It is hard to believe that NAFSA 2018 is just around the corner, and it’s almost time to check in for your big trip to Philly! Here are some last-minute tips to help you prepare for the event, as well as for your stay in the City of Brotherly Love.
NAFSA Annual Conference App
With everything from schedules to maps, evaluations, and much more, downloading the NAFSA 2018 mobile app is essential before the conference starts.
Download the app to your phone or tablet from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. After you download the app, you will be prompted to log into your registration account with your e-mail address and five-digit NAFSA 2018 registration confirmation identification number.
Discover all the unique features within the app, and don’t foret you can also access our web-based online program and planner.
Get to Know the Pennsylvania Convention Center
To avoid the first-day scramble, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the layout of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. There are many entrances to the convention center, after all it is nearly 1 million square feet! But the main entrance for NAFSA 2018 is located at 12th and Arch streets. Here you will find the Broad Street Atrium, which includes registration; the Local Arrangements Team conference and hospitality booth; and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau booth.
View an Interactive Map of the Convention Center
Conference Information and Hospitality Center
The Conference Information and Hospitality Center (CIHC) is located in the Broad Street Atrium of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, near registration. You can visit the CIHC for questions regarding campus visits, information about Philadelphia, updates on off-site programs, and more.
Expo Hall
The International Education Expo is located on the 200 level in Exhibit Halls CDE.
Plenary Locations
Plenaries will take place on the 400 level in the Terrace Ballrooms 1 through 4.
Networking Centers
Networking centers will be located on the 100 level in the corridor facing the LAT office (rooms 120A through 121B).
Career Center
The Career Center will be located in room 115A in the corridor along 13th Street.
Workshop Rooms
Pre-conference workshops will take place on the 100 level in the corridors along 13th Street (rooms 109 to 113 and 115 to 119).
Planning Your Visit to Philadelphia
Be sure to review your plans for arrival to the convention center and familiarize yourself with transportation options within the city. I also recommend doing a quick google search to see what kind of unique restaurants or attraction are around your hotel; you never know when you may need a midnight snack or a morning pick-me-up. You can also read more about different neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
Additionally, read up on some of my past blogs including where to eat in Philly, day trips to take, the history of Philadelphia, and happy hours to check out.
Apps
Apps paired a quick google search can likely answer any questions you may have about the city, but for convenience, I recommend making sure you have these apps (or similar) downloaded in advance.
CityMapper
This app will help you plan travel within Philly and tell you the best route depending on your preferred mode of transportation, kind of like Waze and Google Maps but much more detailed and geared toward people exploring a new city.
SEPTA
The SEPTA app provides travel schedules on the subway, buses, and regional rails in and around Philly.
Local Philly News
Search for the 6ABC Philadelphia, NBC10 News, or Philly.com apps for local and regional news.
Gluten Free
Search “gluten-free Philly” in your app store for information on gluten-free dining options across the city.
See you next week at NAFSA 2018!