MEETING LOCATION

MEETING LOCATION

Minnesota, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area in particular, is quickly losing its status as one of the country’s best-kept secrets. That is because Minnesota offers something for everyone. The famous "city within a city," the Mall of America, is the nation’s largest fully enclosed retail and family entertainment complex. While out and about, remember that Minnesota is one of the few states that has no sales tax on clothing!

The name Minnesota originally came from the Dakota Indians, and it means "sky-tinted water." Although Minnesota is called the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," it actually has more than 12,034 lakes that are larger than ten acres. One third of the land in Minnesota is covered with forest, and there are 66 state parks, 2 national forests, and one national park in the state. You will find Minnesotans enjoying their beautiful natural environment in activities ranging from boating of all kinds to camping, biking, golf, fishing…even ice fishing in the winter!

WEATHER

Although people in other parts of the country associate Minnesota with snow and freezing cold, we actually have a very diverse climate. Average high temperature for June is 66 degrees fahrenheit and low is 45 degrees fahrenheit.

HOUSING

Housing reservations for the ASABE Annual International Meeting may be made directly to the contracted hotels in Minneapolis. All rooms are subject to 13% occupancy tax. ASABE will again be providing meeting bags to the registrants who book at the contracted conference hotels.

• Minneapolis Hilton (Headquarters)

1001 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 USA

Phone: 612-376-1000 Fax: 612-397-4871

www.hilton.com

Registration: 888-933-5363 (Meeting Code: ASA)

mspmhhh_asa/index.html

$129 Single/double

$149 triple

$159 Executive Level

$169 Quad

• Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 USA

Phone: 612-370-1234 Fax: 612-370-1463

www.minneapolis.hyatt.com

Registration: 888-421-1442

http://minneapolis.hyatt.com/groupbooking/

americansocietyofagriculturalengineers-msprm2007

$129 single/double

$154 triple/quad

A block of rooms have been reserved for our preprofessional

registrants at the Hyatt

• Doubletree Guest Suites Minneapolis (overflow hotel)

1101 Lasalle Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 USA

Phone: 612-332-6800 Fax: 612-332-7056

Call Sue Usher for reservations: 612-492-2224 (8am-5pm CST)

$159 plus taxes

BADGES

Due to homeland and international security guidelines NO ONE without a badge will be admitted into any ASABE Annual International Meeting function or event. Minors must be accompanied by an adult badge holder or registrant. ASABE’s Annual International Meeting has several registration classes with various entitlement and opportunities.

Please review your registration material carefully to ensure you have selected the meeting registration that maximizes your meeting experience. Remember, all badge holders and registered attendees have the opportunity to purchase CPD classes, events and tour tickets.

TRAVEL VISA LETTER REQUESTS

Applications for Visa invitation letters are now available on the ASABE website with no fee. You will need to complete the asterisk-requested information within the form and an automatic response will reply with the completed Visa invitation letter for you to print instantly. To obtain a Visa invitation letter which can be presented at our consulate for travel visit the ASABE website at

http://www.asabe.org/meetings/aim2007/index.htm

If this is not an option and a faxed or original copy is necessary, please email ASABE at mtgs@asabe.org to request your letter as soon as possible. Please be advised ASABE can only provide a letter station the purpose of your request. ASABE has no jurisdiction or authority to grant or approve your travel request with US Embassies or US Consulate offices.

ASABE recommends that you initiate your visa application process at least four to six months prior to the opening date of any ASABE conference or meeting.

All prepaid international conference registrants will be posted by ASABE to an intranet site for the U.S. State Department listing the ASABE conference and all prepaid international registrants, which every embassy and consulate in the world can access for verification of attendance.

TRANSPORTATION

AIR

One of the most modern and efficient airports in the United States, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ranks seventh in the country in terms of passenger load. The airport is home to Northwest Airlines, and serves as its largest hub. Minneapolis-St. Paul is also served by the following passenger airlines: Air Canada, Air Tran, America West, American, American Trans Air, Champion Air, Comair, Continental, Continental Express, Delta, Frontier, Iceland Air, KLM, Northwest, Mesaba Airlink, Omni Air International, Sun Country, United, United Express, US Air, TED.

Northwest Airlines is pleased to offer discounted airfares for ASABE’s 100th Anniversary Annual International Meeting in Minneapolis. For AIM participants and guests to receive a discount on airfares purchased through www.nwa.com or through Northwest’s reservations and ticketing assistance at 1-800-328-1111 all meeting participants will need to use the WorldFile/Ticket Designator (NYUYR) to purchase their tickets and the special discount will be applied at the time of purchase. Discounts will range from 2% to 15% based on the selected fare.

