TRAVEL INFORMATION

If you are an approved NHSC Scholar, please make your travel arrangements as soon as possible through our travel agency, Travel-On, Inc., 9000 Virginia Manor Road, Suite 201, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. The agency can be reached at 1‑888-495-7770 or 240-387-4188 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (e.t.) The deadline for arranging and confirming your travel is Friday, July 11, 2008. Please reference the meeting name and project code #3110 when calling to secure your travel arrangements.

Your travel authorization will cover the most economical, round-trip, coach fare between the city listed as your address and the conference site, with arrival by 12:00 noon on Thursday, July 31, and departure any time after 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 2 (unless otherwise authorized).

Federal Travel Regulations require BLS to purchase the most economical airfare at the time of booking. In most cases, a nonrefundable ticket will be purchased for you. Therefore, it is important that you carefully consider your schedule when requesting travel reservations.

After your travel arrangements are confirmed, a copy of your itinerary will be forwarded to you by Travel-On for your approval.  Upon receipt, please review it carefully and submit a request to have the ticket issued by fax or e-mail. Upon receipt of your request, a prepaid ticket will be issued.

NHSC will not pay for any unauthorized changes to the existing ticket. The current change fee may vary depending upon the airline. All costs associated with fees, changes and cancellations once the ticket is issued are the responsibility of the traveler. Please be advised that NHSC will not cover expenses for unauthorized travelers.

ELECTRONIC TICKET (E-TICKET)

Your itinerary noting your confirmation number, seat assignment, and other required information will be forwarded to you. Please be reminded that you must present photo identification upon check-in at the departure gate or at curbside check-in. After check-in, the airline will provide you with a printed boarding pass for your reserved seat.

TRAVEL BY AUTOMOBILE

If you are traveling by automobile, you will be reimbursed at the Federal Government’s prevailing rate of 50.5 cents per mile, not to exceed the cost of air travel. The Federal Government does not authorize B L Seamon to reimburse you for lodging or meals between your departure city and the conference site or for mileage not related to attending the conference. Please note that rental car expenses are not authorized and are not reimbursable.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

The maximum allotted reimbursement amount for all ground transportation is $100.00. 

Shuttle Transportation

The Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel does not offer a shuttle service from the airport. We recommend the use of a taxi or the SuperShuttle™.

Estimated one-way taxi fare is $22.00.

SuperShuttle is an economical option for ground transportation from the Tampa International Airport (TPA) to the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. One-way shuttle cost is $11. Reservations are not needed from TPA to the hotel; however, they are required for hotel pickup when returning to the airport. Group rates are available through SuperShuttle. Please call 800-258-3826 for quotes.

Driving/Parking

For driving directions and parking information, please visit the Web site listed below.

Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel – www.tampawaterside.com

REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

BLS will reimburse you for ground transportation as well as meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) after the conference. Reimbursement of ground transportation expense covers taxis to/from your home, the airports, and the hotel, as well as parking and tolls. Mileage is reimbursed at the Federal Government’s prevailing rate of 50.5 cents per mile for the use of your personally owned vehicle. The M&IE reimbursement allowance covers meals, tips, telephone calls, and other miscellaneous expenses and is applicable to the geographical location of the conference.

The M&IE allowance for Tampa, FL, is $54.00 per day or $13.50 per quarter day. You will receive three-fourths ($40.50) of the applicable M&IE allowance for each travel day and the full M&IE allowance ($54.00) for each full day of participation. The cost of sponsored meals will be deducted from your M&IE allowance.

Sponsored participants will be provided with a reimbursement form to claim expenses. All original receipts and your travel ticket stub must be submitted with the reimbursement form. Receipts are not required for meal expenses. Reimbursement forms are to be forwarded to B L Seamon:

Attn: NHSC Scholar Orientation
B L Seamon Corporation
9001 Edmonston Road
Suite 200, Greenbelt
MD  20770

Reimbursements should be sent no later than 30 business days after the conference end date. Only completed forms (with original signatures and receipts) will be processed.  Incomplete forms will cause a delay in your reimbursement.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

NHSC will provide travel, lodging, a meal allowance, and registration fees for approved Scholars. If you are unsure of your eligibility or have questions regarding funding, please call the NHSC logistics contractor, B L Seamon Corporation, at 1-800-676-8785, ext. 39.

• Register early!
  
  
• You are expected to fully participate in the conference sessions from July 31–August 2, 2008.
  
  
• Make your travel plans by July 11, 2008.
  
  
• Come prepared to take advantage of the numerous networking and recruitment opportunities and the Cyber Café throughout the conference.

If you have questions concerning logistics or program content, or if your attendance plans change, please contact B L Seamon Corporation at 1‑800‑676‑8785 (toll-free); 301-577-0244, ext. 39; or scholar08@blseamon.com.