VENUE
Flanders Meeting & Convention Center
Koningin Astridplein 20
2018 Antwerp
Belgium

Flanders Meeting and Convention Center Antwerp is a venue with a legacy of connection, nature conservation and sustainability. The FMCCA is located at the heart of Antwerp ZOO and offers guests instant CSR through conservation.
The Conference venue and the ZOO is situated in a low emission zone (LEZ) which the city of Antwerp is reinforcing as of 1 February 2017 to enhance air quality.

DATES
The Conference will take place from Thursday 20 June to Saturday 22 June 2024. The ECTA Supervisory Board and Committee Meetings will be held on Wednesday 19 June 2024. A Workshop will also be held on Wednesday 19 June 2024, 16.00-18.00.

REGISTRATION FEES
Registration fees are valid only if payment is received on or before the deadline dates. A completed registration must be submitted for each participant, including accompanying guests, speakers/ moderators and invited guests.
Kindly note that payments can only be made by credit card. If you would like to pay by another method, kindly contact ECTA at ecta@ecta.org. The payment will be charged in euros.

Early Bird registration rates apply until 29 March 2024.

ECTA member Early Bird: 1600 EUR (excl. the respective VAT)
ECTA member Regular: 1900 EUR (excl. the respective VAT)
Non-member Early Bird: 2100 EUR (excl. the respective VAT)
Non-member Regular: 2400 EUR (excl. the respective VAT)

Registration includes:
- Participation in the workshop on Wednesday, 19 June
- Attendance at all Conference working sessions, coffee breaks and lunches (Thursday & Friday)
- Publication of your name and company’s name in the list of participants in the Conference application
- Welcome Buffet Reception at Grand Café Horta & Art Nouveau Hall, Wednesday 19 June
- Themed Evening at FMCCA / Antwerp Zoo, Thursday 20 June
- Gala Dinner at Handelsbeurs, Friday 21 June

Accompanying Guests
Kindly note that this registration category is only for private persons not working in any sector related to IP. Accompanying guests may not attend the working sessions.

Accompanying Guest registration includes:
- Welcome Buffet Reception at Grand Café Horta & Art Nouveau Hall, Wednesday 19 June
- Themed Evening at FMCCA / Antwerp Zoo, Thursday 20 June
- Gala Dinner at Handelsbeurs, Friday 21 June
Registration Fee: 500 EUR (excl. 21% VAT)

REGISTRATION
Registration will open by mid-February 2024.

To register for the 41st ECTA Annual Conference, please select ‘register online’ button on the left sidebar. Click on the respective link and follow the steps. Upon successful registration (including payment) you will receive a confirmation of your registration. In addition, joining information will be sent out in May 2024 by e-mail to assist with your visit to Antwerp.
Please ensure that you provide your personal e-mail address when registering.

REGISTRATION CANCELLATION
If you wish to cancel your registration you can do so by amending your registration. Please refer to your confirmation email. Alternatively notification of cancellation could be sent to the Conference Organiser ecta@ecta.org
Cancellations will be accepted up to 19 April 2024 (inclusive) with a refund of all prepaid fees, less 25% cancellation charge. From 20 April 2024 no refunds will be made.

Please note: ECTA is not responsible for Visa applications that are denied or Visas not received in time. The usual cancellation policy applies in these cases.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Participants will, during registration, be requested to provide their consent for their photographs to be taken during the event. These photographs will be published on the ECTA website after the Conference. If consent is not provided, it will be necessary for these participants to wear a red lanyard to enable the photographer to easily identify them.


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REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK
The registration desk in Flanders Meeting & Convention Center Antwerp (FMCCA) will be open as follows:

Tuesday 18 June
14.00-20.00
Wednesday 19 June
08.00-20.00
Thursday 20 June
08.00-18.30
Friday 21 June
08.00-18.00

BADGE
Delegates, guests and accompanying persons are requested to wear their identification badges at all times during the event.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The official language of the ECTA Conference is English. No simultaneous translation will be offered.

SOCIAL EVENTS
ECTA requests that during the entire period i.e. from Wednesday 19 June to Friday 21 June 2024, no other non-official conference events should be arranged.

INSURANCE
Participants are highly advised to arrange personal travel insurance in case they have to cancel their participation in the conference, and hotel accommodation as well as for other risks associated with travel.

