The Obergurgl University Centre is located at an altitude of 1940 metres, in the highest glacial village in the Tyrol, at the end of the Ötz Valley and surrounded by numerous three-thousand metre peaks.
Contact:
Mr. Alexander Zainzinger
Universitätszentrum Obergurgl
Gaisbergweg 5
6456 Obergurgl
Austria
Tel: +43 512 507 37201
Fax: +43 512 507 37400
E-mail: obergurgl[at]uibk.ac.at
Web: www.universitycenter-obergurgl.at
| Group Transportation |
Buses will be arranged on arrival day from Innsbruck railway station, via Innsbruck airport, to Obergurgl. The journey takes approximately 2 hours (for specific departure times, please check the conference website)
Airport departure point
The meeting point is located just outside the small airport building. The coaches will have a sign in the window indicating “ESF Research Conferences” for easy recognition.
Railway Station departure point
The meeting point is located on the east side of the station. Follow the signs towards the “Verladebahnhof”.
The coaches will have a sign in the window indicating “ESF Research Conferences” for easy recognition.
| Reaching the Venue |
By Air
The nearest airports to Obergurgl are Innsbruck (100 km), Munich (240 km) and Zurich (277 km). There are daily flights to Munich and Innsbruck airport from most major European cities.
A taxi (holding up to 4 persons) from Innsbruck airport to Obergurgl costs about EUR 150.
By Shuttle
The Ötztal Shuttle can take you from Innsbruck Airport to Obergurgl from €40,00 per person from the terminal to the front door of the centre. There are also price advantages if you book a return journey. The shuttle service only runs when it has been pre-booked (see website). Journey time takes 2-3 hours.
By Rail
The Österreichische Bundesbahnen ÖBB operate a frequent train service between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airport and Ötztal Bahnhof (which is the nearest railway station to Obergurgl). Journey time is approximately 4 hours from Munich, 1 hour from Innsbruck and 4 hours from Zurich.
Just outside Ötztal station, the ÖBB Postbus bus company leaves for Obergurgl approximately every two hours. The journey takes about an hour and a half. Arrival in Obergurgl is at the village square where you can take a taxi or walk (5 minutes) to the University Centre. A taxi from Ötztal Bahnhof to Obergurgl costs EUR 75.00 (from 1 to 4 persons) and EUR 90.00 (from 5 to 8 persons). There are always taxis waiting in front of the train station.
By Bus
From Innsbruck train station, take the Ötztal bus to Obergurgl. The buses are scheduled about every two hours and cost EUR 20 one way. The trip takes about 2 hours and a half.
| Accommodation and Meals |
Accommodation
All participants will be accommodated either at the Obergurgl University Centre (a newly renovated national trust building) or in neighboring pensions (all meals will be taken at the University Centre).
Single Rooms
Please note that single rooms can only be guaranteed to invited speakers. All other participants will have to share a twin room. In case single rooms would become available they will be attributed on a “first come, first served” basis. The supplement for single should be paid by bank transfer to the ESF who will issue you an invoice. Should you wish to be put on waiting list for single accommodation, please send an email to the conference officer.
Meals
Breakfast will be served buffet style from 07.30 to 09.30. Times for lunch and dinner are as shown in the conference final programme. Mineral water, orange juice and coffee are served at lunch; water and wine are served at dinner. Additional beverages are at the participants' own expense.
Coffee breaks will be served in the bar area.
Non-resident conferees (as well as participants who may be accommodated at other hotels) are expected to have all their meals with resident conferees.
| Conference Facilities |
Conference room
The conference room is located in the main building of the University Centre. It is equipped with a data projector, an overhead projector and a projection screen.
Speakers and participants making an oral presentation (invited lecture and/or short talk) are kindly requested to bring their own laptop or their presentation on a memory stick.
Short talks
There will be no short talks other than those listed on the final programme. The list of abstracts accepted for poster presentation is available on the conference website.
Posters
Posters can be fixed with pins onto poster panels. Recommended poster size is 100 cm high x 70 cm wide. Use letters and drawings that can be read from approximately 100 cm distance.
| Hotel Services |
Telephone
There are no telephones in the rooms. A public telephone booth is available near the reception. To make an international call, dial “00” followed by the code of the country you are calling.
Photocopies may be made, and faxes sent and paid for via the hotel reception.
Internet
A free internet connection is provided at the venue at various internet stations, and in the library. A wireless connection is available in the meeting room and in the bar/lounge area. Every room is equipped with either WLAN or cable (cables available at reception).
Rooms in neighboring hotels might not be equipped with internet connection.
Means of Payment
The hotel accepts the following credit cards: American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Maestro and Bankomat. It is also possible to pay in cash.
| Leisure Activities and Tourism |
At the hotel
The hotel has sauna and steam bath, a fitness room and various libraries. It is located in the highest glacial village in the Tyrol, at an altitude of 1940 meters, and is based right next to a skiing area with 110 km of downhill runs and 23 ski lifts, running from 1.880 m to 3.080 m. At the doorstep is one of the most beautiful UNESCO biosphere reserves in Europe, with the flora and fauna of glacial fore fields and surrounded by numerous three-thousand meter peaks. Ski rental in the village.
The conference centre has an agreement with a local shop for discounted ski rentals. It is possible to request a certificate from the venue to obtain reductions on the ski pass.
