Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is located on historic Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., within walking distance of the White House, the Capitol, Smithsonian Museums, many of Washington, D.C.'s finest hotels and other prominent businesses, historical sites and cultural organizations.

The USA, through the United States Group on Earth Observations (USGEO), a subcommittee of the U.S. President’s National Science and Technology Council, comprising two White House offices and fourteen U.S. departments and federal agencies. More information is available at http://usgeo.gov.

Registration is closed.

RRB = Ronald Reagan Building

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When you arrive at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, you will undergo a security check before proceeding to check-in at the registration desk located in front of the Atrium Ballroom.

At the registration desk, you will receive a GEO Plenary badge which you must wear at all times while in the meeting areas and at all GEO related events.

The registration desk will open at 2:00 p.m. on 16 November in front of the Atrium Hall. On 17 and 18 November registration will open at 8:00 a.m. in front of the Atrium Ballroom.

Lunch will be served in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Atrium.

Coffee and tea will be available during the morning and afternoon breaks in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Atrium Hall.

The GEO-VI Reception will be held on 17 November in the Sant Oceans Hall at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum from 19h30 – 21h00. The Museum is located at the intersection of 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. Directions will be provided.

Limited exhibit space is available in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Atrium Hall.

Please indicate your interest in having an exhibit, including the exhibit’s focus to the GEO Secretariat at secretariat@geosec.org, with cc to Adam.Baske@noaa.gov and usgeo.secretariat@noaa.gov as soon as possible, but no later than 15 July 2009. Once approved, detailed exhibit specifications and online ordering will be made available to secure exhibit services through the exhibit vendor, Hargrove, Inc. These services will be made available beginning 15 August 2009.

Foreign government officials traveling to the United States on official government business must obtain an A visa prior to arriving in the U.S. Please contact your local U.S. Consulate or Consular Section for more information about how to apply. Some applications may require 4-6 weeks of administrative processing, so please inquire early.

Representatives of GEO Participating Organizations should apply for a B-1 or type G visa, or plan to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. In certain cases, B-1 applications may require 90 or more days of administrative processing, so please apply well in advance. As of January 12, 2009, individuals traveling under the Visa Waiver Program are required to register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free online system. Once registered, ESTA authorization is generally valid for up to two years.

To obtain the latest information, please check the Transportation Security Administration webpage at: www.tsa.gov and http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/.

Please remember that to obtain a visa and enter the U.S., your passport must be valid for six months after your scheduled trip. More information is available at http://travel.state.gov/visa.

Delegates requiring a visa letter should contact the GEO Secretariat at secretariat@geosec.org, with cc to the USGEO Secretariat at usgeo.secretariat@noaa.gov no later than 30 June 2009.

Hotel room blocks at preferred rates have been secured within walking distance of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Note that hotel block was extended to Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Rooms will be allocated on a “first-come, first-served” basis according to availability. Detailed information on the hotel locations and reservations:

All rooms are reserved under the group GEO-VI Plenary

(A) WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004 Phone: +1.202.628.9100 Fax: +1.202.637.7326 Hotel web site & Group Reservation Form

Transport to and from the Meeting Site

No transport will be provided between the hotels and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

The Federal Triangle metro stop (Orange/Blue lines) is connected to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center by a covered passageway. The Metro Center metro stop (Red line) is two blocks away, and the Smithsonian metro stop (Orange/Blue lines) is within walking distance.

More metro information is available at http://www.wmata.com/.

(All prices are in U.S. dollars)

Transport to and from Local Airports.

From Washington National Airport

National Airport is the closest airport to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and serves more than 400 domestic flights daily.

• Metro. National Airport is served by Metro's Yellow and Blue lines. The estimated Metro fare from National Airport Metro to Federal Triangle is $1.80 with an estimated travel time of 20 minutes.
• Taxis and Buses. National Airport is serviced by Washington Flyer Taxi and Bus service. The estimated cost of a taxi from National taxi-stand is $11.00 with an estimated travel time of 15 minutes. The Washington Flyer Express Bus provides bus service from National Airport to Washington, D.C. for an estimated cost of $14.00 one way with an estimated travel time of 20-30 minutes. Washington Flyer Taxi and Bus service can be reached at 1-888-WASHFLY or http://www.washfly.com.

For additional information on transportation options from National Airport, please visit:

• http://www.metwashairports.com/National/transportation.html.

From Dulles International Airport

• Metro. Dulles International Airport has no direct train service to Washington, D.C. To connect to Metro, participants may take the Washington Flyer Express bus to the West Falls Church metro station. Buses run every 30 minutes, and cost $9 one way with an estimated travel time of 20 minutes. West Falls Church Metro to Federal Triangle metro stop estimated cost is $3.20 with an estimated travel time of 25 minutes.
• Taxis and Buses. Dulles International Airport is serviced by Washington Flyer Taxi and Bus Service. Approximate one-way fares to Washington, D.C. range from $51 to $58. Estimated travel time equals approximately 30-40 minutes. Washington Flyer Taxi and Bus service can be reached at 1-888-WASHFLY or http://www.washfly.com.

For more information on transportation options from Dulles Airport, please visit:

• http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/transportation.html.

With a vast array of monuments, museums, and government buildings, Washington D.C. is easily recognizable as the United State's capital city.

The National Mall is a large, open park area in the center of the city. Located in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument, along with numerous other memorials. These memorials continue south to the Tidal Basin and feature rows of Japanese cherry blossom trees presented by the nation of Japan.

The National Archives (www.archives.gov/nae/visit/) houses thousands of documents important to American history, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Capitol Building (www.visitthecapitol.gov/) and Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/visit/) are notable government buildings which feature tours.

The Smithsonian Institution (www.si.edu/museums/) is an educational foundation chartered by Congress in 1846 that maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in Washington, D.C. The U.S. government partially funds the Smithsonian, thus making the collections open to the public and free of charge. Sprinkled throughout the city, there are also dozens of additional galleries, museums, and attractions to draw visitors’ attention.

For more information on tourism opportunities, please visit:

• http://www.washington.org/visiting/browse-dc/attractions
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/best-bets/top-dc-attractions,74059.html

Washington D.C. has established a strong presence in food circles. A delicious and widely diverse choice of both internationally recognized restaurants and small neighborhood eateries are available. For more information on dining options, please visit:

• http://www.washington.org/visiting/experience-dc/urban-explorer/dining
• http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/index.html
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/cityguide/features/2008/dining-guide/index.html