Registration

Tour Dates: October 21–30, 2008

Registration deadline is September 30, 2008.

Pick a registration option:

China Tour Fees

Air and land transportation in China, double-occupancy hotel rooms, three meals per day. For single occupancy, add $800 per person.

International airfare and Global Planners Network Congress registration NOT included.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy: No telephone cancellations will be accepted. All cancellations must be sent by e-mail to confregistration@planning.org or by fax to 312-786-6735 by September 30, 2008, to be eligible for a refund. There is a $500 processing fee for cancellations.

There will be no refunds for early return. Additional hotel, meal, transportation and other costs associated with early return are the responsibility of the participant(s). All hotels, meals, transportation, entrance fees, etc. in scheduled program are scheduled in advance. APA will not issue partial or full refunds for participants who choose to opt out partially or fully of these services during the program.

APA Scholarships for Graduate Students

Application deadline: July 30, 2008

The APA Foundation will sponsor five students currently studying planning in the U.S. for the study tour and the GPN Congress ($4,500 value; international airfare NOT included). Students receiving APA scholarships will be asked to work at the GPN Congress. Send questions and completed applications (with "scholarship" in the subject line) to chinaprogram@planning.org.

Submissions should consist of:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Short (2-4 pages) narrative describing your interests and hopes for participating in the study tour
• Three letters of recommendation (e-mailed letters are OK)

The APA China Study Tour is a true educational tour, designed for those interested in deepening their understanding of planning in China. Spouses are also welcome. To facilitate learning, we will limit registration to a small group. Registration is first-come, first-served.

Outline of the Tour

The following are included in the tour:

• Meetings, workshops, and learning sessions with Chinese officials and planners, with translation by a professional planner fluent in Chinese and English
• Comprehensive educational program and background briefing materials including city profiles and maps
• Service charges and basic gratuities for study leaders, local experts, professional guides, and tour managers
• Comprehensive group tour arrangements, including all Chinese hotels (3–5 star hotels), group meals and beverages, domestic Chinese flights and airport tax, transfer shuttles, and fees for bus, rail, cruise, and other means of transportation
• All admissions and entrance fees to museums, gardens, architecture, national parks, historic sites, and other pre-scheduled visits with guides and interpreters
• All special visits and excursions; all transportation and sightseeing listed in the itinerary
• Baggage handling in hotels

The following are not included in the tour:

• International flights and U.S. domestic airfare, airport facility taxes and local departure air taxes, port taxes, federal inspection fees, etc.
• Chinese visa and passport fees, photos, and processing wherever applicable.
• International travel insurance, medical insurance, life insurance, and luggage insurance during the study tour and optional extension tour.
• Visits, transportation, and meals not specified on the itinerary.
• Personal items such as wines, liquors, room service, and laundry charges; costs incurred by our tour operators to make individual arrangements before, during, or after the program; and other items not specifically mentioned as included
• Personal life, health, and baggage insurance

While every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned, the program is subject to modification.

Responsibility

The American Planning Association (APA), in order to make an educational opportunity available to its members, has arranged for our respective tour operators and independent contractors to organize our study tours and procure carriage, accommodations, and other tour services from other parties. APA, its employees, members, chapters, and divisions do not own or operate any entity provides goods or services for the trip including, for example, lodging facilities; airline, vessel, or other transportation companies; guides or guide services; local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions; food service providers; etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, APA is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity of any third party. Once tour members register for the tour, tour members must contract and otherwise deal with our tour operators. Neither our tour operators nor any other suppliers of tour services are joint ventures with or in any way controlled by APA. APA can undertake no responsibility for the accuracy of representations in tour promotion literature, for tour reservations, accommodations, transportation, or safety, nor for any other aspect of the tour. Consequently, APA shall not be construed to make any covenants or warranties, expressed or implied, regarding our tours and shall not be liable in any way for any personal injury, death, property damage or any loss incurred by any person in connection with our tours. Our tour operators are responsible for the services provided. However, in the absence of negligence on their parts, the tour operators are not responsible for personal injury or property damage arising out of the act or negligence of any direct carrier, hotel, travel service, or other person rendering any of the services being offered in connection with the tours.

In addition and without limitation, APA is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or service whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, sickness, illness, the lack of availability of appropriate medical attention, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time.

If due to weather, flight schedules, or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers, and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner's risk. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a participation of these trips at any time. Specific room/cabin assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel/cruise line.

General Information

Language
APA staff will provide translation for the group and for individuals. Companies interested in building business relationships in China are encouraged to send a Chinese-speaking representative on the tour.

Visa
You must have valid passport and a Chinese visa to participate in this tour. Visit the Chinese embassy website for visa information: www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/default.htm. Please note that there are five Chinese consulates in the United States. Visit www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/t84229.htm to find the consulate to which you should submit your visa application.

International Air Tickets
Due to variation in personal preference, travel dates, and optional tour extension, APA will not purchase international air tickets for the study group. Participants are responsible for booking their own international flights from United States to Beijing and from Shanghai back to the United States. The tour group will convene in the lobby of Jianguo Hotel Beijing at 5 p.m. on June 9 for the orientation.

Meals
China is famous for its ethnic cuisine. Throughout the program, participants will be introduced to each city's local flavors and dishes. Chinese food is famous for banquets of multiple dishes shared by the entire group. There will be many choices for participants who are vegetarian or who are allegeric to certain items.

Transportation
Transfers between cities in China are included in the tour. Transportation may include (but is not limited to) tour buses, airplanes, subway, and light rail. All air flight seats will be coach. Upgrades may be available at additional cost. Transportation costs for activities that are not part of the tour are the responsibility of the individual.

Weather and Dress
You can expect warm weather in China in June. Hotels, buses, restaurants, and meeting rooms will be air-conditioned. Many tours will be outdoors. Walking shoes are recommended.

For meetings with Chinese officials, business-casual attire is appropriate.

Currency
Please exchange U.S. dollars into Chinese currency either at the airport or in the United States. APA is not responsible for currency exchange.

Internet and Telephone Communication
Internet connections are widely available in hotels and Internet cafes in China. International telephone connections may be available in major hotels in large cities, but may not be available in smaller towns.

Itinerary or Program Modifications
While every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned, the program is subject to modification.

Life, Health, and Luggage Insurance
APA provides no personal or luggage insurance. Any physical or mental condition that may require special accommodations (for example, the need for a wheelchair) must be noted in writing when you register. APA strongly recommends that all tour participants purchase trip cancellation, emergency medical evacuation, baggage, accident and medical insurance for the tour on their own.

A Note About Fees
All tour prices are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. The tour costs are based upon current domestic airfares in China and tariffs and currency values at time of pricing and on the basis of a minimum number of participants. While we do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change. If our tour operators find it necessary to levy a surcharge, notification will be given at the time of invoicing.

Contact Us

While APA does not provide travel service in-house, we can recommend experienced travel agencies for your air tickets, hotels, and other tour arrangement in China. For more information, send an e-mail to chinaprogram@planning.org.

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