CAB / TAXIS - Airport and Downtown

Over 500 taxis serve the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport to points throughout the Twin Cities area. The one-way fare from the airport to downtown Minneapolis is approximately $25.00, and the ride is approximately 15-20 minutes. The taxi cab can be hailed from your hotel within minutes.

SUPER SHUTTLE

SuperShuttle of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Inc. provides an opportunity to save money and time when you arrive in Minneapolis. SuperShuttle service provides convenient, reliable and economical transportation between the airport and all major hotels with departures from the airport every 30 minutes and departing from major hotels every half hour. The cost is $15.00 one way and $30.00 round trip (as of 8/8/06). No reservation needed. A professionally-staffed SuperShuttle desk is located on the right side of the Ground Transportation Center, one level below Baggage Claim.

SuperShuttle complies with the American Disabilities Act pertaining to accessible service by airport shuttle service. People who are in need of accessible service must make a reservation by calling 612/827-7777 or 1-800-BLUEVAN. Reservations must be made one day in advance. Rates are the current prices that the company has on file with the Transportation Regulation Board.

LIGHT RAIL

Zoom around town on the brand new Hiawatha Light Rail. Electrically-powered rail cars bring transportation on tracks back to Minneapolis for the first time in 50 years (when the last streetcar was operational).

Getting around Minneapolis is a breeze with 17 rail stations between the entertainment-packed Warehouse District in downtown Minneapolis and the shopper's paradise - Mall of America in Bloomington. With additional stops at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Historic Fort Snelling, restaurants along Hiawatha Avenue, the H.H.H. Metrodome and various locations along Fifth Street in downtown - the Hiawatha Line can provide a full day of entertainment and still get you to the airport on time! Cost for traveling from the airport by LRT to downtown is $1.50-$2.00 each way.

BUS

Riding public transportation is a convenient and inexpensive way to get around. Fares range from $1.25 to $2.75, depending on time of day and specific routes. Route and schedule fees may be picked up at the information desk in Exhibit Hall B.

ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

AMTRAK - TRAIN DEPOT

The Twin Cities are served by Amtrak. The depot is readily accessible, centrally located between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Amtrak serves all of the United States plus Toronto and Montreal in Canada. These two cities are connected by rail to the rest of Canada, enabling arrival to the Twin Cities via train.

CAR RENTAL

Major car rental companies that have pick-up and drop-off points at the Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport are Alamo Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis Rent-A-Car, and Hertz Rent-A-Car. Promotion code for Hertz is CDP# 1291914. Promotion code for Avis is AWD# T107000.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AND CONVENTION CENTER

FROM THE WEST (I-94)

Take the 4th Street exit from I-94 and proceed to 2nd Avenue South. (Do NOT turn right onto 2nd Avenue North.) Turn right on 2nd Avenue South and go eight blocks to Convention Center.

FROM THE EAST (I-94)

Take the 11th Street Exit: follow 11th Street South until you reach 2nd Avenue South, turn left onto 2nd Avenue South and cross 12th Street South. The Convention Center will be on your left. The Underground Plaza Parking Ramp is on your right.

FROM THE WEST (I-394)

Take Downtown Exit (12th Street): follow 12th Street South to 2nd Avenue South and turn right. The Convention Cetner will be on your left. The Underground Plaza Parking Ramp will be on your right.

FROM THE SOUTH (I-35W)

Follow downtown exit signs to the 11th Street exit and follow 11th St. to 2nd Avenue South Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go one block to Convention Center.

FROM THE NORTH (I-35W)

Take the I-94 exit. Follow I-94 to the 11th St. exit (NOT 11th Avenue exit). Follow 11th Street to 2nd Avenue South. Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go one block to the Convention Center.

FROM THE AIRPORT MAIN TERMINAL:

Take Hwy 55 exit from the airport. Follow Hwy 55 west to Minneapolis. This will become Hwy 62 west. Follow Hwy. 62 to I-35W north to the Minneapolis downtown exits. Then take the 11th Street exit. Follow 11th St. South to 2nd Avenue South. Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go one block to the Convention Center.

SHIPPING - IMPORTANT NOTE

If you plan to ship something to the meeting, please call the Meetings Department at ASABE 800-371-2723 for specific directions. Please do not attempt to ship anything directly without first checking with ASABE. This may result in refused shipments or unnecessary handling and storage fees.