Report on the state of the preparations of ACL08
Prepared by: Chris Brew


General Conference Chair: Kathy McKeown 
Local Organizer: Chris Brew 
Other local arrangements people:: Detmar Meurers, Michael White, Donna 
Byron, Eric Fosler-Lussier


1. Dates: June 15-20, 2008


Tutorials: Sunday June 15, 2008 
Main conference: Monday-Wednesday, June 16-18, 2008 
Workshops: Friday Saturday June 19-20, 2008 


2. Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Short North, Columbus OH


This is a conference hotel attached to the greater columbus 
convention center,  somewhat airport like, but within 
comfortable walking distance of downtown and of small restaurant 
district near downtown.



3. Rooms reservation: 
Tutorials: 3 rooms (capacity flexible) 
Main Conference: 3 rooms (capacity 400, 300, 200) go together for plenary 
Workshops: 6 rooms (capacity flexible, with partitions)


large corridors suitable for poster use.


A bit bare, should consider asking for furniture to make more comfortable.



ACL-Exec dinner not determined, can work on this


4. Accommodation:
(a) single/double/triple/quadruple in conference hotel for USD 140/150/160/170 
respectively. Block booking made. Kathy McKoy, Priscilla have details of numbers 
and have signed off on commitment 
(b) 120 x USD 80 rooms at Red Roof in just across from conference hotel 


Thinking is that main resource for cheaper rooms is triples/quads in conference 
hotel. Student dorms considered but ugly in US/CA shared dorm mode and in 
any case far from conference hotel, requiring bus-ride. 


5. Social programme:


welcome reception: Sunday, 15 June, in the Statehouse atrium. Beautiful 
space. Provisional booking, very unlikely to be needed by Governor on a 
Sunday night, but he would have precedence. We would know in good time 
to find a backup.


banquet plans: Tuesday 17 June, pavillion of Columbus Zoo, ample capacity, at 
least 700,  would need transport. price: approx. 80. USD. Downtown options 
much less attractive 



6. Conference fee: comparable to NAACL 07, which was USD 425 regular