General Information
Welcome to Sitges, a true Mediterranean Pearl
Sitges, an ancient fisher village with 25,000 inhabitants is located only about 35 miles southwest of Barcelona. With its mild climate the whole year around, it has always been a place which has enchanted artists, tourists and visitors from all over the world. For many, the secret lies in its light and almost 300 days of sun that it enjoys every year, which attracted the painters, sculptors and writers who settled here at the end of the 19th century. Nature has indeed been generous to Sitges with its setting in an outstanding location on the Mediterranean coast at the foot of the Garraf Massif. Its cultural heritage is extraordinary, with a lively art scene and its traditions are respected with a modern perspective. Sitges has preserved important features both from mediaeval times and from its history as an old fishing town, enabling visitors to enjoy a notable architectural heritage. Sitges in the 21st century, whilst mindful of its roots, is focused on innovation and creativity. But above all, it’s the character of its people: open, tolerant, charming and cosmopolitan, given the more than 70 different nationalities living here, that makes Sitges such a passionate destination for international conventions.
Venue Location
The Hotel Meliá is located just a 25 minutes drive away from Barcelona International Airport (BCN) “El Prat” and situated at the easternmost point of Sitges in a quiet residential area and overlooking the charming “Aiguadolç” Marina.
Hotel Melia Sitges
Carrer de Joan Salvat Papasseit, 38
ES-08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain
Website | Email | Phone: +(34) 938 11 08 11 | Fax +(34) 938 94 90 34
Travel and Transportation
- Plane: Barcelona Airport, commonly known as “El Prat Airport” is the second largest airport in Spain and just a 25 Minutes drive away from Sitges. Most scheduled flights operate from Terminal 1.
- Bus/Taxi: There are coaches that run directly from Barcelona Airport to Sitges. The Bus Garraf runs from outside Terminal 1 (T1). However, the most convenient and quite affordable way to reach your hotel in Sitges from the airport is by Taxi. The cost is approx. 70 Euros and the trip takes 25 minutes. Tip: Try to share a taxi between 2 or 3 parties to reduce transportation cost. A meeting point for taxi- and/or private bus transfers will be organised at the ICRS welcome desk at the arrival hall of Terminal 1.
- Car: The C-32 express way gets you from Sitges to Barcelona and vice versa in just 30 minutes. In Vilafranca you can take the AP-7 expressway northbound to La Jonquera and link up with the European expressway network or southbound for the rest of Spain. For private VIP transfer please kindly contact Viajes Munditravel for special arrangements and reservations.
- Rail: Sitges has excellent suburban train connections with Barcelona City and Tarragona. There is a train nearly every 20 minutes from and to Barcelona. From the Airport to Sitges, you can take the Barcelona Airport Train – the C2 to Estacio Sants. Here you need to change train. From Estacio Sants there are numerous trains to Sitges.
Time Zone
CEST (Central European Summer Time) UTC/GMT +2
Language
Catalan and Spanish are the two main languages spoken in Cataluña/Spain. English is widely spoken and understood throughout the country. The official course language is English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.
CME Credits
The ICRS 2023 Congress intends to be accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Educations – EACCME, an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists – UEMS, recognised by AMA. Information on accreditation and the number of awarded CME credits will be available mid 2023 on our website.
Climate
Sitges has around 300 sunny days per year. The local climate is Mediterranean and therefore mild all year around. In September the average air temperature range from 18-25 Celsius although they can definitely get higher than this on the hotter days
Credit Cards / Cash Machines
All major credit cards are widely accepted. Bank cash machines (ATM) can be found easily and debit cards are also widely used. If you are using a foreign card at a bank machine, your money will be disbursed in Euros (€).
Currency
The currency in Spain is the Euro. 1 € ≈ 1.01 US$ (Date, August 2022)
Electricity, Weights and Measures
- Electricity: 220 – 240 volts 50 hz
- Weights: Kilo/Gramm system
- Measures: Metric system
Tipping
Service and VAT are always included in the prices all over Spain. Still, it is typical to “round up” the amount to some more-or-less round figure to basic service providers such as Taxi Drivers, Waiters, Porters, etc. A rule of thumb is to add 5-10%, generally ending with a full Euro amount.
Health Care
Individual travel & health insurance is highly recommended because health insurance plans often do not extend full coverage for medical services received outside the country of residence. Please check the Spain Travel website for the most current health requirements for travelling to Spain.
Entry Formality / Visa
The European borderless region known as the “Schengen Area” includes the following 26 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Visitors from the Schengen Area can hold a valid ID card to travel within this area. Visitors from outside the Schengen Area must hold a valid passport. Visa-exempt countries include the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and Japan. However, these nationalities will need an ETIAS Visa Waiver after its introduction in November 2023. With the approved ETIAS, non-EU nationals will be able to visit the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days per 180-day period. This information may change without further notice. If you have any doubts about your current VISA need to enter Spain, we highly recommend checking with the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your respective country. If you have any doubts about your current VISA need to enter Spain, we highly recommend checking with your Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your country. You also might find useful information on Spanish visa requirements here.
Disclaimer
ICRS and the congress organizer cannot accept any liability for the acts of any suppliers to this meeting nor of the safety of any attendee while in transit to or from this event. Participants are requested to carry proper travel and health insurance as the ICRS cannot accept liability for any accidents or injuries that may occur.
Information in this programme is subject to change without prior notice. For updated information please visit frequently our congress website at www.cartilage.org
Cancellation of the Congress by the Organizer
Congress fees will be reimbursed if the congress is cancelled for other reasons than war, warlike events, and acts of terrorism or sickness epidemics. In the latter circumstances, only a proportion of the congress fee would be refundable.
Technical Industry Exhibition
A technical industry exhibition will take place at the Melia Sitges. It will be open every day throughout the meeting and exhibitors from around the world will present a wide range of orthopaedic- and cartilage repair-related products. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to be updated with the most recent advances and latest news from our industry partners. Interested companies may contact the ICRS Executive Office for further exhibit & sponsoring information.
Intermissions
During intermissions, coffee, tea and refreshments will be served in the exhibition area as a courtesy from the ICRS.
Services for Persons with Disabilities
Please inform the ICRS office or indicate on the accommodation online booking form any special requirements you may have to allow us to best serve you. The Intercontinental Berlin has international-standard facilities for the physically challenged, including access ramps, elevators and toilets for people with special needs.
Security / Badges
The safety of all congress attendees is of utmost importance to our society. The ICRS and the Melia Sitges have taken security precautions to ensure the maximum possible safety for all participants. Identity check controls may occur at any time by the security staff. Congress badges are personalized, not transferable and guarantee individual access to different sections of the event. For organizational and security reasons, badges have to be worn all the time at the congress venue.