The 2017 ILDA Conference has already taken place. If you want to see what it was like, KVANT has made a short video with scenes from Bratislava, the Conference, and the ILDA Awards Presentation.
It is no longer possible to register for the hotel or events. The remainder of this page is left for reference, as it appeared before the Conference.
KVANT will be hosting the 2017 ILDA Conference in Bratislava, Slovakia. Coherent Inc. is a Gold Sponsor of the Conference.
The dates are as follows:
• Sun, 5 Nov: ILDA Laser Operator Class, ILDA Advanced Audience Scanning Class (both optional extras)
• Mon, 6 Nov: ILDA LSO course (optional), and Pangolin User Group meeting (10:00 - 15:00). The first official ILDA Full Conference event is the Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner which will start at 19:00.
• Tues, 7 Nov: ILDA General Business Meeting, Advanced Technology Workshop. Lase-Off & Laser Jockey competition.
• Wed, 8 Nov: Workshops and seminars, ILDA Awards Banquet and Presentation.
• Thu, 9 Nov: Cultural Tour (optional), bus tour of Bratislava city sites. Leave hotel at 10:00, arrive back approximately 18:30.
Below is the schedule for the 2017 Conference. Click on the image for a full-sized PDF version.
Conference Host: KVANT
Gold Sponsor: Coherent Inc.
Location
Bratislava is centrally located in Europe. It is on the Danube River, less than an hour from Vienna by automobile and about two hours from Budapest.
For U.S. travelers, it is best to fly into Vienna (VIE in Schwechat, Austria) then take a bus or train to Bratislava. For example, there is a RegioJet bus from VIE to the Most SNP (Novy most) station in Bratislava. The bus ride takes approximately 45 minutes and costs just €5. It is then a short 6-minute walk from the Novy most bus station to the Radisson Blu Carlton hotel.
Click for enlarged view
Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel
The official conference hotel, the Radisson Blu Carlton embodies the grace, charm and elegance of centuries past. Welcome to one of the most prestigious buildings in the heart of Bratislava, originally constructed in 1837. The hotel retains many of its original features to provide you with a unique and memorable hotel stay.
It is one block from the Danube River, convenient to many of the popular attractions in the city. The hotel sits directly across from the historic Opera House, nearly midway between the Slovak National Theatre and St. Martin’s Cathedral. It is the perfect base for business and leisure travelers.
Whether by taxi or via the efficient bus, tram and trolley networks, guests find Bratislava easy to explore. The city airport is just 13 kilometers from the hotel, the Vienna International Airport is 62 km away. Other transport options include railways and regional bus lines. Hydrofoil ferries provide memorable passage to or from Vienna with a 2-hour cruise along the blue Danube.
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Hotel room reservations
ILDA Conference rates for the 30 m² Standard room are €115 (approx. USD$131) per night for a single (1 adult); or €125 (~ $143) for a double (2 adults maximum). These rates include the “Super Breakfast Buffet”, high-speed internet, and VAT tax of 20%. There is an extra City Tax of €1.70 per night.
Upgrade available: You can book a 36 m² Business Class room for €30 more, per night. This larger room offers a few additional amenities: in-room Nespresso coffee machine, daily newspaper, bathrobe and slippers. There is also a 2-adult maximum in a Business Class room.
These rates are valid for anyone attending any part of the ILDA Conference, as an attendee or as a spouse/guest. The rates apply to the nights of Friday 3 November through Sunday 12 November 2017. If your plans change, you can cancel the hotel reservation up to 15 days before your arrival.Click the button below to get the ILDA Conference attendee room rates.
Book with ILDA and save
There are two reasons to use the button above, to book at ILDA’s hotel using ILDA’s discounted rates.
1) While you might find lower room rates from some online sites, unfortunately these often do not include breakfast, are not refundable, are in limited supply, or in other ways are not comparable to ILDA’s rates. ILDA has the guaranteed lowest rate available from the hotel for our class of service (breakfast, advance cancellation, etc.)
2) If you use the link above, you will receive a $250 discount on your ILDA Conference registration.
If you book using discount suppliers, or if you stay at other hotels or locations, you will have a higher ILDA Conference registration rate — e.g. you will pay $250 more.
This is because ILDA’s contract guarantees a certain number of room reservations. If we do not meet this minimum, we will have to pay extra for persons who live outside of Bratislava and who attend the Conference but do not stay at the hotel using ILDA’s rates and booking code.
Note: If you live in the Bratislava area and you will stay in your home each night of the Conference, you will receive the $250 registration discount.Legal requirements for the hotel stay
Due to the fact that Slovak law stipulates the obligation for hotels to keep a record of arriving guests, the following details will be required from all guests:
• Full name
• Full permanent address — street name, number, postal code, city and country
• Foreigner‟s citizenship
• Passport number
• Date and place of birth
• Purpose of stay in the Slovak Republic-
ILDA event registration
Below is information about Conference-related events. To register for any of these events, click the button below. It will take you to the Event Registration page at the ILDA Member & Event Management website.
Full Conference and Spouse/Guest registration
For ILDA Members, and interested non-members
• Full Conference registration includes all ILDA meals, Welcome Reception, Lase-Off, Awards, business meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• Spouse/Guest registration includes all ILDA meals, Welcome Reception, Lase-Off and Awards. It does NOT include any business meetings, seminars or workshops. A Spouse/Guest is defined as a person related to a Full Conference registrant. The relationship must be that the spouse/guest is married, is a significant other, is a family member, or is a personal friend who is not employed in a lasershow-related business.
