Date: 30 July 2013 – 2 August 2013
Location: International Hotel, Brno, Czech Republic

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Late Registration Closed at Midnight 14 July. You must now register onsite if you haven't already registered.
Members of the US ROA CIOR/CIOMR delegations should plan to arrive in Brno on the 29th. Departures may be scheduled the morning of August 3rd, following the prior evening’s Closing Dinner. A US CIOR/CIOMR joint delegation meeting will most likely be held on the early evening of the 29th at the International Hotel. The time and exact meeting location TBA. Look for notice of this meeting when you check in at the hotel. Observers/ Delegates-at- Large should also plan to arrive in Brno on the 29th and can depart on 3 August.   

TRAVEL

Travel to Brno is by way of several intermediate European cities – Prague (120 miles from Brno) and Vienna (81 miles from Brno) are the two arrival hubs most directly impacting US ROA members. (See attached Map to help in your travel itinerary orientation). Flying directly in Brno is difficult. [See our separately issued CIOR/CIOMR Delegate Travel Guide for travel suggestions and planning assistance].

From Vienna car rental is possible but members need to be aware that car rental is an expensive proposition in Europe, not only due to fuel prices, and drop charges, but also with oft required inter-country autobahn passes. These passes cost approximately $20 USD and are good for 10 day periods. Bus transportation from Vienna airport and from the Prague airport to Brno is available by separate reservation, in advance, with Student Agency www.studentagency.eu. This transport is by European motor coach, do not let the name mislead or deter you. Transportation must be confirmed in advance with Student Agency via their web-site.

OPTIONAL TOURS (paid after arrival in Brno)

The Czech hosts have secured several tour opportunities for delegates while they are in Brno. During the Registration process please indicate your preferences for these non-duty period events. ROA will submit our member’s consolidated preferences to our Czech hosts but members will have to reconfirm and pay individually for tours once on the ground in Brno They may do this when picking up their Registration credentials at the hotel.

• Lednice Castle – 70E
• Wine & Folk Tour – 90E
• Austerlitz (Napoleon) Tour – 60E
• Prague Trip (entire day) – 110E
• Vienna (Wien) Trip – 110E

*NOTE Tours require a minimum of 10 persons to take place.

DRESS CODE

Members are reminded that if they are planning on wearing their Service Uniform they are expected to meet their individual Service’s policy as regards appearance and uniform serviceability. If you are unable to meet this standard it is expected and perfectly acceptable to wear civilian coat and tie to Congress business meetings. The Closing Dinner is mess dress/black tie and Service uniform serviceability and appearance standards again are applicable to all members of the US CIOR/CIOMR delegation and DALs. If your formal uniforms no longer fit or are no longer serviceable then civilian formal dress is acceptable and preferred by US CIOR and CIOMR delegation leadership. We strongly recommend retirees and those officers no longer serving not to wear their uniforms but to attend in civilian clothing.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS
This year’s Congress offers members a relative bargain if they are able to commit by NLT Noon, 1 April to an Early Bird Registration Package. For the first time the Czech ROA hosts are offering a Registration and Hotel Reservation Package, combined. Taking this “package” secures for ROA members’ significant registration discounts and hotel room rate discounts and completely avoids the Czech 21% VAT that will apply to ALL other registrations and room reservations where members do not take the hotel “package”.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To qualify for the 21% VAT reduction, you must register for one of the full registration packages described below. each provides for full payment of your registration and pre-payment of your hotel room for your entire stay.

There are three distinct Registration packages. Note that prices increase significantly the later you register. For the best value, please select the Early bird package and register before noon on 1 April.

