7th IRLA World Congress: General Information

The theme of the 7th IRLA World Congress in Punta Cana is The Secular Challenge to Religious Freedom.  The Congress will be held at the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort and Convention Center.  The following is important information for those who wish to register to attend the Congress.

Registration

• Pre-registration is required.  A registration form and additional information about the Congress can be found HERE.  The form should be filled out and submitted on-line and the registration fee paid by credit card or PayPal.  An early registration discount is available to those who register by December 31, 2011.  All registration must be completed by April 1, 2012.  There will be no refunds of registration fees.

• Onsite registration will take place at the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort and Convention Center from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00 on Monday, April 23.  If you arrive on April 22, plan to register early in the day on April 23 so you can avoid the lines that may develop as other people arrive.  During registration you will receive a name badge that will allow you admittance to the meetings and a wristband that will entitle you to eat at all of the hotel restaurants and use other hotel amenities at no additional charge.  You will also receive an IRLA bag with Congress materials in it. 

• For faster onsite registration, please print out your registration confirmation email and bring it with you. This is your "registration ticket" and it will allow you to move through the registration process quickly.

Insurance

• Participants must arrange health and accident insurance for themselves for the time they are in the Dominican Republic.

Passport/Visa

• At time of entry into the Dominican Republic, all passports must have a minimum of two (2) empty pages and be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of entry. 

• Each participant is responsible for determining whether he/she must obtain a visa to enter the Dominican Republic and, if a visa is necessary, to obtain the visa prior to departure for the Dominican Republic.  CLICK HERE for more information.

• For visa application purposes, letters of invitation may be requested through Attorney Miguel Nunez at: [email protected].  Please send him a number where he can fax your letter of invitation. 

Transportation

• For local transportation options, CLICK HERE.

• Airport transportation. A special rate per person of US$13 has been negotiated with Vacaciones Barcelo for round-trip transportation between Punta Cana airport and the resort. During the online registration process, you will have the option of indicating whether you need transportation. If you respond "Yes," a representative of Vacaciones Barcelo will email you before your arrival to request your flight information. It is your responsibility to provide this information when requested. A charge of US$13 will be added to your hotel bill for this transportation service. 

Hotels

• Each person or group leader is to arrange his/her own hotel accommodation. Special rates for Congress participants have been negotiated with the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort and Convention Center and you can access their booking site by  CLICKING HERE or by following the link at the end of the Congress registration process. There is also a link to the hotel booking website on the IRLA WEBSITE. The price of the hotel includes three meals a day.  Wireless computer connection is available for an additional fee.  The special rates available for the Congress will be extended one week before and one week after the Congress.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: The IRLA World Congress is being held at an all-inclusive resort. For this reason, only guests staying at the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort and Convention Center will have access to the meetings, the resort amenities, and the free meals which are served at various sites at the resort. Family members may register to stay at the accommodation available through this web site even though they don’t register to attend the Congress.  If you have questions, please send a message to [email protected].

Congress Schedule

• The first event of the Congress is the plenary session Tuesday morning, April 24, at 08.30 in room Punta Cana 1.

• Plenary sessions and breakout meetings continue from Tuesday through Thursday, April 24 through 26.

• On Thursday the final events of the Congress will be an award ceremony, followed by the evening meal.

Translation of Congress Proceedings

• Running translations in English and Spanish will be provided for plenary sessions. Breakout groups will be in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

• During the online registration process, you will be given the option of choosing your language preference.

Presentations on Web Site

• Presentations by speakers will be posted at www.irla.org and will therefore not be available in hard copy.  Every effort will be made to post this information as soon as possible following each presentation.

• Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions at the close of each presentation.  Questions are to be written on cards that will be distributed at the beginning of each session.    

Wireless Computer Connection

• Wireless computer connection will be available at the hotel for an additional fee. 

Food

• The Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort and Convention Center is "all-inclusive." Three meals a day, including all snacks and drinks, are included in the cost of the hotel room.

Attorneys’ Conference

• A separate Attorneys’ Conference will take place on Monday, April 23.  Invitations have been sent out by the General Conference Office of General Counsel and are generally to lawyers only.  For further information on this Conference see www.AdventistLawyer.com.

Festival of Religious Freedom

• A separate Festival of Religious Freedom is planned for the afternoon of Saturday, April 28, in La Romana.

• If you plan to attend, please purchase your transportation to the Festival of Religious Freedom when you register for the Congress. This adds US$20 to your registration fee and gives you round-trip transportation on April 28 from Punta Cana to La Romana.

Currency

• The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Peso.  The exchange rate is about 37 Pesos = US $1 at the present time.  Rates are subject to fluctuation.  Local currency may be purchased at banks or currency exchange providers who are licensed by the government.  Major currencies, traveler’s checks, or credit cards may be used to purchase Pesos.  A passport must always be presented when exchanging money.  

Safety and Security

• As a visitor to the Dominican Republic, you must always exercise safety and security awareness.  Always walk purposefully, as if you know where you are going.  Always secure your passport and other valuables in a safe place.  Always be aware of your surroundings.  Walk in groups when possible, and try to avoid walking outside after dark.  

Weather

• April is Spring in the Dominican Republic, although the temperatures are always warm and vary little throughout the year.  The normal low for April is 72F and the normal high is 83F.  There is also a chance of rain. 

Dress Code

• The dress code for the congress is business casual.