TWO OFFICIAL CONFERENCE HOTELS
The official conference hotels for CSDL 6 are the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Medical Center, which are located approximately opposite each other on Main Street in the Houston Medical Center, about a half a mile from the conference site at the university.

The Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn are 3 star hotels with the following amenities: Outdoor pool; fitness center; business center (with complimentary internet access); free shuttle service to area attractions.

Suites are also available at the Holiday Inn and might be appropriate for groups larger than two, as there is a sofabed in the 'living room' of the suite. The normal double room has two queen-sized beds, and a third person could also be added to a double at both hotels although no extra bed is possible.

As is usual in U.S. hotels, the quoted rates do not include hotel tax (17%) or breakfast (see below for breakfast).

TO BOOK
To book a room at one of the conference hotels, call or fax the hotel directly at the following numbers:

Crowne Plaza Hotel 6701 S. Main St. Price: $79 per night plus tax Telephone: 713-797-1110 Fax: 713-796-1186
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites 6800 S. Main St. Price: $69 per night plus tax Telephone: 713-528-7744 Fax: 713-528-2978

Do not call national reservations numbers for these hotels, but only the local hotel numbers given above. Tell the local receptionist that you are attending "Rice CSDL" (or put that on your fax) and you will get the quoted rate. The cutoff for the conference rate has been extended to October 7. If you book after that date, the rate may or may not be available, depending on whether the block of rooms reserved is fully booked.

OTHER HOTELS
There are a few other nearby hotels for which we have negotiated conference rates: the Rodeway Inn, the Best Western Plaza Medical Center, and the Hilton Houston Plaza. Click on Other Hotels for more information about these.

BREAKFAST
Breakfast is available at the official conference hotels for about $10 for a continental breakfast. At the Best Western and the Rodeway Inn (under Other Hotels above), continental breakfast is included in the room rate. At the conference, morning pastries or bagels will be available each day from about 8:20 (see conference schedule).

GETTING TO THE CONFERENCE SITE
There will be a conference shuttle that makes trips from the two official conference hotels to the conference site at the start and end of each day. This shuttle will pick up at both the Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn and Suites. It is certainly possible to walk from these hotels, although for several blocks the route is along a major thoroughfare (Main St.) and we must mention that Houston is not a pedestrian-friendly city. Use of crossings at the traffic lights on Main is strongly advised, and even then, please watch out for cars turning corners as they will be unlikely to be watching out for you.

From the two Other Hotels: The Best Western is a little nearer to Rice than the two official conference hotels. If you do not wish to walk to campus, however, you can walk the short distance to one of the official hotels and take the conference shuttle from there. The Rodeway is on the other side of campus, about 15-20 minutes' walk from the conference site. There is no shuttle but it is an easy walk, most of which is through the campus. Directions and/or map will be forthcoming.

CONFERENCE RECEPTION
The conference reception will be held at the Crowne Plaza on the evening of Friday October 11, 2002 starting at 8:45 p.m. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. The Crowne Plaza is quite near the Holiday Inn (across the street) and the Best Western (next door, across a large parking lot).