Early Bird: Through Noon, 1 April 2013 (CLOSED)
Normal Registration: 1 April through 30 May (CLOSED)
Late Registration:  31 May to 14 July. (CLOSED)
Taking a “Package” (Registration and Hotel Accommodation) in ANY of the Registration Periods avoids the Czech 21% VAT. Not taking a “package” subjects the registrant to 21% VAT on BOTH their registration fee and hotel accommodation which is also at a higher rate per night. For those members who take the Congress packages or even for those that do no, and opt to make their own hotel reservations, ROA will wire transfer funds on behalf of all registrants to our Czech hosts. If you take a “package” and ROA has dispatched funds, including room payments on your behalf, understand that you “own” the room. Any reservation cancellation will most likely be non-refundable. ROA can and will try to secure a refund or a partial refund on a individual case by case basis where delegate substitution is possible with follow-on registrants, but no guarantee of refund can be promised. Registration fees are separate from hotel reservation fees and Registration fees never have been refundable by the CIOR International Presidency.

Waiting to register will cost you. Late Registration—anything after June 1, 2013—becomes expensive unless one takes the full Late package to mitigate total cost.

Accompanying Persons/Guests are not required to fully register unless the wish to register as a Delagate at large. A $20/night hotel surcharge applies to all Accompanying Persons/Guests sharing the same room. This does include breakfast. Delegates can purchase, a la carte, any Congress events – Closing Diner, Seminar, MOD Reception for their unregistered Accompanying Person/Guests.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
The ROA Delegation Hotel has been designated—It is the Hotel International. This is also conveniently the site of the CIOR Congress Center. Several allied CIOMR delegations will be staying at the Hotel Continental a 10 minute walk away. Delegates have the option of booking rooms at the Hotel Continental if they wish. However, you are strongly encouraged to use the Hotel International. There is no shuttle service scheduled between the hotel Continental for the Congress Center.

Hotel room up-grades are available at the Hotel International. The standard Registration and hotel reservation fee are for a Business Class room at $117/night Early Bird rate. For all intents and purposes, this is a typical Euro hotel room, two twin beds. Room Upgrades at higher daily rates/night follow: Premier Class room - $156/night, Executive Class Room - $195/night or Executive Suite/Apartment - $221/night.  Be aware that there are a limited number of these executive class rooms available and are offered only with the early bird package. The odds favor an early sell-out and ROA cannot unconditionally guarantee upgrade availbility even then. Waiting to book past noon 1 April precludes your ability to upgrade your room type. Room rates are based on current Euro exchange rate of 1.30

REGISTRATION PACKAGES
Please click the Ticket icon (upper right side of page) or the "Register Online Now" button near the bottom of the page to register for this event.

Early Bird Registration  (Hotel International--(CLOSED) Noon 1 April 2013)
Congress Package - $660 USD plus Room Rate (includes Breakfast)
Business Class Room – $117/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)
Premier Class room - $156/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)
Executive Class Room - $195/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)
Executive Suite/Apartment - $221/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)

Registration Only - $895 w/ 21% VAT included (CLOSED)
Hotel International - On your own – Business Class Room – $142/night + 21% VAT

Normal Registration (1 April to 29 May 2013) (CLOSED)
Congress Package - $785 USD plus Room Rate (includes Breakfast)
Business Class Room – $130/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)

Registration Only - $1082 w/21% VAT included (CLOSED)
Hotel – On your own -$158/night + 21% VAT (you are responsible for your own hotel room)

Late Registration (June 1 to 30 July Congress Start) (CLOSED)
Congress Package - $920 USD plus Room Rate (shown below) incl. B’fst
Business Class Room -$169/night; DBL surcharge $20/night (includes Breakfast)

Registration Only - $1275 USD (CLOSED)
Hotel – On your own – $204/night + 21% VAT (you are responsible for your own hotel room)

Accompanying Person/Guest Event Options (per person)
Minister of Defense (MOD) Reception - $90
Closing Dinner - $ 150
Opening Ceremony/General Assembly - $55
Symposium - $ 65

Members having questions should direct all inquiries to ROA National HQ – International Programs Director – Col Will Holahan, USMC (Ret.) Phone 800-809-9448 Ext 727 or wholahan@roa.org.

Thank you,

 
Paul Groskreutz
Col, USAF (Ret.)
CIOR Vice President
prgroskreutz@gmail.com