Housing

The 1998 annual meeting will be held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and the Sheraton Seattle and the Westin Seattle hotels. Members must make reservations by returning a housing form to the AHA Housing Bureau, operated by the Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau. After December 8, members may call the Housing Bureau directly at (800) 535-7071 to make a reservation. The form was printed in the September Perspectives; additional copies are available from the Convention Director, AHA, 400 A Street SE, Washington, DC 20003; (202) 544-2422, ext. 106; fax (202) 544-8307; e-mail: aha@theaha.org. Additional details about the annual meeting are also available at the AHA's web site.

Although the cutoff date for the Association's housing block is December 8, most hotels will continue to accept reservations on a space-available basis at AHA meeting rates. If necessary, additional hotels in the immediate vicinity of the headquarters hotel will be added to the housing block.

Transportation

Association Travel Concepts (ATC), 4901 Morena Blvd., Ste. 120, San Diego, CA 92117, has been designated the official travel agency for the AHA's annual meeting, and United Airlines has been designated as the official carrier to Seattle. Fares are valid for round-trip travel January 5-14, 1998.

The AHA encourages participants to make flight arrangements through ATC at (800) 458-9383 or through e-mail: assntravel@ aol.com. Office hours are 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. EST. When booking through ATC, you will receive 5-10 percent off the ticketed price on United Airlines. You can save $25-$75 off the ticket price on all major carriers, including United, as part of the ATC Travelsavers Club. You will automatically be entered into a drawing to win two round-trip airline tickets if you book your travel through ATC. You can also call United directly at (800) 521-4041 or your local travel agency and refer to United ID #514RS.

Discounted car rental rates have also been negotiated with Alamo Rent-A-Car, with rates effective from January 1-18, 1998. Contact ATC at (800) 458-9383. You can also call Alamo, (800) 732-3232, or your local travel agency and refer to Alamo ID #444415GR.

Ground Transportation

Arriving by Air: The Seattle area is served by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, known as SeaTac, and has direct and nonstop service throughout the United States and the northern hemisphere, including daily nonstop flights to and from Asia and Europe. It is located 16 miles from downtown Seattle. For a terminal layout, see http://www.quickaid.com/airports/sea.

Taxi: Available on the baggage claim level outside doors 14 and 16. Cost is approximately $35 one way. To have one dispatched to the airport, call (206) 431- 5906. Taxis are metered, ride sharing is permitted, and a $1 airport fee is added to the total fare when taking trips from the airport.

Bus: The Gray Line Airport Express (206) 626-6088 has bus service to and from downtown hotels daily from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., leaving three times each hour. Cost is $7 one way, $13 round trip, per person. No reservations are necessary. Purchase tickets at kiosks located outside doors 8 and 24, or from the driver. Airport Express has scheduled stops at all six AHA annual meeting hotels. The Shuttle Express Seattle Van Service, (206) 622-1424, provides door-to-door van service between the airport and downtown hotels, and operates 24 hours a day. Cost is $12 one way, per person. To request a pickup, use one of the several courtesy phones located on the baggage claim level (dial 48). Vans are royal blue with yellow lettering. For additional information, visit their web site at http://shuttleexpress.com (e-mail reservations require 48 hours' advance notification). Both the Airport Express and Shuttle Express pick up passengers on the baggage claim level outside door 26 (near United baggage carousel 16) and outside door 6 (near international baggage carousel 1).

Public Transportation: A Metro Transit city bus, (206) 553-3000, stops at the Metro holding area on the baggage claim level outside door 6 (near International baggage carousel 1). The bus operates 4:30 a.m.--8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Approximate fare to downtown is $1.60. Call for information on routes, schedules, and trip planning.

Parking

Hotels and Convention Center: All hotels except the Four Seasons have a parking garage. Current published rates for each 24-hour period are: Sheraton-$15 self park, $18 valet park; Westin-$15 self, $18 valet; Madison-$14 self, no valet service; Crowne Plaza-$7 self, $12 valet; and Hilton-$13 self, no valet service. Four Seasons Olympic guests can use the garage directly across the street from the hotel at $16 per day self park and $20 per day valet park. The Convention Center (entrance at eighth Avenue between Pike and Seneca), has 900 parking spaces and charges by the hour, or $11 for 8 to 10 hours and $13 for 10 hours or more. Hours of operation: 5:30 a.m.-12 a.m. daily.

Seattle: A number of downtown parking facilities offer lower rates: Washington Athletic Club (1409 Sixth Ave.)—hourly rates or $10 per day, slightly cheaper on weekends, good for all-day parking, though ordinarily cars are not left overnight. Two Union Square Building (Seventh Ave., between Union and University)—hourly rates or $10 per day. Freeway Park (l300 Hubbell east of Freeway under Convention Center)—$3.50 all day, only open on weekends at request of Convention Center. Diamond Parking lots—four locations in downtown Seattle: Eighth and Pike ($7 per day); Ninth between Pike and Pine ($6 per day); Ninth and Pine ($7 per day); and Seventh and Pike ($10 per day).

Directions to the Convention Center

The main entrance to the Center garage is on Eighth Avenue between Seneca and Pike Streets. From Interstate 5 Southbound: Take the Union Street exit (exit 165B); tum right on Sixth Avenue, right on Pike Street, and right again on Eighth Avenue to the garage entrance. From Interstate 5 Northbound: Take the Seneca Street Exit (Exit 165, left lane); turn right on Sixth Avenue, right on Pike Street, and right again on Eighth Avenue to the garage entrance. From Interstate 90 West: Take the 1-5 North exit and then the Madison Street exit; continue past Madison to Seneca Street, turn right on Seneca Street and left on Eighth Avenue to the parking garage entrance.

General Information

Location of Main Events: AHA sessions will be held at the Convention Center and the Sheraton. Registration desks and meal ticket cashiers will be located in the center's fourth floor lobby. The Book Exhibits will occupy the center's Ballroom 6A-C. The Job Register will be located in the center's Ballroom 6E. The Local Arrangements Committee Office and Press Room will be in Center Room 201 and the AHA Headquarters/Staff Office will be in center Room 202.

Registration at the Meeting: The registration desks at the annual meeting will be located in the center's fourth floor lobby, and will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on January 8, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on January 9, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on January 10. Member registration will be $70, nonmembers $90, students and unemployed $40, and precollegiate teachers $10. Admission to all sessions, exhibits, and the Job Register requires a registration badge.

Refund Policy: Advance registrants who are unable to attend the annual meeting may request a full refund of the registration fee through a written request (accompanied by the meeting confirmation card) postmarked by or on December 20, 1997. No refunds will be issued for requests postmarked after December 20,1997.

Book Exhibit: The exhibits will be located in the center's Ballroom 6A-C and will be open January 8 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.; January 9 and 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and January 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Job Register: The job register will be located in the center's Ballroom 6E, and will operate January 8 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., January 9 and 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and January 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.