86th Annual Meeting of the ATA

Dear 86th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association Participant,

We look forward to welcoming you to the 86th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association taking place Wednesday, September 21 to Sunday, September 25, 2016 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Below are logistical details to assist you in preparing for the meeting. All events for the 86th ATA Annual Meeting take place on the Concourse Level of the Plaza Building at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel unless otherwise noted.

The 86th ATA Annual Meeting officially begins on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 with the Opening Welcome Ceremony and Scientific Session beginning at 5:30 PM. The Welcome Reception will follow the opening scientific session. Pre-meeting satellite programs on Wednesday include the Endocrine Neck Advanced Ultrasound Course as well as the Ridgway Trainee Conference Clinical and Basic pre-meeting courses. The latest scientific program along with a list of ancillary and satellite programs for the 86th ATA can be found on the 86th ATA website at http://www.thyroid.org/86th-annual-meeting-ata/#program. Meeting abstracts will be posted online on or about September 19, 2016. Meeting Room locations will be provided in the Scientific Program Book and Expo Guide provided to all attendees onsite at registration.

Meeting Dates: Wednesday, September 21 – Sunday, September 25, 2016

Meeting Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO, 80202, USA; 303-893-3333.

Congress Language: The official language of the 86th ATA is English. Abstract submissions, scientific sessions and general correspondence will be in English. There will be no simultaneous translation.

Meeting Registration Hours and ATA Meeting Badges: Your meeting badge and congress bag can be picked up in the Plaza Registration Office (Plaza Building, Concourse Level) during the registration hours listed below. For security and regulation purposes, a meeting badge is required for entry into all official events organized within the context of the 86th ATA. Please note that early riser symposia and breakfast are not included in this year’s meeting. Please plan your mornings accordingly.

Wednesday, September 21: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Thursday, September 22: 7:30 AM – 5:15 PM
Friday, September 23: 7:30 AM – 5:15 PM
Saturday, September 24: 7:30 AM – 5:15 PM
Sunday, September 25: 7:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Exhibit and Poster Hall Hours: THYROID EXPO 2016 exposition hall is located in Plaza Ballroom D/E and Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building of the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. The hall will be open during the hours below. Poster presenters will gain access to the hall beginning at 8:00 AM Thursday, September 22 through Saturday, September 24 to put up posters. Visit the ATA Virtual Exhibit Hall to view the list of current 86th Annual Meeting of the ATA Exhibitors.

Wednesday, September 21: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Hall Open for Exhibitor Move-In Only; closed to attendees); 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Exhibit hall open to exhibitors and all attendees during the ATA Welcome Reception)
Thursday, September 22: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Open at 8:00 AM for poster presenters only)
Friday, September 23: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Open at 8:00 AM for poster presenters only)
Saturday, September 24: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Open at 8:00 AM for poster presenters only; Hall Closes at 1:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 11:59 PM exhibitor and poster dismantle thereafter.

Hotel Confirmation and Changes: Hotel confirmations have been sent by email for attendees with existing reservations made through the ATA housing service, EventSphere (website https://resweb.passkey.com/go/2016AnnualATA). If you have not received your confirmation, please contact EventSphere via phone, 24 hours a day, at 855-235-6023 or via email at ata@eventsphere.com

The ATA 2016 housing website is now closed for reservations. Please contact your hotel directly to make any changes to your reservation. Please note that the hotels may not be able to offer the discounted ATA rate due to the proximity of the meeting. In order to secure a room, please call the hotel directly. Contact information is listed below:

  • Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel at 1-866-716-8134 or 1-303-893-3333
  • Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown at 303-296-0400
  • Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center at 303-436-1234

Transportation to the 86th Annual Meeting of ATA: Ground transportation to and from the ATA meeting is not provided for the airport or between the official ATA overflow properties. The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel is located 25 miles from the Denver International Airport (DIA). Each overflow hotel is within walking distance to the Sheraton. Several ground transportation options are available at DIA, and it is easy to arrange transportation to the hotel. Walk outside from Baggage Claim (Level 5) to find five parallel traffic islands –each designated for a specific ground transportation service – from limousines to shuttle to buses. For just $9, attendees can take the train from DIA to Denver Union Station, putting them in the heart of downtown in no time flat. Click on this link for information on the Airport Rail. From Union station take the 16th street free shuttle and get off on the Court Place stop… the hotel is on the right.

