Hotel
All conference activities will be held at the:
Hilton Austin
500 East 4th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
Tel: 1-512-482-8000
The conference room rate is USD $157 single/double. Currently, a 15% tax is in effect. The current US government rate is $108 and may be adjusted to the prevailing rate in effect during the conference dates prior to the conference. A limited number of rooms are available at this rate. Please have your US government ID available at hotel check-in for the hotel registration staff to verify your eligibility.
IMPORTANT: For the 2012 conference, at this hotel, the IBM conference room rate does include daily access to the Internet connection in the sleeping room. Please note that no charge for in-room Internet is only available for conference attendees who make their hotel reservation through the IBM conference enrollment system and not with reservations made directly with the hotel or other travel reservation services. IBM has a limited number of rooms available in this block and all attendees are encouraged to make their reservations as soon as possible.
Please note that special room rates are only available through IBM at the time you enroll while supply lasts. Your lodging reservation should be made as part of the enrollment for the conference while supply lasts. Your reservation, if available, will be guaranteed for late arrival with your credit card number. If you enroll after all conference rooms are booked you will need to make your own lodging arrangements. In-room Internet charges will apply for reservations made outside the IBM block at the hotel and at other hotels so it’s recommended you enroll for the conference early and make your room reservation while you are enrolling. A limited number of rooms are available for stays 3 days prior before and 3 days after the conference dates at the above rates. These rooms are on a space-available basis at this rate.
Cancellations permitted up to 24 hours prior to arrival date by 4 pm Central time on arrival day to avoid one night charge. Cancellations made after 4 pm Central time on the day prior to arrival will be subject to one night’s room & tax. Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM. Please refer to the Cancellation/No Show Policy prior to enrolling. If you are cancelling within 24 hours, a one night hotel charge will apply. If you are cancelling within two weeks of the conference start date, the full conference fee will apply.
The hotel has limited smoking rooms available. You may request a smoking room during your enrollment; however it is not guaranteed and is determined based on availability upon your arrival at the hotel.
Travel
Attendees are responsible for travel arrangements and expenses. The nearest airport is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Arrivals should be planned for Sunday, May 20 and departures for after 2 pm local time on Thursday, May 24. As a reminder, Friday, May 25 begins the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the US.
Ground Transportation
- From the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (15 miles from hotel) the typical minimum charge for taxi transportation is $25-30 exclusive of tip.
- Another option is the SuperShuttle shared van shuttle service. From the airport is $15 one way, $26 roundtrip. Reservations for the shuttle service are requested 24 hours prior. For more information, including exact pick up points, and to make reservations, visit their website (link resides outside of ibm.com) or call (800) BLUE-VAN (800-258-3826). There is $1 savings for booking online vs. calling. Enter “Hilton Austin” and then select the downtown location at 500 East 4th Street. SuperShuttle has offered a 10% discount on round-trip reservations made in advance. A special link for reservations (link resides outside of ibm.com) has been created and you must have your confirmation before boarding their shuttle. Our Online Group Discount Code isA3SNL. Additional information and terms are on the website and reservation. Travel time from baggage collection to the hotel is estimated at 45-50 minutes. Private vans and sedan cars are also available. Please contact SuperShuttle for more information.
- Hotel Parking costs are Self Parking: $20 (12-24 Hours) and Valet Parking: $27, inclusive of tax.
- For assistance with return transportation to the airport, please see the hotel concierge or make a reservation for pick up with SuperShuttle. Taxis are staged at the main lobby entrance.
- All prices are estimates in USD, do not include gratuity or tax unless specified and are subject to change. Please visit the hotel's website (link resides outside of ibm.com) for driving directions and additional details.
Planning your travel
Airlines have had numerous policy and fee changes recently. Updates on carrier policies, fees for baggage and other changes can be found on the airline's website. The latest security information for travelers can be found on the TSA website (link resides outside of ibm.com).
Client and Business Partner attendees from countries needing visa invitation letters for travel to the US should send a note to ils@us.ibm.com to initiate a visa invitation letter request. International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements. All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization (link resides outside of ibm.com).
All IBM employees traveling internationally are required to complete an assessment using the Immigration Determination Tool (IDT). Please go to the Travel page of your country’s Intranet site and search “IDT”. Upon receipt of approval, please send the approval in a note to ils@us.ibm.com with your date of hire, your job title and your arrival and departure dates.
Take advantage of IBM discounted airfares
IBM Business Partners and clients from within the US, or to the US from Canada, can take advantage of IBM's discounted travel fares. To check fares, and make reservations, please contact our travel program administrator, American Express Group Travel at 1-800-235-9426, Option #3 (Group Travel) to book air reservations. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern time Monday through Friday. Please reference Program Number IBM11673.
IBM employees in North America should use the above method (instead of OTR) for making travel reservations. There is no charge for calling American Express Group Travel for their booking services when there is a program number for a group event. The air fare will be charged to your IBM Corporate Credit Card.
For more information about the greater Austin area, please visit Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (link resides outside of ibm.com).
Attire
Suggested dress for all conference functions is business casual. It is recommended you bring a light sweater or jacket for your personal comfort as temperatures can vary in meeting rooms. Weather in Austin (zip code 78701) can vary too and it is recommended you check your favorite weather site prior to departing for the conference.