Also nearby are the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security, should you decide to maximize your business travel to the area.

With Hyatt compliments, hotel guests can enjoy the rooftop health club, featuring an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, weights, and cardiovascular equipment.  High speed wireless Internet access in guest rooms is $9.95 per night.  Wireless access is also available in the Lobby Level and above. The Business Technology Center, located one floor below the Lobby on the Meeting Room Level, can be your “mobile office” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Guests can be reached at telephone 301-657-1234 and fax 301-657-6453.  Check-in time is 3:00pm, and check-out time is 12:00pm.  Luggage storage is available for guests who arrive or depart outside of these times.

Reservations
A block of guest rooms for Annual Meeting attendees is reserved at the Hyatt at our group rate of $202, single/double occupancy, plus state and local taxes (currently 13%).  You can make your reservation online, or call the Hyatt at 1-301-657-1234 or Hyatt Reservations at 1-800-233-1234, and reference our group code “ANBE.”  To secure a room at our group rate, please make your guest reservation by October 30, 2009, and before our block fills.

IMPORTANT HOTEL POLICIES: All departure dates will be confirmed at check-in.  If you depart prior to the agreed-upon departure date, the hotel will assess an early-departure fee of $50.00.  Should you need to cancel your reservation, please do so by 3:00pm on the day before your scheduled arrival to avoid incurring a charge for one night’s stay.  If the circumstances are beyond your control, such as weather or flight troubles, you can contact the front office manager to request that the fee be waived.  Similarly, if your arrival date changes, please advise the hotel no later than 3:00pm on the day before your scheduled arrival, or else your entire reservation will be canceled.

Climate and Attire

If you are not already familiar with the weather possibilities in the Bethesda area in December, be prepared for daytime temperatures anywhere from 40 - 60oF with a chance of rain.  We encourage you to check with your favorite weather source closer to the meeting dates.

Business and business-casual attire are both appropriate for the meeting, and we remind you to bring what you may need to utilize the hotel’s exercise facilities and to explore Bethesda and Washington, DC, during your free time.

Local Transportation and Parking

One-way Metro fare from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) to the Hyatt is under $3.00 and the ride takes about 40 minutes, depending upon the time you travel and other considerations.  From the airport, take the Yellow Line (towards Mt. Vernon) to the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop.  Change to the Red Line (towards Shady Grove or Grosnevor) and exit at the Bethesda Metro stop.  For schedules, fares, information about public transit options to and from Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), and other details that apply to your trip, please visit the transit authority website at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's website.

Taxi fare to the Hyatt is approximately $40.00 - $45.00 from Reagan National (18 miles); $50.00 - $55.00 from Dulles (18 miles); and $75.00 from BWI (32 miles).

If you would like to pre-arrange your local travel, SuperShuttle Transportation Systems serves all 3 airports.  You may visit their website or call 1-800-BLUE-VAN (258-3826).  The Washingtonian Online also posts a comprehensive list of local travel options in and around metropolitan Washington, DC.

If you are driving to the meeting, check the Hyatt’s website for directions.  The Monument Parking Garage is available for use by day and overnight guests of the Hyatt, and is managed and operated by Monument Parking.  The parking garage is accessible via the front drive of the hotel, just past the front entrance to the hotel.  Current published parking rates are:

1 hour - $5.00
Up to 3 hours - $9.00
3 to 24 hours - $10.00
Overnight - $15.00 Sunday through Thursday, $12.00 Friday and Saturday

Valet parking is also available at an additional $5.00 per car.

Smoking Policy

Hyatt Regency Bethesda has 5 smoking guest rooms, available on request on a first-come, first-served basis.  Otherwise, smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Shipping to the Hotel

The hotel’s Receiving Department is open from 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday through Friday.  Should you need to ship anything to the Hyatt, please label your parcel(s) as follows and include your complete return address:

Receiving Department
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
One Bethesda Metro Center
Bethesda, MD 20814
Attn: Zach Beadle

Hold for <guest name and organization>, arriving <arrival date>, NSF ERC Annual Meeting

Box ___ of ___

Registration Cancellation or Substitution

If you must cancel your registration, please do so in writing (email is fine) no later than November 23, 2009.  We will refund your registration fee, less a $25 administration fee, after the Annual Meeting.  Cancellations after that date will not be refunded.  Substitutions are welcome.  Please just let us know who is replacing whom, so the onsite materials can be accurate. Cancellations and substitutions can be made by contacting Louise Robson, telephone 920-467-0920.

Anything else?

If you have any questions about the hotel or meeting, please contact Kate Ryan, 262-334-3844. If you have any questions about your registration or photo for the ERC Photo Booklet, please contact Louise Robson, 920-467-0920.