Speaker Information
Passport and Visa Requirements
U.S. citizens must have a passport for ALL travel to and from Canada. Click here for information. Non-U.S. citizens: to determine which documents you require, contact the Canadian Embassy or consulate in your country. For additional information on passport and visa requirements, click here.
Transportation to Toronto
Following are ground transportation options from/to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Registration
Avoid the Lines – Register Now!
If you have not registered yet, we urge you to do it now and avoid lines at on-site registration. Click here to register now.
Registration Hours
Registration will be located in the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Conference Centre (Level 2), Metro Grand East. You can pick up your printed program and other registration materials at the following times: Saturday, 4:00pm-7:00pm; Sunday-Tuesday, 7:00am-5:00pm; Wednesday 7:00am-12:00pm.
Badges Required for Technical Sessions
CORS-INFORMS International badges must be worn to all sessions and events. Badges will be checked at the entrance to technical session areas. Attendees without badges will be directed to the registration desk to register and pick up their badges. All attendees, including speakers and session chairs, must register and pay the registration fee.
Room Locations
The printed program you receive in Toronto will list room locations for all sessions and events, as well as provide floor plans. All meeting events including technical sessions, exhibits and Sunday evening Welcome Reception will be held at the Westin. The Monday evening General Reception takes place at the Hockey Hall of Fame. A shuttle bus will provide transportation to and from the reception venue.
Audio-Visual Services
All session rooms will be equipped with LCD (computer) projectors. If you need to use an overhead projector, you must reserve one in advance. Please send your name and day of presentation by June 1 to cheryl.clark@informs.org. Overhead projectors cannot be ordered on-site at the meeting.
Before you depart for Toronto, please review these instructions:
- Bring your laptop PC to your session. We supply the projector, but we DO NOT supply the computer.
- Bring your AC power adaptor with you. There will be convenient AC power in every session room.
- Arrive at your session at least 30 minutes before it begins. All presenters in a session should set up and test the connection to the projector before the session begins.
- Do NOT attempt to run your presentation off the laptop battery, no matter how trustworthy.
- Produce and bring overhead transparencies as a backup.
Speaker Ready Room
There will be a special Speaker Ready Room available in the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Metro Grand East, during the meeting. You can stop by and practice connecting your laptop to the projector. We will also have quick instructions at each session room and technical assistance available for any problems.
How to Navigate the Meeting
Printed Program
When you pick up your registration materials in Toronto, you'll receive the printed program with four resources:
- The technical session listing, which provides the most detailed information. The listing is presented chronologically by day/time, showing each session and the papers/abstracts/authors within each session.
- The Master Track Schedule. This is an overview of the tracks (general topic areas) and their time/locations.
- Floor plans that show you where technical session tracks are located.
- Three cross-references indices: authors, session chairs, and sessions.
The Session Code
Each session is identified with a code - for example, MB25.
- The first letter is the day of the week.
- The second letter is the time block (A = 8:00-9:30am; B = 10:00-11:30am (11:00am-12:30pm on Mon. and Tues.); C = 1:30-3:00pm (12:30-2:00pm on Sunday); D = 3:30-5:00pm.
- The number is the track, which correlates with room location.
To Find Your Own Session
Use the Author Index at the back of the printed program - the session code for your presentation(s) will be shown. Then refer to the full session listing for the location of your session(s).
To Find Sessions of Interest
Before you arrive in Toronto, use the online program search to identify sessions you want to attend. Search by CLUSTER to see what's available in broad topic areas. Search by KEY WORD for particular interests. Search by SESSION for a chronological look at sessions available each day. Or search by AUTHOR. You can also create your own itinerary. Once you arrive in Toronto, the best method for finding sessions of interest is to use the Master Track Schedule. It provides an overview of the general topic areas for all sessions during the week.
For Assistance During Your Session: Session Monitor Desks
Session Monitor Desks are located in several areas in the hotel (see hotel map for specific locations). If you have a problem in your session room (related to AV needs or any other requests), go to the Session Monitor Desk in the area to ask for assistance.
Program Information Desk
If you have general questions about the meeting and/or questions about your own presentation, stop at the Program Information Desk located in Metro Grand East. We ask Session Chairs to notify the Information Desk about any last-minute changes or cancellations; these changes will be posted outside the meeting rooms.
Presentation Guidelines
All attendees, including speakers and session chairs, must register and pay the registration fee.
By now, all authors have received emails directing them to the online program for the date and time of their presentation(s).
Making Your Presentation
Go to the registration area and pick up your CORS-INFORMS Meeting Program, name badge and other registration materials. The room and location of your session will be listed in the Technical Sessions section of the meeting program and in the Master Track Schedule.
- Arrive at your session at least ½ hour early for A/V set-up.
- Limit your presentation to key issues with a brief summary.
- Time your presentation to fit within your designated time span (determined by the number of speakers presenting in that session), leaving time for audience questions.
- Bring copies of your paper or other handouts to distribute to the audience.
Withdrawals and No-Shows
Please don't be a "no-show" at the meeting. While we understand that last-minute circumstances may prevent speakers from attending, we urge you to inform us so we can alert attendees. Speakers who fail to notify us that they are not attending are being unfair to their colleagues and the Organizing Committee. No-shows will be deleted from the online program immediately following the meeting.
- All withdrawals must be sent to the Meeting Program Editor paulette.bronis@informs.org in writing. Withdrawals will be listed in the Program Addendum and will be deleted from the online program.
- Invited and Sponsored speakers should also inform their session chair if they are not able to attend the meeting to make their presentation(s).
- If a paper is withdrawn from a session before the meeting, the session chair may add a new speaker or extra time may be allowed for the remaining speakers.
- Invited and Sponsored session chairs should find a substitute to act as chair in their place.
- If a speaker is a "no-show," the original time schedule should be adhered to rather than sliding every talk forward. This allows for effective session jumping.
Session Chair Guidelines
The role of the Chair is to coordinate the smooth running of the session. The Chair:
- Begins and ends each session on time. Each session lasts 90 minutes, with the time per presentation determined by the number of papers in the session. Equal time should be given to each paper.
- Introduces each presentation (just the title of the paper and the name of the presenting author).
- Ensures that presentations are made in the order shown in the program. This allows for “session jumping.” If a speaker cancels or does not attend, the original time schedule should be adhered to rather than sliding every talk forward.
- Completes the session attendance form (forms will be in the room).
Business Centre and Internet Access
The Westin Business Centre is open 7 days a week, Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm. Westin guests may access the Internet computers on a 24-hour basis by using a guest room key card.
Guest Registration
If your guest would like to accompany you to the major social events, you can purchase a guest registration ($100) that covers admission to the Sunday Welcome Reception and Monday evening General Reception. Guests are not eligible to attend the technical sessions. Go to the registration desk to register your guest.
Weather
Daytime temperatures average in the 70s (F). Evenings tend to be cool, so bring a light jacket or sweater. |
