MORO 2020

Helsinki and Espoo

Conference fees

The conference fee includes attendance at all conference sessions and workshops, all conference papers, conferences lunches and two conference dinners. The fee for accompanying persons includes two conference dinners.

 
Prices EUR
Member 1200.00
Non-member 2500.00
Accompanying person 250.00

Helsinki, the capital of Finland and the location of our Conference hotel, is a vibrant seaside city made up of beautiful islands, vast green parks and a compact city centre which is easily explored on foot. Design, architecture, culture, shopping as well as park areas, forests and lakes are all in abundance. Helsinki is a lively city with activities to enjoy every day of the year.

The archipelago of Helsinki consists of about 330 islands, providing a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the main city and all easily accessed by ferry.

Espoo, the location of our Conference venue, is the second largest city in Finland by population. However, the city is so spread out that it feels more like a cluster of several smaller cities. Espoo is located very near to the city of Helsinki. The Espoo Modern Art Museum (Emma) and the City Theatre serve culture buffs; the beautiful National Park in Nuuksio caters for outdoor enthusiasts; and two large shopping centres, along with a score of smaller boutiques, ensure that shoppers have plenty of choice to enjoy.

If you wish to read more information about Helsinki or Espoo in order to organise your free time outside of the Conference, please visit the Visit Finland website.

Airport

Helsinki Airport consistently ranks among the best airports in the world and serves around 350 flights a day to/from locations around the world.

The journey time between the airport and city centre is around 30 minutes by car, train or bus.

Transportation to the hotel

By taxi:

  • You can travel conveniently between the airport and the hotel by taxi, which will cost around EUR 40/45 depending on the time of day.

By train:

  • Local trains I and P operate between Helsinki Airport and the city centre on the Ring Rail Line (journey time to the city centre is approximately 30 minutes). A ticket costs EUR 5 when purchased from ticket machines. The station closest to the Conference hotel is Rautatieasema Jarnvags Station.

By bus:

  • Public buses operates between the airport and city centre all day and the journey takes around 30 minutes. A single ticket can be purchased from the driver. The station closest to the hotel is Rautatieasema Jarnvags Station.

Cancellation policy

Any cancellations received prior to Friday 1 May 2020 will be given 90% refund. Any cancellations on or after Friday 1 May 2020 will be subject to the Conference fee being paid in full.

Conference registration

There will be an ICMIF registration desk located in the lobby of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel on Tuesday 9 June 2020. This will also provide an opportunity for members to meet with ICMIF staff. The registration desk will be open from 17:00 to 19:00 on Tuesday and will then move to LocalTapiola Offices (the Conference venue) to become a Help Desk during the Conference sessions on Wednesday 10, Thursday 11 and Friday 12 June. Delegates are asked to register in order to confirm their attendance and receive their badge.

Languages

At the conference, simultaneous interpretation will be offered in English and Spanish for all plenary sessions. Breakout sessions will have translation where possible.

Conference speaker profiles and proceedings

Profiles for each conference speaker, will be available for download from the conference website prior to the event and on the Event App during the sessions. The speeches and PowerPoint presentations will be posted on the ICMIF MORO conference website soon after the event has finished.

Currency

The currency in Finland is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. For an ATM machine, look for the sign “OTTO”. These 24-hour cashpoint machines are widely available and accept the following international ATM and credit cards: Visa, Visa Electron, EuroCard, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus and EC. Banks are usually open on weekdays 10:00–16:30.

Climate

Despite being the beginning of summer, June stays cool in Helsinki, with the average daily temperature staying around 14°C. Warmer days can see a beautiful 19°C high while nights can cool down to about 9°C at the lower range.

Visa information

Finland is a member of the Schengen visa-free zone. Nationals of other Schengen countries and certain other nationalities will not require a visa to enter Finland. Please follow this link to see the list of countries where you need to apply for a VISA to enter Finland.

If you do need a VISA, please apply for it here.

Free evenings and local cuisine

The food scene in Helsinki today is cutting-edge and ever-changing. Various “pop-up” restaurants and the (now) worldwide phenomenon “Restaurant Day”, where anyone can open a pop-up restaurant for the day are both the brainchildren of Helsinki-based food enthusiasts and the new generation of chefs there. While Finnish food is all about local, seasonal, wild and fresh food, with game, fish, mushrooms and berries at the heart of most menus, Restaurant Day and other innovative food events embrace all culinary cultures and tastes from around the globe.

