The conference will be held in the hotel "Ajaria", situated in the center of Tbilisi. The bus to the excursion will depart from this hotel.
The Georgian visa can be obtained in Georgian consulates. To apply for the visa, you need an invitation. To obtain an invitation, send email to Khimuri Rukhaia (rukhaia@viam.hepi.edu.ge) and Konstantin Pkhakadze (pkhakadz@viam.hepi.edu.ge) indicating your fax number.You will receive an invitation signed by a pro-vice chancellor (aka pro-rector) of Tbilisi University. All kinds of Georgian visas can be obtained at the airport for about $20. I ringed the visa bureau at the airport and they confirmed this. The phone number of the bureau +995-32-940980.
Tbilisi can be reached by air by several major companies: British Airways, Swissair, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Georgia.
The registration fee is $380 and includes admission to all sessions, copy of the Proceedings, coffee breaks, transportation, two conference dinners, and full-day excursion with lunch and barbeque.
The registration fee for accompanying persons is $130 and includes all the above, except for admission to sessions and the Proceedings.
The fees should be paid in US dollars upon registration (sorry, no other reliable ways of payment!). The registration form will be available soon.
The organizers can book you rooms in the hotels "Ajaria" and "Muza". Of course, you can book any other hotel yourself. In both Ajaria and Muza you should pay in cash. Muza is 5-minutes walking distance from the conference venue. Ajaria is a big hotel, but essentially without any standard facilities. Muza is small, has a bar, and (in my opinion) is more cosy. All rooms in Muza have telephones, Ajaria has a small international telephone station in the lobby.
The following types of rooms are available (the prices are in USD per night and subject to small changes, depending on the rate of the local currency).
To book a room in Ajaria, send email to Khimuri Rukhaia (rukhaia@viam.hepi.edu.ge) and Konstantin Pkhakadze (pkhakadz@viam.hepi.edu.ge). They will confirm your booking.
The number of rooms of all categories is restricted, if you have any problem with booking, contact Khimuri Rukhaia (rukhaia@viam.hepi.edu.ge) and Konstantin Pkhakadze (pkhakadz@viam.hepi.edu.ge).
The organizers will provide transportation to/from the airport. If you book a room in a hotel different from the recommended ones, check that it is within working distance from the venue. Taxis and private are easy to catch and inexpensive. Travel by taxi within Tbilisi should normally cost between 2 and 5 lari.
The local currency unit is lari. The rate of lari to major currencies is relatively stable. One US dollar is approximately two lari. Credit cards are not generally accepted. We recommend you to bring US dollars with you. They can be exchanged to lari in many places at a reasonable rate.