Hotels and Local Transportation		Neural Information Processing Systems: Natural and Synthetic
						Information on local lodging and how to get around the Vancouver area.
				Main Papers and Past
				Program Tutorials Invited Talks Workshops
NEW				Online Preproceedings
NEW				Awards
				Registration and Financial/Travel Support
				Invitation Letters Volunteering
				Hotels and Local Transportation
				For Authors and Presenters
NOTE				Please note that all hotel rates are listed in Canadian dollars. The approximate rate in US dollars is indicated in parentheses. The conversion rate at the time of the preparation of this brochure: 1.55188. Local taxes of 17% will be added to all quoted hotel rates.
NOTE				When making your hotel reservations, be sure to mention that you are a member of the NIPS 2002 participant to receive the special group rate.
						Important Dates Tutorials: Dec 9, 2002 Conference: Dec 10, 11, 12 (until noon), 2002 Workshops: Dec 12 (evening reception), 13, 14, 2002 Poster presentations: Dec 10, 11, 2002 Demonstrations: Dec 10, 11, 2002 Camera-ready papers due: January 10 2003 Proceedings available online: March 2003 Proceedings volumes mailed: June 2003 Tourist Information vancouver.com guestlife.com/vancouver vancouver.worldweb.com vancouver-bc.com whistler.worldweb.com whistler-bc.com tourismvancouver.com vancouver.travel (budget emphasis) bootsnall.com (articles) victoriabc.com (Vancouver Island) Some popular links to Vancouver and Whistler tourist information are given here in case you find them useful during your visit for finding restaurants, entertainment, hiking trails, alternative lodging, etc. Disclaimer: NIPS does not necessarily recommend any of these sites or the information therein, and bears no responsibility for your use of them.
		Conference and Tutorials Hotel
Hyatt Regency Vancouver		The Conference and Tutorials will be held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. The hotel is located in downtown Vancouver, overlooking a mountain-rimmed harbor. For accomodations at the Hyatt Regency contact: Hyatt Regency Vancouver 655 Burrard Street Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6C 2R7 Reservation Line: 1-604-639-4820 Reservation Fax: 1-604-639-4829 Main Hotel Number: 1-604-683-1234 Webpage http://vancouver.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml NIPS 2002 Conference Rates: Single/Double/Triple: $135 (~$86 US) Quadruple Occupancy: $160 (~$103 US) Daily Parking Fee: $18.50 (~$12 US) Maximum room occupancy is four persons. A credit card or one night's room and tax pre-payment is needed to guarantee room reservations. The hotel has a 24-hour cancellation policy. An early departure fee of one night's room and tax will be assessed if hotel is given less than 24-hours notice. Rooms will be held at the special NIPS 2002 rate until November 8, 2002. Beyond this date,the special rate is subject to space availability.
		Workshops Hotels
Westin Resort & Spa Whistler		The NIPS 2002 Post-Conference Workshops will be held at the Westin Resort & Spa which is located at 4090 Whistler Way at the base of Whistler Mountain. It is adjacent to both the Blackcomb and Whistler gondolas that take skiers, snowboarders, and hikers to the top of the mountain. For accommodations at the Westin contact: Westin Resort & Spa 4090 Whistler Way Whistler, British Columbia Canada V0N 1B4 Central Reservations: 1-800-228-3000 Reservation Fax: 1-604-905-5640 Main Hotel Number: 1-604-905-5000 Main Hotel Toll-free: 1-888-634-5577 Email reservations@westinwhistler.com Webpage http://www.westinwhistler.com NIPS 2002 Conference Rates: Junior Suites: $159 (~$103 US) One Bedroom Suites: $159 (~$103 US) Daily Parking Fee: $21 (~$14 US) Rates at the Westin Resort & Spa are per night for single or double occupancy. There will be an additional charge of $30 (~$19 US) for each additional person. Rooms will be held for NIPS 2002 participants at the special rate until November 12, 2002. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space-availability basis only. There is no refund for early checkouts, late check-ins, or no-shows. A deposit equal to one nights stay will hold each reservation. Full prepayment will be due 30 days prior to arrival and is not refundable. Cancellations made 30 days or less prior to arrival are not refundable. Cancellations made more than 14 days after booking will forfeit the initial deposit. A mandatory resort fee of $15 (~$10 US) per room per night resort will be charged. The fee will afford unlimited use of the spa and health club, fitness center, unlimited local phone calls, ski valet service, ski/snowboard storage and local shuttle service in and around Whistler Village. Please note that the Westin Resort & Spa is a non-smoking facility. If you would like a room with a balcony for the purpose of smoking, this must be requested at the time of making the reservation.
Delta Whistler Resort		Although the workshops will be held at the Westin Resort and Spa, as an alternative NIPS special rates have also been arranged at the Delta Whistler. The Delta Whistler is a full service resort hotel located next to The Westin Resort & Spa, at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, just steps from the gondolas, and in the heart of Whistler Village. For accommodations at the Delta Whistler contact: The Delta Whistler Resort 4050 Whistler Way Whistler, British Columbia Canada VON 1B4 Hotel Direct Reservation Line: 800-515-4050 Central Reservation Line: 800-268-1133 Reservation Fax: 604-932-7332 Main Hotel Line: 604-932-1982 Email Reservations@deltawhistler.com Webpage http://www.deltawhistler.com NIPS 2002 Conference Rates: Single/Double: $149 (~$96 US) Deluxe with Kitchenette: $179 (~$115 US) Junior Suite: $389 (~$250 US) Daily Parking Fee: $18 (~$11 US) Rates at the Delta Whistler Resort are per night for single or double occupancy. There will be an additional charge of $30 (~$19 US) per night for each additional person. Rooms will be held for NIPS 2002 participants at the special rate until November 22, 2002. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space-availability basis only. Full payment is required seven days in advance at the Delta Whistler Resort. There is no refund for early checkouts, late check-ins, or no-shows. Cancellations within 14 days of arrival will be charged for the full amount of the original reservation.
Skiing Discounts at Whistler		Lift tickets for NIPS 2002 participants will be available at a special group rate of: $46 (~$30 US) for a one-day ticket; $91 (~$58 US) for a two-day ticket; and $134 (~$86 US)for a three-day ticket. Rentals, retail items, sightseeing tickets, and lessons will also be available at discounts ranging from 5-10%. The special discount rates are available to NIPS 2002 group members (including guests and family). Information on where to purchase discount tickets will be available at the workshop registration desk.
		Local Transportation
Options		Vancouver International Airport is 13 miles from downtown Vancouver and the trip takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic. It is possible to find a variety of means of transportation to downtown Vancouver just outside of both the domestic and international terminals. There is an AIRPORTER bus that leaves from these locations every 15 minutes. The cost for bus service is $12 Canadian (~$8 US) one way or $18 (~$12 US) roundtrip. You may phone for information or advance reservations at 1-604-273-8436. You may also take a taxi for approximately $23-$26 Canadian (~$15-17 US) or a limo for $34 (~$22 US). Rental cars and vans are available from car rental agencies that have offices at the airport. Note: Since most means of transportation will accept either US or Canadian dollars or credit cards, participants should be prepared to offer one of these methods of payment for local transportation.
Driving Instructions		Click for printable driving instructions.
		Vancouver International Airport to Hyatt Regency (Driving time: ~25-40 minutes) Take Grant McConnachie Way over the Arthur Laing Bridge. Take the Granville Street Exit from bridge and continue straight down Granville Street (approximately 60 blocks). Turn left onto West 16th Avenue then turn right on Burrard Street. Continue down Burrard Street and over the Burrard Street Bridge. Continue on Burrard for approximately 8 blocks. You will see the Hyatt Regency Vancouver on the left. Pull into the front of the hotel and have your car valet parked or self-park.
		Hyatt Regency Vancouver to Whistler (Driving time: ~2-2.5 hours) From the Hyatt Regency on Burrard, head South on Burrard and turn right (West) on Georgia and follow it through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate Bridge. Exit west off/under the bridge and into West Vancouver. Turn right on Taylor Way at Park Royal Shopping Centre. Follow Taylor Way half-a-mile up the hill to the Highway 1 (Trans-Canada) overpass. Join Highway 1 Westbound until you reach the junction with Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky Highway). Exit right onto Highway 99. Follow this route for just over 100 kilometers along scenic Howe Sound, past Squamish to Whistler.
		Vancouver International Airport to Whistler (Driving time: ~2.5 hours) Take Grant McConnachie Way (the main route out of the Vancouver International Airport) and over the Arthur Laing Bridge. Continue straight over the bridge, stay in the right hand lane, which connects to SW Marine Drive/Granville Street. Granville Street is a North-South connector leading to the heart of downtown. Once across the Granville Street Bridge, turn left onto Drake at the first set of lights. Turn right on Hornby Street and continue on Hornby until you reach Georgia Street. Turn left (West) on Georgia and follow it through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate Bridge. Exit West off/under the bridge and into West Vancouver. Turn right on Taylor Way at Park Royal Shopping Centre. Follow Taylor Way half-a-mile up the hill to Highway 1 (Trans-Canada) overpass. Join Highway 1 Westbound until you reach the junction with Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky Highway). Exit right on to Highway 99. Follow this route for just over 100 kilometers along scenic Howe Sound, past Squamish to Whistler.
Buses		Phones: 1-877-317-7788 from US and Canada (Toll Free), 604-905-0041 from Whistler, 604-266-5386 from Vancouver. Email Reservations: res@perimeterbus.com
		Bus from Hyatt Regency Vancouver to Whistler Buses will be available to transport Conference participants from the Hyatt Regency Vancover to Whistler. These buses will leave from the Hyatt Regency on Thursday, December 12. Tickets may be purchased in advance on the registration form on page 9 or at the Conference registration desk.
		Return Transportation from Whistler Each participant must make individual arrangements for the return from Whistler to the Vancouver International Airport. Perimeter's Whistler Express picks up at the Westin Resort & Spa every 90 minutes beginning at 4:00 am and ending at 6:00 pm. The rate for NIPS 2002 participants is $49 (~$32 US). Reservations are required for this return service. Remember to identify yourself as a participant in the NIPS 2002 Conference to receive the special group rate. Make reservations no later than 48 hours prior to departure time to reserve your space.
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