Planning Your Conference

Planning your conference - Essential information for delegates

The 2018 SRHE Annual Research Conference runs over 3 full days, 5-7 December, at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Wales UK.

The conference is planned as an integrated and participative event over this 3 day period. The Conference sessions run from 10.45 on Wednesday 5th December through to 14.15 on Friday 7th December and we respectfully ask all delegates to make travel arrangements accordingly, to arrive for the opening Plenary and not to leave the conference early.

The following information will help you plan your conference effectively and take full advantage of all the events and opportunities on offer to delegates.

Conference Locations

All conference events will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Wales. UK, primarily in the Convention Centre, on Levels C1 and C2. The Convention Centre is reached by Lifts or escalators from the Hotel Main Lobby or the Manor House.

Convention Level C1

Convention Level C1 is the location for all conference plenary sessions. The main plenaries are held in the Caernarfon Suite. Level C1 is also the venue for:
Refreshments; lunch, teas and coffee breaks
Exhibitor Stands
SRHE Conference Information Desk
Pre dinner Drinks reception on Thursday 7th December

Convention Level C2

Convention Level C2 is the location for all the breakout rooms for paper presentations in the 12 parallel sessions.

Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms on Level C2 are:
Beaumaris Lounge, Beaumaris 1, Beaumaris 2; Caldicot; Caerphilly; Cardiff; Chepstow; Conwy 1; Conwy 2; Denbigh 1; Denbigh 2; and Raglan.

Conference Registration

Conference Registration on Day 1, Wednesday 5th December. Celtic Manor Hotel Foyer
On arrival at the Conference venue in time for the start of the Conference all residential delegates are asked to leave their luggage with the Concierge. This will be safely stored until bedrooms are available for you later in the day, after 16.00.

Delegate Registration is in the main Foyer of the Celtic Manor. Please register your attendance here on arrival and collect your conference registration packs.

The conference starts promptly at 10.45 with the opening keynote speaker, Professor Marek Kwiek.

The Registration Desk in the main foyer will close at 16.00 on Day 1 and any late arrivals or Day delegates arriving after this time should register at the SRHE Conference Information Desk located outside the Caernarfon Foyer on Convention Level C1.

Hotel Check-in

All residential delegates need to check in at the main hotel reception. This can be done on arrival, if there is time before the opening keynote, or during the course of the morning for later arrivals. Luggage should be left with the concierge until rooms are available for occupation.

Delegates arriving after 10.15 on Day 1 should leave their luggage with the concierge and check-in later in the day.

Conference Materials

On registration you will receive your Conference Programme and Book of Abstracts. This contains all scheduling information on the plenaries and paper presentations plus details of all authors and their abstracts for the full 3 days of conference. In the delegate packs you will also have a detailed Conference Timetable, giving the room locations for every conference event and presentation session. This is kept separate from the programme so that it can take account of any last minute changes. You should aim to have this timetable with you throughout the conference as this will be a key document in locating sessions and finding your way around. Also included in delegate packs is a Floor Plan of breakout rooms. The items in bold are the materials you should aim to have with you each day. These will help you to navigate your way around the various events and the parallel paper presentation sessions.

Conference Website and App

You can a find a searchable database of all presenters, papers and the timetable on our webpage at:
http://www.srhe.ac.uk/conference2018/conference-papers.asp
For mobile devices, a separate link to a conference app will also be circulated shortly.

Paper Presentations (Symposia, Individual Papers, Panel and Discussion Sessions)

There are 12 parallel sessions running at any one time for the presentation of papers. The room locations and the different types of presentations are clearly indicated on the Conference Timetable sheets included in all delegate packs.

Conference Meals

The conference delegate package includes lunch, plus coffee and tea breaks with refreshments, on all three days, breakfast on Thursday and Friday, and dinner on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th December. The Olive Tree restaurant on the Lobby level is the location for breakfast on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th December and for dinner on Wednesday 5th December.

Wednesday 5th December 2018

After the Welcome Reception residential Conference delegates will be able to dine in the Olive Tree Restaurant, available from 19.00 onwards. The Olive Tree restaurant is set up with larger tables for delegates to share and facilitate networking opportunities. There is an extensive three course buffet served here which affords relaxed, informal dining and conversation. On the evening of the Welcome Reception all Conference delegates will be seated on arrival at the restaurant and the restaurant management will manage the flow of tables to the buffet to minimise queuing at the busiest times. For residential delegates choosing this option there is no need to make a reservation for the Olive Tree on this night.

Delegates are also welcome, if they wish, to try one of the other restaurants in the resort on this evening within their conference package. The resort has a number of different restaurants suitable for small group bookings; Cen, located in The Manor House, and the Rafters and The Grill, which are situated in the resort grounds and for which Resort Transport is provided. Reservations for these restaurants need to be made at the Dinner Reservations desk situated in the main hotel lobby at registration, or at the dinner reservations desk in the Caernarfon Foyer during the coffee and lunch breaks on Wednesday 5 December. Each restaurant will offer a SRHE Conference menu for delegates to choose from. Delegates will be responsible for any drinks ordered.

The Olive Tree is the main dining and breakfast venue for the conference and is a particularly good choice for all delegates to meet and talk with colleagues and especially for our International delegates and for first time attendees at conference.

If Non-residential delegates wish to have a meal at the Resort on this night, please book this with the SRHE Conference Information Desk in advance. The cost is £30 for a three course meal.

Thursday 6th December 2018

The Conference Gala dinner is an additional event for which there is a supplement of £42 a head for a special three course meal with wine. For delegates who have not pre-booked, Gala Dinner tickets can be purchased from the SRHE Conference Information Desk during the conference. For delegates who have pre booked for the Gala Dinner your dinner ticket will be inside your delegate badge holder. You will need to show this on entry to the Gala Dinner. For delegates choosing not to attend the Conference Gala dinner their evening meal included within their conference package (not including drinks) will be in the Olive Tree Restaurant in the Lobby level of the Resort.

Friday 7th December 2018

The Conference closes with lunch from 13.15-14.15.

Plenary Sessions & Social events