Tourist Office Obergurgl-Hochgurgl www.obergurgl.com or www.oetztal.com
In the surrounding area
The Timmelsjoch high alpine road (2 509 m), the highest pass across the Eastern Alps, takes you to Meran, which is merely 60 km away. The road is open from mid-June to the end of September.
“Hiking à la carte” with the Obergurgl-Hochgurgl Alpine Summer Card: Weekly hiking and mountain adventure programmes. You will be accompanied by qualified mountain or hiking guides, who take you from easy hight-level hikes to cross-border glaciers.
Aqua Dome - Tirol Therme Längenfeld (28 km from Obergurgl). A unique world of thermal spring experience. Guest will find a 4****plus hotel, sauna village, beauty and body treatment areas, thermal spring hall, Noah´s Ark Alps as well as the external thermal spring lay-out with eight meters high water basins. Aqua Dome
Ötzi Dorf in Umhausen (37 km from Obergurgl). An archaeological open-air museum meant to illustrate "life, living and the industries of the Neolithic Age" during Ötzi's time to the visitor.
The “Stuibenfall” in Umhausen (37 km from Obergurgl) is the tallest waterfall in Tyrol, which cascades down 159 m.
Innsbruck (90 km) – sightseeing tour. The 800-year-old town is renown as a cultural center, and as a city of numerous art treasures and many historic structures. Innsbruck’s rich history is interwoven with that of the Habsburgs, whose wealth and sense of beauty left their mark: the "Golden Roof", the "Black Men" bronze statues at the Court Church, the Imperial Court Palace and Ambras Castle.
The Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens (near Innsbruck - 115 km from Obergurgl) provide their guests with a magical experience, an escape from everyday life. Original interpretations (direction of André Heller) by famous international artists melt in a kaleidoscope for all the senses.
Shopping Hours
The shops in Obergurgl are open daily from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00 hours, except on Sundays. Some shops are closed in the summer. Two cash dispensers are to be found in town.
| Practical Information |
The international dialing code to Austria is 43. Dial +43 5256 6212 when telephoning from abroad; 05256 6212 when calling from within Austria.
Electricity supply:230V, 50Hz
Time:GMT/UTC plus one hour
Weights & measures: metric
Currency: Euro (EUR)
| Arrival, On-Site Registration & Conference Secretariat |
Upon arrival, participants should register with the ESF Conference Officer, sign the attendance list and collect their name badges and then check in at the hotel reception.
The conference officer will be present for the duration of the conference, taking care of the administrative aspects and the day-to-day running of the conference: registration, issuing certificates and receipts, collection travel tickets, etc.
The conference officer will be at the registration desk half an hour each morning before the meeting starts, during coffee breaks, and before and after each afternoon session.
| Registration and Payment |
Please confirm your attendance by filling in an online registration form accessible from the conference website.
Conference fees must be paid by credit card (Visa, Mastercard and Eurocard) via the online registration form by the registration deadline. A 150 EUR supplement is added if full payment has not been received by the registration deadline.
Payments by bank transfer are accepted only in exceptional circumstances and will be subject to a 10 EUR supplement. Contact the Conference Officer for details.
Payments by cash and cheque are not accepted.
| Cancellation and Refunds |
Should you need to cancel your participation, please contact the Conference Officer immediately. If notice of cancellation is received more than two weeks before the conference, all but EUR 100 will be reimbursed. No refund is possible if notice of cancellation is received less than two weeks before the conference.
| Extra Expenses |
Any expenses not covered by the conference fee (additional nights, beverages, telephone calls, etc.) must be paid directly to the conference venue during your stay.
Board & lodging for accompanying guests (in double room with conferee) must be booked with the conference secretary and paid directly to the venue. Please collect applicable guest fees directly from the venue.
Accompanying guests are not entitled to take part in any of the actual conference activities (attend talks in the conference room, coffee breaks, etc.). Conference facilities, such as access to the internet, are destined for the sole use of conferees.
| Travel Contributions |
All reimbursements will be made by post-conference bank transfers. If you have been granted a travel contribution, please provide your bank account details – including IBAN and BIC/SWIFT numbers – in the online registration form.
Photocopies of travel tickets must be returned to the ESF Research Conferences Unit within a maximum of one month after the conference. No reimbursement can otherwise be guaranteed.
Itinerary, price and currency must clearly feature on any ticket. Where no price is indicated on the ticket, the corresponding invoice must be enclosed.
Travel costs may not be higher than:
cheapest economy class air fare
OR second class train fare
OR bus fare from the participant’s place of work to the place of the event or may be the actual cost of travel, whichever is the lower.
The following may NOT be considered as allowable travel costs and therefore may NOT be presented when claiming the travel contribution:
taxi fares (in exceptional cases, taxi fares may be reimbursed)
local travel in the city or locality of the event
costs of health, life and luggage insurance.
Use of a private/rented car is covered either on the basis of a 2nd class return train fare documented by a certified travel agent, or on actual mileage according to the ESF coefficient applicable at the time of travel.
| Passport and Visa Requirements |
Please check your passport and visa requirements with your travel agent BEFORE departure. If you need help to obtain your visa, please contact the ESF conference officer.
| Insurance |
The European Science Foundation (ESF) does NOT provide insurance and do not take any responsibility for accidents or illnesses that might occur during the week or in the course of travel to or from the meeting place. It is therefore the responsibility of participants to check their health insurance requirements.
