Optical MEMS & Nanophotonics Conference

6 - 9 August 2012

Venue + Travel

Welcome to Banff, Canada

The town of Banff in the southwestern corner of the park, about 90 minutes west of Calgary via the Trans Canada Highway.

The Hamlet of Lake Louise is 50 minutes further west, also within Banff National Park.

The town is only four square kilometers, bordered on all sides by wilderness. It's not uncommon to see wildlife, such as deer and elk, in your backyard.

The town is a service centre for park visitors and offers everything from five-star accommodation to fine dining, lively nightlife to museums and galleries, shopping for essentials and nice to haves, plus a long line up of special cultural and sporting events.

We're a national park community surrounded by spectacular nature, so the natural environment is important to us. The town has implemented a number of programs to protect, preserve, conserve and rehabilitate, and is guided by The Banff National Park Management Plan.

Things to do

The heritage town of Banff and the spectacular Banff National Park, chosen the top destination in Canada by international travellers, offers resplendent Rocky Mountain vistas under an Alberta blue sky.

Our climate also offers:

• Low humidity

• Warm temperatures averaging between 21º and 22º Celsius (70º and 72º F)

• Extended daylight hours: beyond 11 p.m. at the summer solstice

All of these factors add up to perfect conditions for summer activities. Some of our visitors' favorite summer attractions include:

• Hiking and Walking Near Town

• Hiking in the National Park

• Camping

• Fishing

• Biking-Mountain Biking and Touring

• Golfing

• Tennis

• Swimming

• Canoing and Kayaking

• Whitewater Rafting and Float Trips

• Boat Tours

• Scuba Diving

• Carriage Rides

• Horseback Riding

• Airplane and Helicopter Sightseeing

http://www.banfflakelouise.com/

A word of advice for visitors: the UV rating in Banff National Park tends to be high. Between the altitude and the angle of sun in this area, people burn easily: sunscreen, sunglasses and a good wide-brimmed sun hat are must haves for your visit.

Shopping:

The streets of Banff offer a mosaic of uniquely Canadian shopping opportunities for visitors and locals alike.

Visitors who are looking for gifts and souvenirs can explore any number of specialty shops offering a vast selection of souvenir items and memorabilia.

Several gift shops highlight the work of aboriginal artists and artisans, an integral part of Banff's Rocky Mountain heritage. Similarly, the many art galleries in the area celebrate the mountain artwork of local and Canadian artists.

Given the needs of the local residents, all basic shopping amenities can be found in Banff, including:

• apparel and footwear

• sportswear and sport equipment

• groceries

• pharmacies

• hardware

• florists

• office supplies

• books

http://www.canadianrockies.net/shopping-in-banff

Where to Eat:

Banff has enough restaurants and diverse menus to satisfy just about any dining preference, from fast food to haute cuisine. Browse through our restaurant listings by category and find something that suits your taste:

• Asian (Chinese, Thai, Japanese & Sushi, Korean)

• Bars, Lounges & Pubs

• Cafes, Bakeries & Delis

• Canadian, Rocky Mountain and Western themed

• Continental

• Fast Food & Pizza

• Greek & Mediterranean

• Italian

• Mexican & Southwestern

• Steakhouses

• Swiss, German, French, and Fondue

• Vegetarian fare

http://www.banffdiningguide.com/

August Events at the Banff Centre:

http://www.banffcentre.ca/events/calendar/by-month/august-2012/

Come explore, enjoy and rejuvenate.

Directions from Calgary Airport to Banff

If you choose to travel by private vehicle, you will find the route is well-signed and the trip from the Calgary International Airport to Banff takes approximately 90 minutes.

Depart airport terminal heading north on Barlow Trail NE.
Take the first left (west) onto Airport Trail NE (signs for Highway 2/City Centre).
Take the ramp onto Highway 2 South (Deerfoot Trail).
Exit onto Highway 1 West (16th Avenue NW - West). Remain on 16th Avenue NW heading west through Calgary; it becomes the Trans-Canada Highway 1. Continue to head west on the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and eventually this will take you through the park gates to the exit for the town of Banff.

For Shuttle Service:

Banff Airporter: + 888 449 2901

http://banffairporter.com/

Brewster Banff Airport Shuttle: + 877 625 4372

http://www.brewstertransportation.com/

Airport Shuttle Express:

http://airportshuttleexpress.com/Banff.htm

Hotel

The Banff Centre

107 Tunnel Mountain Drive

Banff, Alberta T1L 1H5 Canada

Phone: + 403 762 6100

Reservations: + 800 884 7574

Reservations

Telephone: + 403 762 6308

Reservations: + 800 884 7574

Fax: + 403 762 7502

2012 Optical MEMS & Nanophotonics Conference Packages
	Single	Double(per person)
Superior-Professional Development Centre	$195.00	$97.50
Standard- Lloyd Hall	$180.00	$90.00
Service Charge(per attendee, per night)	$7.00	$7.00

RESERVATION DEADLINE: 22 June 2012

A block of sleeping rooms has been reserved for the convenience of the conference attendees at The Banff Centre. The conference rates listed above are available three(3) days prior and three(3) days after the conference, based on availability.

Check-In Time: 4:00 pm
Check-Out Time: 12:00 pm

All special requests, including bedding/smoking preferences, are not guaranteed, but subject to availability at the time of arrival. The hotel will make every effort to accommodate your requests.

Please support the conference by staying at the conference hotel.

The IEEE Photonics Society agreement with the conference hotel includes a contracted sleeping room commitment. Without this, the conference registration would be much more expensive. The IEEE Photonics Society realizes that you can stay at other hotels, but doing so will negatively impact this conference and will lead to higher registration fees in the future.

Conference Planner

Megan Figueroa

Conference Planner

Phone + 732 562 3895

Fax + 732 562 8434

m.figueroa@ieee.org

IEEE Photonics Society

445 Hoes Lane

Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 USA

www.photonicssociety.org