Full Conference and Spouse/Guest registrations do NOT include any Laser Safety Education classes or the Cultural Tour, which are separate Conference events. Also, Full Conference and Spouse/Guest registrations do NOT include hotel room reservations, which are made separately with the Radisson Blu Carlton hotel.ILDA Conference Full Registration, staying at Royal Sonesta hotel
ILDA Member
Non-memberFull Conf. - early1 May - 15 Jul$499$749Full Conf. - regular16 Jul - 31 Aug$649$899Full Conf. - late1 Sep - 7 Nov$799$1049Spouse - early1 May - 15 Jul$249$374Spouse - regular/late16 Jul - 7 Nov$349$474Note: All Full Conference prices shown above include a $250 credit for if you book your room at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, using the hotel reservation link listed elsewhere on this page. You also receive the $250 credit if you live in the Bratislava area and stay at your home each night.
But if you stay in another hotel, or otherwise do not book using the Radisson Blu Carlton hotel registration link for ILDA attendees, your ILDA registration cost will be $250 higher, in order to cover ILDA's hotel contract penalties.
Note: Full Conference prices in green include a $250 credit if you book your room at the Radisson Blu Carlton hotel, using the registration link listed above. You also receive the $250 credit if you live in the Bratislava area and stay at your home each night. Prices in red are the cost if you stay at another hotel, or if you otherwise do not book using the Radisson Blu Carlton hotel registration link for ILDA attendees. The higher Full Conference prices allow ILDA to cover hotel contract penalties.
ILDA General Business Meeting
For Members not attending the Full Conference
If you are an ILDA Member who is NOT registering for the Full Conference, you still can attend the General Business Meeting for free. This event is where votes are taken for ILDA Board Members and for ILDA President, and where association business is discussed and voted on.
To attend, you must register in advance for the General Business Meeting at the Event Registration page. This event will be visible only to current ILDA Members (it will not appear on the list of events for non-members).
Individual conference event tickets
For anyone not attending the Full Conference
We have tickets available for persons who want to attend just one or both of these events, and who don’t have a Full Conference or Spouse/Guest registration:
• Lase-Off/Laser Jockey dinner and event only, Tuesday 7 November, $150
• Awards Banquet and Presentation only, Wednesday 8 November, $150
Laser Safety Education classes
Held before the Conference
The Laser Safety Education classes are not included in the Full Conference. These are separate registration events.
Anyone may attend the Laser Safety Education classes. You do not have to be an ILDA Member, and you do not have to register for the Full Conference.
• Optional Laser Operator Safety, Sunday 5 November, 9:00 - 13:00. Basic lightshow safety, for persons working around lasers or who are operating lasers for lightshows and displays. From 1 May through 15 July, $295 for ILDA Members or $420 for non-members. From 16 July through 5 November, $395 for ILDA Members or $520 for non-members.
• Optional Audience Scanning Safety, Sunday 5 November, 13:00 - 18:00. How to do safe, legal and effective audience scanning at laser lightshows. For both operators and show designers. Prior laser safety experience or courses are recommended. From 1 May through 15 July, $295 for ILDA Members or $420 for non-members. From 16 July through 5 November, $395 for ILDA Members or $520 for non-members.
• Optional Laser Safety Officer for U.S. Lightshows, Monday 6 November, 9:00 - 18:00. This covers laser shows only -- no medical, industrial or other non-lightshow laser usage. While European and international regulations are discussed, the majority of the regulatory discussion is on U.S. laser and aviation issues. To take this class, you must have prior laser show experience, or have taken ILDA's Laser Operator Safety course. If you have questions whether you are ready for this class, contact ILDA. More info is at the LSO course page. From 1 May through 15 July, $525 for ILDA Members or $649 for non-members. From 16 July through 5 November, $675 for ILDA Members or $799 for non-members.
Cultural Tour
Takes place the day after the Conference
The Cultural Tour is not included in the Full Conference. This is a separate registration event.
Anyone may register to go on the Cultural Tour. You do not have to be an ILDA Member, and you do not have to attend the Full Conference.
• Optional Bus Tour of Bratislava, Thursday 9 November, Cost is $110 (ILDA Member, non-member, spouse or guest — all the same). Includes guided tour at castle Red Stone / Cerveny Kamen, lunch snack connected with small wine tasting in an original wine cellar, traditional ceramics manufacture tour and a traditional duck feast. Leave hotel at 10:00, arrive back approximately 18:30.
Hotel reservation reminder
Don't forget to make your reservations directly with the Conference hotel. Use the blue button with the hotel reservation link, located elsewhere on this web page.
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Sponsorship
Sponsors help ILDA present Conference events. If you’d like to reach the world’s top laserists, please review the sponsorship material below, and then contact us (link at bottom of the page). If you are looking for a particular benefit not listed, let us know — we are flexible.
Click image for higher-res PDF version
For more information, visit our other ILDA websites:
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Photo credit: Radisson Blu Carlton by Flickr user Klearchos Kapoutsis, CC by 2.0, cropped from original