Travel and Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto Centre International Program for Insurance and Pensions Supervisors

BALANCING THE JULY 19-24, 2015 NEEDS FOR

SUPERVISORY INTENSITY AND Location: Montreal, Canada PROPORTIONALITY

Travel and Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto Centre International Program for Insurance and Pensions Supervisors – Travel and Accommodations FAQ

BALANCING THE JULY 19-24, NEEDS FOR 2015 SUPERVISORY

INTENSITY AND Location: PROPORTIONALITY Montreal, Canada

We’re excited to meet you in Montreal! This guide is to help plan your trip, and provides details about the exciting week you can expect with the Toronto Centre. Contact me at any time if you have questions.

Alison Stirling, program coordinator [email protected]

Contents

Customs and Immigration 1 Visiting Montreal 2 Networking Tour: Sunday, July 19 3 Accommodation 5 Meals 8 Local Transportation 9 During the program 10 Other questions 10

Please note that all prices are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.

Toronto Centre International Program for Insurance and Pensions Supervisors – Travel and Accommodation FAQ

Customs and Immigration

How do I obtain a visa? Please visit the Government of Canada website www.cic.gc.ca to see if you require a visa to enter Canada and to find a Canadian visa application centre near you. Your acceptance letter from the program functions as an official letter of invitation when applying for a visa.

What type of visa do I need? The visa you require is a Temporary Resident Visa.

What do I need to apply for a visa? A checklist for Temporary Resident Visas is available here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5484E.pdf When applying please ensure that you include the acceptance letter that we sent you by email, and note that you are attending a conference/training seminar hosted by the Toronto Centre.

What is the processing time for a visa? The visa application can take up to 8 weeks to process, depending on your location. Please check the processing times at your nearest Canadian visa application centre to allow sufficient time to obtain the visa.

Where can I obtain my invitation letter? Your official acceptance letter for the program is your letter of invitation; if you require more documentation, please contact program coordinator, Alison Stirling at [email protected].

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Visiting Montreal

What is the weather like in Montreal? Weather in Montreal in July is in general hot and muggy; please pack appropriate clothes.

I want to explore the city and region before/after the program: what should I do? Tourism Montreal has a detailed website outlining possible activities and tours that you can partake in.

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Networking Tour: Sunday, July 19

Join us for a day of sight-seeing around historic Montreal before the program starts! The tour includes complementary accommodations at the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel on the Saturday night before.

Itinerary

Time Activity

08:00 Breakfast at the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel

09:00 Tour departure from hotel (meet in lobby with luggage)

12:00 Lunch in Old Montreal

16:00 Arrival at the Loews Hotel Vogue

18:00 Cocktail and dinner in Loews Hotel Vogue Edimbourg I & II room

Does the tour cost anything? The cost of the tour and meals is included in the participant fee.

What should I wear? Please dress casually for the Montreal tour with comfortable walking shoes. Bring a light jacket in case it gets cool.

What do I do with my luggage during the tour? Bring your luggage to the tour bus at 09:00. The luggage will be locked in the storage space on the bus for the duration of the tour.

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Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel (Saturday, July 18)

A room will be reserved for all tour participants at the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel for the night of Saturday, July 18. You can check in any time after 15:00 on Saturday, July 18.

What does the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel cost? The cost of room and taxes will be prepaid for you; however, you will be asked to provide a credit card at the front desk for any incidentals (room service, spa amenities, etc.).

How do I get to the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel? The hotel is directly attached to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Therefore you can reach it by walking to the international departure area of the airport on the second floor and following the “Marriott Hotel” sign until your reach the fourth floor. The address is 800 Place Leigh-Capreol, Dorval, QC.

Do I need to make reservations at the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel? Reservations will be made on your behalf. To check in, inform the front desk that a room has been reserved for you by the Toronto Centre and provide them with your ID and a credit card.

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Accommodation for the Program

The program will be held at the recently renovated Loews Hotel Vogue, in beautiful downtown Montreal.

Visit the Loews Hotel Vogue website at: http://www.loewshotels.com/montreal-hotel/

How much does Loews Hotel Vogue cost? There is a special room rate of $177.71 CAD per night (including taxes) for a “Luxury” room available only for Toronto Centre participants. This rate is only available for five nights of July 19 to July 23. If you wish to arrive earlier or want to stay longer, the rates will be the normal rates that can be as much as $299.00 CAD per night plus taxes.

How do I book? Information: +1-514-285-5555 Website: http://www.loewshotels.com/montreal-hotel/ Reservations: To take advantage of our group rate at the Loews Hotel, book online here: http://bit.ly/1F4ttPD

Where is the Loews Hotel Vogue? 1425 Rue De La Montagne, Montreal, Quebec. See the map on the next page.

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I want to stay somewhere else; what are my options? Please note that we do not have a special group rate for the following hotels and that you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the Loews Hotel Vogue during the program.

Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa, click here 1240 Drummond Street, Montreal

Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel, click here 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque West

Hotel Novotel Montreal Centre, click here 1180 rue de la Montagne

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Facilities and Amenities at the Loews Hotel Vogue

What are the check in and check out times? Check in: after 15:00 Check out: before 12:00 Late check out charge is 50 per cent of daily rate. Extra person charge for 3rd & 4th adult: $40 each. Click here to learn more about the Loews Hotel Vogue services and amenities.

What room types are available? The rooms all have either one king or double queen-sized beds with an en-suite bathroom. If you require a cot, please notify the front desk.

Is internet access available? Guests will have complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access in public areas and in guestrooms by entering their email address. In the program conference rooms, a password will be given to access the Wi-Fi.

How late is the front desk open? The front desk is open 24 hours a day.

Are there any fitness facilities? There is a fitness centre on the 9th floor.  24-hour fully equipped on-site gym  Cardio Theater System  Complimentary natural spring water

Are there nearby shopping areas? There are numerous retail options nearby, please click here.

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Meals

Breakfast and lunch are included in the cost of the program. Unless otherwise notified, they will be served every day at the hotel.

Are there any ‘special event’ meals, such as a welcome dinner? When? There is a welcome dinner at 18:00 on Sunday, July 19 at the Loews Hotel Vogue and a farewell dinner at 19:00 on Thursday, July 23 at an outside restaurant nearby.

I have special dietary requirements: can they be accommodated? If you have additional dietary requirements, please contact the program coordinator.

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Local Transportation

Taxis

What should I know about Montreal Taxis? There are a number of different taxi companies in Montreal– each has a distinct look.  Fares are standard, metered and non-negotiable  The driver should start the meter at the beginning of your ride and stop it when you reach your destination  Refuse to ride in a taxi without an operational meter  If your service was acceptable, a 10-15% tip is customary

How do I order a taxi? If you are leaving the airport, there are numerous safe taxi options waiting at arrivals. If you are leaving from the hotel, the front desk will be happy to call a taxi for you.

How much do taxis cost? To go between Loews Hotel Vogue and the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, the taxi ride will be approximately $40 CAD.

Taking Public Transit

What should I know about Public Transit? The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) operates the public metro and buses (blue and white) within the city. The STM website is available here with routes and a trip planner.

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During the program

How to I obtain the course materials? A course binder with all course materials will be provided to you upon arrival at the program venue.

Will there be any pre-reading materials? Course pre-reading materials and activities will be e-mailed to you approximately one month prior to the program. They will also be available online on the course website.

How do I obtain the course certificate? The certificate will be granted to you on the last day of the course; full participation for all five days is required to obtain the certificate.