18.7. Travel and Tours Desk

1.  It is strongly recommended that the host country sets up a registration system for Tours Program participants to register online.
   A travel and tours desk, managed by representatives of a local travel agency or airline, provides assistance to participants arranging their return (or onward) bookings and to provide, preferably at no charge, other travel-related functions (e.g., reconfirmation of airline bookings, rerouting and reissuing of airline tickets, revalidation and changing of reservations, car rental reservations, sight-seeing arrangements, post-meeting tour information [see sample program in Appendix 124] and reservations, local tours and tourist information, and reservations).
   
2. It is strongly recommended that the host country sets up a registration system for Tours Program participants to register online. This will allow the host country to confirm transport, staffing, and any luncheon arrangements (if provided).
   
3. The desk also handles inquiries from participants about local facilities, entertainment, and shopping. A list of local restaurants with a brief outline of specialties, average price of meals, and telephone numbers for bookings should also be available for participants.
   
4. An emergency after-office hours telephone number is also available to assist participants.
   
5. Appendix 125 contains a photograph of travel and tour desks in previous Annual Meetings.