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Important Dates
Abstract Submission Opens Sept 27, 2016
Conference Registration Opens Oct 3, 2016
Workshop Application Deadline Nov 7, 2016
Abstract Submission Deadline Nov 10, 2016
Larry Sandler Award Submission Deadline Dec 22, 2016
Late Abstract Submission Deadline Jan 23, 2017
Early(Discounted) Conference
Registration Deadline
Feb 3, 2017
Hotel Reservations Deadline March 3, 2017

 

2017 Meeting Organizers
Leanne Jones, Chair
Doris Bachtrog
Claude Desplan
Amy Kiger

 

Download the Poster

Drosophila 2017 Poster

 

Hotel and Travel

 


ALERT - There is a company claiming to be the official housing company for the Conference. Please note that you will not be called or e-mailed to solicit your reservation. Do not provide your credit card information to anyone making such claims. The only way to make your hotel reservation is through the secure hotel reservation website or by calling the hotel directly.

 

The Conference will be held in San Diego, California, one of the most popular destination cities in the United States. San Diego is easily accessible by air and major interstate highways. The hotel room block and all sessions of the Conference are at the Town and Country Resort. This facility is conveniently located near the San Diego Airport and is adjacent to the San Diego Trolley System's Fashion Valley Transit station. The trolley system is clean, safe and economical, and is only two stops from historic Old Town San Diego. Old Town San Diego is particularly noted for a wide variety of American and ethnic restaurants. For Trolley information (fares, maps, etc.) go to http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp.

 

Town & Country Resort Logo

Town & Country Resort & Convention Center
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
619/291-7131
Reservation Website or Call 800-772-8527

 

The Town & Country Resort is comprised of several buildings situated among acres of lush gardens and palm trees, creating a campus feel. For leisure time there are swimming pools, eateries and fitness equipment as well as a full service, first class spa. The hotel is also adjacent to Fashion Valley Mall which has a variety of eateries and retail outlets.

 

To reserve a hotel room, you may either make your reservations online directly at the Town and Country Group reservation site or by calling the hotel directly at the numbers above. Note that reservations will be accepted only when accompanied by a credit card guarantee or a deposit of the first night's room and tax.

 

Deadline for receipt of reservations: March 3, 2017. When contacting the hotel by telephone, identify yourself as an attendee of the 58th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.

 

Individuals looking for roommates may check the online bulletin board to find others looking for a room to share.

The Town & Country Resort & Convention Center will process reservation requests on a first-come, first-served basis. To make reservations by telephone, call (800) 772-8527 (reservations only), California residents call (619) 291-7131. For general information about the hotel go to the Town & Country Web site.

 


 

Room Rates

 

Garden Rooms

Single 1 person, 1 double bed $160
Double 2 persons, 2 double beds $160
*Triple 3 persons, 2 double beds $180
*Quad 4 persons, 2 double beds $200

 

Regency Tower and Courtyard Rooms

Single 1 person, 1 double bed $170
Double 2 persons, 2 double beds $170
*Triple 3 persons, 2 double beds $190
*Quad 4 persons, 2 double beds $210

 

Royal Palm Tower Rooms

Single 1 person, 1 double bed $190
Double 2 persons, 2 double beds $190
*Triple 3 persons, 2 double beds $210
*Quad 4 persons, 2 double beds $230

 

Room descriptions and pictures are available here

 

All rates are per room, per night and do not include local room tax of 10.5%. Maximum occupancy per room is four people.

 

**Single person rollaway beds may be requested for triple and quad rooms, but availability is limited and an additional charge will apply.

 


 

Room Reservation Guarantee and Cancellation

 

to receive a credit or refund of the required first night's room and tax deposit, cancellation must be made at least 48 HOURS PRIOR to the scheduled arrival date and time to obtain a refund of the advance deposit.

 

Though the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center is handicapped accessible, it is the guest's responsibility to advise the hotel of special needs as far in advance as possible. Every effort will be made to accommodate special needs.

 


 

Bulletin Board for Room Sharing

 

Post your request for a roommate on the electronic Bulletin Board for Room Sharing.  GSA has provided this service to facilitate finding a roommate. Registrants can post messages regarding what type of roommate they are looking for i.e male or female, smoker or non-smoker and the participants will respond directly to the registrant.  Please note that potential roommates communicate directly with each other.  GSA is only providing access to this program as a service and is not involved in the matching of roommates.

 


 

Ground Transportation

 

Shuttle van service and taxis are available at the airport. Shuttle service is currently $11.00 each way through Super Shuttle; taxi service is approximately $25 each way. You can also use public transportation. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is an inexpensive alternative to a taxi cab. To plan your trip from the airport to the hotel (500 Hotel Circle North), click here. Be sure to check at the airport for current bus schedules and information. Public transportation will drop you off at the back of the hotel (the Fashion Valley mall stop).

 

The hotel offers detailed driving directions if attendees would like to drive to the meeting.

 


 

Parking

 

Self parking is available at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center for guests staying in the hotel at $10 per day (with in and out privileges), and for those not staying at the Town and Country, $2.00 per hour up to a daily maximum of $16.

 


 

Request for Receipt/Letter of Invitation

 

To confirm registrant information and begin the request process, please provide the following:

 

Last Name:
Email Address:
 

 

Credentials above must match Last Name, and E-mail Address used to register for meeting.

 


 

VISA & Passport Information

 

Be sure to apply for a visa as early as possible - at least three to four months before the meeting.  Some consulates have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews.  Therefore, applicants should first consult the U.S. Department of State's visa appointment and processing wait times website.

 

Further information on business visas can be found at the U.S. Department of State Business Visa Center website and the IVO website.

 

If you are experiencing significant visa delays, you are encouraged to fill out the visa survey. This will allow the National Academies of Sciences to bring your case to the attention of the U.S. Department of State.

 

Visa questions should be directed to visas@nas.edu.

 


 

VISA Tips

 

To assist you with the Visa application process:

 

  • Apply for visa at least six (6) months in advance. For countries that are on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, the State Department suggests applying for a visa six (6) to eight (8) months in advance.
  • Provide your entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of visa application.
  • If completion of travel plans is contingent upon early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of the application.
  • Provide proof of scientific status. For example, proof that you submitted an abstract for the meeting. Do not wait until you receive notification that your abstract has been accepted before applying for a visa. It is very rare that an abstract is denied. If your abstract followed the rules and guidelines, it will be programmed.
  • Provide meeting Web site (www.genetics-gsa.org/drosophila) and copy of your letter of invitation.
  • Provide evidence that you are intending to return to your country of residence. This includes such things as:
    • family ties in current country of residence
    • property ownership
    • bank account
    • an employment contract or statement from employer showing that position will continue after the dates of the meeting
  • Requirements vary by passport-issuing country and citizenship (not merely residency).

 

NOTE: Some consulates may have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews so applicants should first contact the consulate to determine what wait times for interviews are. Click here for visa wait times.

 

Passport Information