TIME
Belgium follows Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

CURRENCY
The currency in Belgium is the Euro (€). If you are carrying more than 10,000 EUR when travelling to or out of Belgium, you have to declare it to customs.
Most places will not accept US Dollars. It is advised to have these converted at the airport or at one of several currency exchanges.

WEATHER
The climate in Antwerp (and Belgium) is a temperate maritime climate, which makes for pleasant summers and cool winters. Extreme weather is rare. Most visitors think the city is at its best in June, when all the greenery in the streets has flowered, the sun is out and conditions are perfect for a pleasant stroll. Evenings in the city are especially lovely during this time.

ELECTRICITY
Belgium, like most other European countries, has 220-volt AC, 50Hz current and uses two-pin continental plugs.

SHOPS
For a fantastic shopping experience while you are in Antwerp, investigate the Meir. This is one of the most famous shopping streets in Belgium and the busiest. You will find many international clothing and shoe labels here, including some of the biggest names on European high streets. Look for smart and casual clothes, jewellery, shoes, items for the home and much more amid the mix of high street stores and local boutiques.
An added bonus of shopping on this traffic-free boulevard are the attractive Rococo buildings that house some of the stores. The early 20th-century building of the restored Festival Hall is now a shopping centre with more than 50 stores.
The official language in Antwerp is Dutch. Many locals and especially people who work in the tourism industry speak a smattering of English, French and sometimes German.

MUSEUMS
MAS Antwerp is a fairly new museum, which opened its doors in 2011. The diverse collection ranges from history, art and culture of the port city of Antwerp, through international trade and shipping to art and culture in Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. The iconic MAS building is the place where the city and the world meet. During your visit, do not forget to go up to the roof for a fantastic view of Antwerp!
Say Belgium, and chocolate immediately comes to mind. The Chocolate Nation in Antwerp is not an ordinary but an experience museum where you get to taste ten different flavours of chocolate. Get ready for the magical story of the Belgian chocolate!
Antwerp has a history in which diamonds play a central role. Since the 16th century, you can find diamond merchants and goldsmiths in the city centre. The DIVA (Museum for Diamonds, Jewellery and Silver) is an interactive museum, fun for young and old.
(The Rubens Museum is, unfortunately, temporarily closed for renovation.)

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Antwerp has a very efficient public transport system, including bus, tram and metro. For an alternative to buses and trams, cycling is a popular way of getting around Antwerp, especially among the locals, young and old. Cycling here is safer and more fun than in most cities. There are plenty of places to rent bikes as well as a public scheme for short rides across town.
If you want to visit the city by bus with an individual ticket you get to travel for 60 minutes in which you can switch unlimitedly between trams and buses. You can also buy an Antwerp City pass, which includes the use of public transport in the city for the time your card is valid.

CREDIT CARD
As in most destinations, travellers will find it easier to use their bank cards when paying in Antwerp, many shops and restaurants in Belgium accept credit cards, but not all. It is, therefore, recommended that you either ask before you order or ensure you have enough in cash to cover the bill. Most shops and restaurants do not accept 200 EUR or 500 EUR notes.

BANKS
In the centre of Antwerp, visitors will have no problem finding several banks and ATMs.

SMOKING
It is forbidden to smoke in public areas such as public transport stops, train stations, airports, means of transport, cultural and medical facilities, playgrounds, sports grounds, etc. The smoking ban also applies to the indoor areas of all dining establishments.

TIPPING
Tipping in Belgium isn't a standard practice as most service staff are paid a fair living wage. Furthermore, most restaurants automatically include a 10-15% tip in the bill. If you think the service was excellent and want to leave more, you can always leave a few euros on the table after your meal.

NIGHTLIFE
Antwerp has nightlife for every day of the week, but above all between Thursday and Saturday. Whether you’re a quiet connoisseur, stern onlooker or boogie wonder, Antwerp’s nightlife is unfailingly vibrant. Whether you want to go for a drink with friends, enjoy a play or film or dance into the small hours, the city offers a varied nightlife, with something to enjoy for everyone.



CONFERENCE ORGANISER
ECTA Secretariat
Rue des Colonies, 18-24
BE-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Office +32 2 513 5285
ecta@ecta.org

ORGANISING AGENCY
AIM Group Belgium
Grensstraat, 7
BE-1831 Diegem, Belgium
Office + 32 2 722 82 30