2018 Annual Meeting: General Information
Invitation to Attend the 2018 Annual Convention
Allied Social Science Associations
Philadelphia, PA
JANUARY 5-7, 2018
** FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY **
MEETING FACILITIES
ASSA Headquarters Hotel is the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The Co-Headquarters Hotel is the Loews Philadelphia. Registration is located in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Franklin Hall, Level 4. Exhibits are also located in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Franklin Hall, Level 4. Job Placement Interview tables are located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ballroom AB. Sessions will be held in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The sessions begin Friday, January 5th at 8:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 7th. The AEA Continuing Education Program is located in the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Center City, January 7-9.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
The entire preliminary program is on the AEA website at www.aeaweb.org/conference/ - updates are made continuously.
GO MOBILE
The ASSA Conference mobile application allows you to build a personal daily schedule, receive reminders and updates, find what you are looking for, take notes, and more. You will receive a username and password when you register for the meetings. This app will be available online the first week of December at www.aeaweb.org/conference/.
REGISTRATION
You must register and pay the registration fee before booking a room. The five digit registration ID number you will receive (after you have registered) is needed to book a room or suite. Once registration payment is received, you will receive an email confirmation, registration ID number, housing form, and link to housing. See housing instructions for more information. Each room or suite request must have a different registration ID number. Everyone must register, including speakers, discussants and administrators who will be occupying a room. Badges are required for admission to sessions, exhibit hall, and other activities. Pick up your registration packet at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Franklin Hall, Level 4; On-Site and Advance Registration Booths will be open as follows:
Thursday, January 4............................... 1:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.*
Friday, January 5.................................... 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.*
Saturday, January 6................................ 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.*
Sunday, January 7.................................. 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Registration Desk II)
*The on-site registration line will be closed off fifteen minutes prior to closing of each day. Early registration fee (received by December 3rd) is $65.00. Registration fee after December 3rd and on-site is $125.00. Online registration or on-site registration are the only options after December 3rd.
REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS
If you register online, you will get an email confirmation receipt within a few minutes. Faxed registration forms take up to three days, and mailed-in forms take up to two weeks to process. Confirmations are emailed, so your email address is required. If you do not receive a confirmation within this time frame, email ASSA@vanderbilt.edu. Check your confirmation for name and affiliation accuracy. We recommend you bring your confirmation when picking up your packet at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. A receipt is also included in each participant's packet.
REFUNDS
In order to process refunds for pre-registration, you must forward your cancellation confirmation of your hotel room/suite reservation to assa@vanderbilt.edu or fax to 615-343-7590. We must receive your refund request by December 3rd. Refunds are not issued if requested after this date. If you are registering after December 3rd or on-site, no refunds are issued.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
If you need disability aids or services to fully participate in the meetings, contact the ASSA Registration Office at 615-322-3509 by December 3rd. If you need a specially equipped sleeping room, inform the Official Housing Company when making your hotel reservation.
SPOUSE OR GUEST
There is no spouse program. Spouses or guests wishing to attend any of the meetings may register by December 3rd for $35.00. After December 3rd and on-site, the registration fee is $55.00. If your spouse or guest needs an affiliation on their badge, they must register separately and pay the full fee.
AEA CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
The AEA will offer a set of three “continuing education” programs, scheduled immediately following the ASSA Meetings. The programs are designed to help mid-career economists with heavy teaching loads or considerable administrative responsibilities maintain the value of their human capital. They are tailored to faculty at liberal arts colleges and teaching-oriented state universities who usually have fewer research opportunities than colleagues at universities with Ph.D. programs in economics. The lecturers are leading scholars in their fields who are excellent expositors. The focus is on content to help improve both teaching and research. See the AEA Continuing Education link for more details or go to www.aeaweb.org/conference/cont-ed.
PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC JOB OPENINGS
Information and procedures for both employers and job seekers on how to use the professional placement service for both academic and non-academic positions are included on the AEA website. The placement center and interview tables are located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ballroom AB. They are open January 4th-7th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. IllinoisJobLink.com (IJL) provides self-service matching of qualified candidates to academic and non-academic job postings with follow-up assistance from trained IJL staff to maximize successful completion of quality registrations. The Professional Placement Service is conducted and sponsored free of charge through the efforts of the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the American Economic Association. See the “Job Placement Service” link for more information.
HOTEL DIRECTORY
To have your name and hotel where you will be staying listed in the ASSA online hotel directory or the mobile app, you must register for housing through the official housing company by Monday, December 18th. After December 18th (or if you did not make your reservations through the official housing company), you may send us your name and location to be added by emailing assa@vanderbilt.edu. ASSA no longer provides printed copies of the hotel directory. To access the online hotel directory, go to the Annual Meeting web page at www.aeaweb.org/conference/. If you prefer not to be listed in the hotel directory, contact assa@vanderbilt.edu by December 18th to have your name removed.
WELCOME RECEPTION
Plan to attend the ASSA Welcome Reception on January 4th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Grand Ballroom. If you mark that you will attend the Welcome Reception when you register, you will receive a free drink coupon in your registration packet for the reception. Mark the box only if you plan to attend, as this will help keep the cost down. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
KiddieCorp will provide a professional children’s program at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. You may print out the registration form or register online at http://kiddiecorp.com/assakids.htm. Kiddiecorp has been in business since 1986. Team members are qualified child care specialists.
MOTHER'S NURSING ROOM
There is a room available for nursing mothers' use during meeting hours in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Meeting Room 301, Level 3.
EXHIBITS
Exhibits are located in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Franklin Hall, Level 1. The hours will be:
Thurs, January 4..................................................... 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 5.................................................... 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 6................................................ 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
SHUTTLE
ASSA will provide shuttle service from the University City Hotels, Navy Yard and other hotels that are not within walking distance to the Philadelphia Marriot and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. More detailed information on routes will be available on the website when they are finalized.
CAR RENTALS
We have selected Avis as our car rental supplier for the ASSA Meetings. Discounted rates are offered December 30, 2017 to January 13, 2018. Please refer to the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) #J947275 and call 1-800-331-1600, or reserve at http://bit.ly/2sH5vej. Discounts are good from Philadelphia International Airport and all over the city.
PARKING
Hotel parking rates range between $28-$55 plus tax per 24 hours. Parking Rates are subject to change without notice.
AMTRAK
Amtrak offers a 10% discount off the best available rail fare to Philadelphia, PA between January 02, 2018 – January 10, 2018. To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1(800) 872-7245 or contact your local travel agent.
Conventions cannot be booked via Internet. Please be sure to refer to Convention Fare Code X53F-974 when making your reservation. This offer is not valid on the Auto Train and Acela Service. Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges.