IFEAT 2013 SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE PRESENTATION IN SINGAPORE

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1 Paper presented at the IFEAT International Conference in Singapore, 4-8 November 2012 Essential Asia Pages in the printed Conference Proceedings IFEAT 2013 SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE PRESENTATION IN SINGAPORE INTRODUCTION Colin Ringleib IFEAT Executive Committee Member Chairman IFEAT San Francisco Organising Committee As Chairman of the IFEAT 2013 Conference Organising Committee, it is my pleasure to give you a brief preview of the next time that we will meet up. The next IFEAT conference will be held in the USA in San Francisco at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, USA from Sunday 29th September to Thursday 4th October. WHY SAN FRANCISCO?! San Francisco is one of the greatest and most photogenic cities in the world with many cultural, visual and historic attractions.! In August 2013 San Francisco is hosting the 34 th America s Cup, leading to big changes and upgrades all along the waterfront.! San Francisco is the financial, cultural, and transportation centre of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than 7.4 million. San Francisco has just topped Lonely Planet s top 10 cities to visit in It is considered one of the greatest and most photogenic cities in the world. It s attractions are many the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, the food, the theatre, the hills and the surrounding areas. Also the 34th America s Cup is coming to the city in August 2013, and big changes and upgrades are taking place all along San Francisco s waterfront. With an estimated population of 816,000 San Francisco is the 12th most populous city in the USA. San Francisco is the financial, cultural, and transportation centre of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than 7.4 million people. SF has successfully hosted many large international conferences. Its high quality facilities and safety standards make it a preferred destination for many international organisations and companies. Why San Francisco? Climate - Temperature San Francisco and the Bay area enjoy mild weather all the year round with temperatures seldom rising about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) or falling below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) Late September early October is a perfect time to visit San Francisco with average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures 65 degrees F and 44 degree Fahrenheit respectively.! San Francisco enjoys mild weather all year round.! Temperatures seldom rise above 70 o Fahrenheit (21 o C) or fall below 40 o F (4 o C).! Late September early October is a perfect time to visit San Francisco.! Sept/Oct is the hottest time of year.! September and October are high occupancy months for the hotels. September and October is the hottest time of year. September and October are high occupancy months for the hotels. 301

2 Why San Francisco? Transportation It is easy to access San Francisco from around the world. San Francisco International airport (SFO) is served by direct international flights. It offers non-stop flights to over 30 international destinations on 26 international carriers. Transport to and within San Francisco is excellent. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to over 30 international destinations on 26 international carriers. Also SFO connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the US on 21 domestic airlines offering many choices with competitive fares from its easily accessed and efficient terminals. SFO connects non-stop with more than 65 cities in the U.S. on 21 domestic airlines offering many choices with competitive fares from its easily accessed and efficient terminals. Transportation within the City and the Bay Area is excellent with a combination of taxis, the world famous cable cars, ferries and BART Transit. In addition, within the city, transport is relatively easy given the relatively small size of the city and its famed cable cars. The Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, 950 Mason Street, has been chosen as the main venue for the 2013 IFEAT Conference. This is one of the best hotels in SF. One of best hotels in San Francisco an unmatched blend of luxurious accommodation, elegant meeting spaces and superb services. Centrally located with a short cable car trip from bustling Downtown, Financial District, Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf. Located on Nob s Hill and at the only spot in SF where each of the City's famous cable car lines meet. Panoramic view of the City and the Bay. Famous for its gorgeous lobby and opulent public rooms the Fairmont is the grandest of all the grand hotels at the top of Nob Hill. Reopened in 1907 after the SF earthquake it has been much admired since. The panoramic views of the City and the Bay are unbeatable. The hotel is centrally located only a short cable car trip from bustling Downtown, the Financial District, Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf. The Fairmont is located at the only spot in San Francisco where each of the City's cable car lines meet. In the Fairmont there are 591 rooms and a variety of excellent room types are available. Fairmont rooms have recently been restored to their original splendour. Rooms are cosy and quiet and beautifully decorated with all the amenities you would expect of a 5 Star Hotel. In addition, within the hotel there are some 55,000 square feet of total meeting space with a grand ballroom of 13,000 square feet and three junior ballrooms of 4,500 square feet each. They have 15 smaller rooms meeting rooms ranging from 350 to 4032 square feet. The Fairmont San Francisco hotel has an unmatched blend of luxurious accommodation, elegant meeting spaces and superb services, making for an unforgettable stay. 302 Guest Room Description: A variety of excellent room types are available. Fairmont Rooms have recently been restored to their original splendour. Rooms are cosy and quiet and beautifully decorated with all the amenities you would expect of a 5 Star Hotel. Number of Rooms Available: 591 Meeting Space: The hotel features 55,000 square feet of total meeting space with a grand ballroom of 13,000 square feet and three junior ballrooms of 4,500 square feet each. They have 15 smaller meeting rooms ranging from 350 to 4,032 square feet.

3 The Fairmont has excellent dining facilities. There are three renowned restaurants and lounges that have won many awards. The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar offer exotic Asian cuisine in a rainforest setting. The Laurel Court Restaurant and Bar offers a northern California dining experience with fresh indigenous ingredients. Excellent dining with three renowned restaurants and lounges. The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar offer exotic Asian cuisine in a rainforest setting. The Laurel Court Restaurant and Bar offers a northern California dining experience with fresh indigenous ingredients. IFEAT WELCOME RECEPTION AND CLOSING BANQUET The Fairmont s excellent facilities will be used to host two IFEAT events: The Fairmont San Francisco Hotel s excellent facilities will be used to host: The IFEAT Welcome Reception on Sunday September 29th. Plans are for a Street Party in the front of the hotel! The IFEAT Closing Banquet will be held in the Grand Ballroom with a banqueting capacity of 970. First, the Welcome Reception on Sunday September 29th. Plans are underway to host the reception in the street in front of the Fairmont. Second, the IFEAT Closing Banquet on Thursday October 3rd will be held in the magnificent Grand Ballroom with a banqueting capacity of 970. MAP OF AREA San Francisco offers many options for participants of the conference to stay at a number of business and other hotels that are located nearby. Among these are: 1. Hilton Union Square 2. Four Seasons 3. Hyatt Regency 4. Marriott Marquis 303

4 IFEAT DINNER USS HORNET The IFEAT Dinner will be on the USS Hornet. This unique venue is an historic aircraft carrier, now a museum, and with a variety of spaces that are ideal for meetings and banquets. The Hornet seating capacity up to 3,000, and only 30 minutes by coach from San Francisco. The Hornet offers spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge.! The IFEAT Dinner will be on the USS Hornet.! This unique venue is an historic aircraft carrier, now a museum, and with a variety of spaces that are ideal for meetings and banquets.! Has seating capacity up to 3,000, and only 30 minutes from San Francisco.! Offers spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge. CONFERENCE THEME Following the usual IFEAT Conference format, there will be three days devoted to presentations, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with a field trip/trade exhibition and essential oils workshop on the Wednesday. The Conference Programme will provide analysis of the F&F sectors including sustainability issues. There will be presentations reviewing global market and technical developments. There will also be presentations on US essential oils as well as developments in neighbouring countries. As usual there be a session reviewing legislative and regulatory issues, ACCOMPANYING PERSONS As usual at an IFEAT Conference there will be a full programme of optional activities for accompanying persons. A range of half-day and full-day excursions will be on offer for accompanying persons. In addition, our local DMC, Allied PRA, will be offering pre- and post-conference tours that will enable APs and delegates to explore the region in greater depth. Details on the optional tours will be given in the conference brochure that will be distributed by IFEAT early in the New Year.! As usual Monday, Tuesday and Thursday will be devoted to presentations.! Presentations will cover a wide range of issues relating to sustainable growth, related papers on US and neighboring countries essential oils and F&F industries, regulatory and legislative issues and interesting global developments.! On Wednesday there will be a Trade Exhibition or Field Trip and Essential Oils and Hazardous Shipping Workshop.! There will be a full programme of optional activities for accompanying persons including full and half day tours.! These will be arranged by Allied PRA which has been appointed the tour agent for the IFEAT SF 2013 Conference.! Details on the optional tours will be given in a custom website that will be available early in the New Year. 304

5 VISAS What is IFEAT proposing to do? Citizens from many countries will require visas to enter the USA.! Citizens from many countries will require visas to enter the USA. The USA has a new programme Business Visa Center designed to support foreign visitors attending conferences in the US and we hope it will provide some assistance for visa approval. The US Business Visa Center recommends applying at least 90 days before the planned travel. We strongly recommend that intending delegates contact the US Embassy in their country as soon as possible regarding the current visa situation.! The US has a new program Business Visa Center designed to support foreign visitors attending conferences in the US and we hope it will provide some assistance for visa approval.! We strongly recommend that intending delegates contact the US Embassy in their country as soon as possible regarding the current visa situation. The US Business Visa Center recommends applying at least 90 days before the planned travel.! IFEAT is implementing a pre-registration process for delegates which will assist early visa applications. IFEAT is implementing a pre-registration process for delegates that will assist early visa applications. Members will shortly be informed of the process. All that there remains for me to say is that I look forward to meeting up with you next year in San Francisco and I would like to finish with a video on a a day in the life of San Francisco. Thank you! Look forward to seeing you in San Francisco next September 305