturday, June 12, 2010: 10.00 - 20.00 hrs
Sunday, June 13, 2010: 08.00 - 18.45 hrs
Monday, June 14, 2010: 08.00 - 18.45 hrs
Tuesday, June 15, 2010: 08.00 - 15.30 hrs

 

Safety - Crime
Visitor safety is generally adequate and Gothenburg can be considered a rather safe city. Like in any other major European city, you can walk everywhere using common sense. Pick-pocketing in heavily visited tourist zones or in public transport lines might be a concern.
Unfortunately experience has shown that some basic precautionary measures should always be kept in mind in any city:
- Do not carry important items like flight tickets, passports etc. with you when visiting the conference or strolling through the city, leave them in the hotel safe during your stay. Rather carry a Xerox copy of your passport or an identity card with you.
- Try not to carry all documents, money, credit cards and other essential items and valuables in one bag. If it is lost or stolen, everything will be gone and might be difficult to replace on short notice, especially passports and visa to return to your country of residence.
- Take off your name badge when leaving the conference center.

 

Smoking Policy
The ESHG 2010 is a “No-smoking-Conference”. Please note that smoking is banned from all public buildings. Restaurants and bars are also “no-smoking”
locations.

 

Staff
If you have any questions, the congress staff recognizable by a yellow badge and black polo shirts will be pleased to help you.

 

Travelling from and to the Gothenburg Airport (Landvetter)

Flygbussarna Airport Coaches
The convenient airport buses take you downtown or to the airport in twenty minutes and the cost is SEK 80. Tickets
can be bought from the driver (credit card only).
Access: Outside Check-in area and downtown at “Korsvägen” just a few steps from the conference venue.
Internet: www.flygbussarna.se http://www.flygbussarna.se

Taxi
The taxi service is located just outside the international transit hall. All of the major taxi chains are represented and standing by to help you get into town in a convenient and speedily manner. Enquire about the fare before boarding, taxi companies often have a fixed rate to Gothenburg city from the airport (between SEK 350-400, approx. EUR 36 - 41).

Phone:

Taxi Göteborg:031-650 000
Taxi Kurir:031-27 27 27
VIP taxi:031-27 16 11
Flygtaxi:031-710 30 00

 

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory. You may tip if you find the service and food nice, 5-10%. If you buy a drink at the bar and pay directly, it's generally appreciated if you leave any small coins from the change on the bar. Service charges are often included in the bill at sit-down restaurants and waited tables in bars, so giving extra should be seen as icing on the cake.

 

Travelling to the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre by Public TransportationWith over 80 km of double track the Gothenburg tram is the largest tram/light rail network in Scandinavia. The bus network, however, is almost as important.Scandinavium (closer to Entrance 8 - Main ESHG entrance) is the tram stop of lines: 2, 6, 8 and 13Korsvägen (opposite the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers Hotel) is the stop for lines: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 13.Korsvägen is the bus stop of lines: 42, 50, 52, 513, 605, 761 and 771Walk down SkÃ¥negatan to Entrance number 8.When travelling by tram you have to buy a card valid for trams and buses (not valid on the airport buses). Please note that you are not able to buy a ticket from the driver. Instead you need to buy your ticket from newsagents such as PressbyrÃ¥n or 7-Eleven. Some trams will have ticket machines which accept credit cards. Not all buses and trams have card readers so always remember to bring your receipt.

 

 

Gothenburg Pass
The Gothenburg Pass (“Göteborgs Pass”) offers free transportation on buses, trams and archipelago boat trips, free entry to Gothenburg museums and the Liseberg amusement park, as well as a free boat trip to Elfsborg fortress and free parking in borough spaces.
There are also special offers for shopping, special events, entertainment, restaurants and sights.
The card can be bought at Gothenburg tourist offices, the Central Station, Pressbyrån kiosks, hotels, youth hostels and camping sites. Rates: SEK 245 for 24 hours (SEK 170 for children under 16) SEK 340 for 48 hours (SEK 240 for children under 16)

 

V.A.T.
VAT is split into three levels: 25% for most goods and services including restaurants bills, 12% for foods (incl. bring home from restaurants) and hotel stays (but breakfast at 25%) and 6% for printed matter, cultural services, and transport of private persons.

 

WiFi
WiFi is available free of charge in the exhibition area (8 stations) during opening hours of the exhibition (see page 69) and in the Conference Registration area (2 stations) during opening hours of the Registration desk.

 

Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden (after Stockholm) and the fifth-largest amongst the Nordic countries. Situated on the south-west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 507,330 with 510,491 in the urban area and a total of 917,984 inhabitants in the metropolitan area.
The City of Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. It is situated by the sea at the mouth of Göta Älv””the river running through the city””and is the largest sea port of the Nordic countries.
Gothenburg is also home to many students, as the city includes both the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. Volvo Cars was founded in Gothenburg in 1927.

 

Visa requirements
Please see the separate page.