Getting around the city is equally convenient. Many of Denver’s most sought after attractions are within walking distance and the hotel is located right on the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall. A taxi stand in front of the hotel provides another option for easy exploring.

Driving Directions: For general driving directions to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel please click on this link:
http://www.sheratondenverdowntown.com/hotel-directions

Parking at the Hotel: The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel will provide a 50% discount on parking rates ($37 self-parking and $45 valet parking) for conference attendees. Guests staying on property should inform the hotel front desk that they are part of the 86th ATA to have their parking charges automatically changed to reflect the 50 % 86th ATA discount. Vouchers will be available at the 86th ATA Registration Desk (Plaza Registration) for local attendees or those participants staying off property and driving in to the meeting daily.

Climate and clothing: The dress code for the 86th ATA is business/comfortable casual. Attendees should dress to their personal preference. Denver has a mild, dry and sunny climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. For the month of September, the average maximum temperature is 25°C (about 78°F) while the average minimum temperatures drop down to 9°C (about 48°F).

Coffee Breaks: Mid-morning and afternoon coffee breaks are available September 22-24 in the 86th ATA exhibit and poster hall.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits and Certificates: Visit the 86th ATA website at www.thyroid.org/86th-annual-meeting-ata/ for information to claim your CME credits and print your own official CME certificate for the meeting. Instructions will also be available onsite at the meeting and in the official meeting mobile APP.

Wireless Internet: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is pleased to offer complimentary wireless internet access to all registered attendees in the meeting facility during the 86th ATA. Internet access instructions will be provided onsite. Exhibitors interested in dedicated internet service should purchase service directly with the hotel.

Congress Mobile APP: We’re excited to provide a dynamic mobile application for the event that will put all key 86th ATA meeting information at your fingertips. You will get up-to-the-minute information such as the latest agenda, faculty information, live polling, networking and feedback opportunities, updates from the conference planners, maps, exhibitor and sponsor details, an attendee list and more. Instructions for logging into the meeting mobile app will be provided onsite in the meeting program book.

  • NOTE: A unique email address is required for each person to access the mobile app. Visit the 86th ATA Registration Desk (Plaza Registration) for assistance if you do not know which email address is associated with your registration record or if you are having issues accessing the 86th ATA mobile APP.

Special 86th ATA Social Events: There is still time to sign up for these exciting 86th ATA events! Tickets will be available until sold out. A list of all 86th ATA ancillary and satellite events are available on the 86th ATA website.

Currency Exchange: All rates given in the 86th ATA program are in U.S. Dollars. Foreign currency can be exchanged at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel front desk. Foreign currency may also be exchanged at the Wells Fargo bank located a block and a half away from the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

Childcare Services: There are no childcare services being offered as part of the official 86th ATA.

Business Center: The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel offers a full service business center open Mon – Fri 7:00am – 8:00pm | Sat and Sun 8:00am – 4:00pm to hotel guests and meeting attendees for printing, copying, computer access, faxing, shipping and other business needs. Penfield’s Business Center is located in the Plaza Building Street Level.

Faculty Speaker Ready Room for Uploading Meeting Presentations: All meeting faculty should upload their meeting presentations using the 86th ATA Speaker Ready Room located in Plaza Court 8, Plaza Building, Concourse Level of the Sheraton Hotel. Presenters should upload their talks a minimum 1-2 hours prior to their presentation time. An audiovisual technician will be available in the speaker ready room to assist meeting faculty as needed. The Speaker Ready Room is open to meeting faculty only during the following hours of the 86th ATA:

Speaker Ready Room Hours (Open to meeting faculty only)
Plaza Court 8, Plaza Building, Concourse Level, Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Wednesday – September 21, 2016 – 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday – September 22, 2016 – 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday – September 23, 2016 – 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday – September 24, 2016 – 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday – September 25, 2016 – 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Media/Press: The Plaza Court 4, Plaza Building, Concourse Level has been provided for the convenience of press/media use during the 86th ATA. The room will be open on Thursday, September 22 through Saturday, September 24. Press/media in attendance are welcome to use the room as needed. No equipment will be provided by ATA. Press/media are welcome to bring their own computers for use in the room.

We look forward to seeing you at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

Safe Travels!