Shopping

Finland has just under 30 shopping malls, of which about half are located in or around Helsinki. From city centre designer malls to historic department stores and foodie havens, keen shoppers will be sure to find what you are looking for and more. Great design can be found throughout the city, reaffirming just why it was designated a 2012 World Design Capital. Helsinki main shopping streets are Mannerheimintie, Pohjoisesplanado, Aleksanterinkatu and Fredrinkinkatu.

Local transport

Helsinki has an efficient public transport system (Helsinki Region Transport or HSL) including bus, tram, metro, local railway and ferry services. With a single ticket you can use trams, buses, the metro and even the ferry to Suomenlinna. Single tickets can be purchased from ticket machines, R-kiosks and other HSL sales points or by using HSL mobile application. It is also possible to buy bus tickets from the driver. Day tickets are available for unlimited use and can be purchased from ticket machines, the Tourist Information at Helsinki Airport Terminal 2A or in the Central Railway Station.

Bikes: Getting around Helsinki by bicycle is a popular and convenient way for both locals and visitors. You can either rent a bike or use city bikes (shared-use bicycles) that can be borrowed for a fee by anyone in central Helsinki, residents and visitors alike.

Metro: This is a great way to get from the city centre out into areas of nature. The lines run from Vuosaari and Mellunmäki in east-Helsinki, via Helsinki city centre to Matinkylä in Espoo.

Train: Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) operates commuter train services throughout the Helsinki Region into and out of Central Railway Station.

Travel to the Islands: The sea is an essential part of Helsinki with around 330 islands off the coast of the city. Many of the islands are easy to get to for recreational use.

Please visit the My Helsinki website for more information.

Local time

The time zone in Helsinki is Eastern European Time (EET) and at the time of our Conference will be two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).

Health

EU/EEA nationals on a temporary stay in Finland are entitled to state-provided medical treatment on provision of a European health insurance card. If you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA country and you need medical care which you want to pay for or use your travel insurance, you should contact a private healthcare provider.

ICMIF events and Coronavirus (COVID 19)

Please note, we are monitoring the situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19) closely on a day to day basis. If you are interested in attending this event our current advice is to register for the event to be sure of your place as numbers may be limited. We will keep registered delegates informed if there are any changes to the event. We would advise, however, that you wait to book travel in case we are forced to cancel or postpone the event.

The safety and wellbeing of our members and any speakers/hosts involved in our events are of the utmost importance and we will make a final decision on the event nearer to the date when we have more information on the situation at that time.

If the event does go ahead as planned then we will follow all official health/safety guidelines currently in place at that time at the location of the event. These will be communicated to delegates in advance of them travelling to the event.

If you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact our Events Team.

General emergency

The number for police, ambulance and fire department is 112. There are a number of pharmacies located around the city. Look for the sign “Apteekki”, which means pharmacy in Finnish. Yliopiston Apteekki at Mannerheimintie 96 is open 24/7.

Safety and security

Helsinki is one of the safest city in Europe and it is ranked 6th out of 113 in the ranking of the safest cities. However, as in all major cities throughout the world, please exercise caution when walking around on your own. It is advised to avoid carrying large sums of cash, having cameras loose or to leave your belongings and luggage unattended.

Dress code

The dress code for all conference sessions is smart business attire. For the Welcome Reception the dress code is smart casual (jeans are acceptable). For the Farewell Dinner we would advise you to wear something comfortable (especially in terms of footwear), as we will be offering a walking tour before the dinner.

Green issues

To avoid excessive printing of brochures/literature, delegates who register for the conference will be encouraged to access information about the event primarily via the ICMIF MORO conference website and during the event itself from the ICMIF Event app. We also recycle lanyards and pass holders and we kindly request that delegates return them to ICMIF staff after the event.

Electricity

Electrical sockets (outlets) in Finland are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: “Type C” Europlug and “Type E/F” Schuko (voltage: 220–240 Volts).

Tipping and local taxes

Tipping is not expected in Finland and a service charge is added in hotels and restaurants. Finnish people do tip (maximum 10%) only if they wish to appreciate good service or delicious food. It is not obligatory to give a tip to the taxi drivers. Citizens of non-European countries are eligible for tax-free returns upon leaving EU territory. The minimum total sum of purchased goods must be EUR 40. Only stores with TAX FREE SHOPPING signs will provide customers with a cheque covering the VAT refund which can be cashed upon leaving the last EU country visited. The cheque, together with the goods purchased, should be presented at the point of departure. The refund will be paid in cash.

Drinking water and vaccination advice

Sanitation is equal to any developed country and tap water is drinkable. You do not need any special immunizations to visit Finland and you do not need to drink bottled water.