Where am I staying in Seattle?

During the Seattle portion of the program, all participants will stay at the Hotel Deca located just a few blocks from the University of Washington campus. You must contact the hotel to make your reservations before July 9, 2008. The special group rate which all PRBP participants will receive is $130.00 per night to be billed directly to you, in addition to the course cost. Please contact the reservations manager via phone, email or fax to get the special rate:

Hotel Deca
4507 Brooklyn Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Phone: (206) 634-2000 extension 2189
Fax: (206) 545-2103
Toll-free: 1 (800) 899-025

http://www.hoteldeca.com/

When should I plan on arriving in Seattle?

The course officially begins on Saturday August 9, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. It is advised that you arrive at least one day in advance to allow yourself some time to recover from jetlag. It is your decision when to arrive, but it is strongly recommended that you do not miss the Orientation/Welcome Dinner/Team Leader Meeting. During this first session which runs from 4:00-7:00, you will:

• Receive crucial course information
• Meet the faculty and staff as well as PRBP board members
• Have your photograph taken for the 2008 PRBP photo roster and you should therefore dress accordingly
• Have a formal sit-down meal with your new classmates from all over the world
• Be given guidelines for Monday’s class and how best to prepare
• Be given important information regarding Seattle, the University area, and some ideas on how best to utilize your free time

How do I get from the Seattle Airport to Hotel Decca?

Go to http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/ground.shtml to see a map of the airport and location of ground transportation.

What features does the hotel/my room include?

Guestroom amenities include in-room coffee maker, wireless internet access, hair dryers, ironing board with iron, use of exercise facilities and complimentary daily newspaper. Refrigerators and microwaves are available upon request and are subject to a $10.00 fee.

Please note that the University Tower is a smoke-free facility and smoking is NOT allowed inside the building. A minimum charge of $250 will be assessed per occurrence to any guest violating this policy.

Are all hotel accommodations included in the course fee?

No. Both the Seattle hotel and San Francisco hotel are NOT included in the course fee. With regards to your hotel accommodations for the San Francisco portion of the program, we will make a reservation on your behalf at The Hilton in the Financial District for the nights of August 20, 21, and 22, 2008. You will be charged at a rate of $184.00 per night which will be payable by you directly to the hotel upon your check-out.

What telephone services are available at the hotel?

Local calls that are 30 minutes or less in duration are free. There is a fee for long distance calls, as well as long-distance computer dial-up service. International calling cards may be purchased at a number of shops in the neighborhood.

What meals are included in the course fee and when will I need to get my own meals?

General Information

How do I make arrangements for arrival in Seattle?

Getting to PRBP is simple. Seattle, on America’s west coast, is easily accessible by air and there are many direct flights from major cities in the Asia/Pacific region to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (airport code SEA). Please plan to arrive in Seattle on or before the morning of Saturday, August 9th.

How much money should I plan on bringing for food/transportation, etc?

Most meals are included in the course fee. You will need excess cash for any additional meals, taxi service, outings, shopping, etc. Here are some typical costs of food and transportation:

• A bottle of Advil/aspirin $5.00
• An upscale dinner for 2 $75-$100
• One pint of beer $5.00
• A cocktail $8-$12.00
• A good hamburger and fries $15.00
• A McDonald’s meal $3.00
• A 5 mile taxi ride $10.00
• A bowl of noodles $4.00
• A bus ride downtown $2.50-$3.00
• A casual lunch $6.00-$12.00

What should I pack?

Here is a checklist of necessary documents and things to be absolutely sure you have packed:

• Passport: Must be machine readable if you are a citizen of a visa-waiver country. If you are unable to obtain a machine readable passport, you must then obtain a visa
• Visa paperwork
• Airline ticket or E-ticket confirmations
• Plenty of business cards
• Copy of your passport packed in separate location of your passport
• Passport size photographs
• Names and addresses of important contacts at home
• Spare pair of glasses or contacts
• Sunglasses
• Digital camera or camera and film
• Laptop with LAN cable or wireless card: There is wireless service in the classroom and at the hotel
• Cell phone and charger
• Electrical adapters
• Prescription medication, cold/allergy/sinus pills
• National attire for fun night
• Professional suit/attire
• Memory stick
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit and/or work-out clothes (there is a pool/spa available)

What kind of clothing is best for Seattle in August?

Seattle has a fairly moderate climate, but in the heart of summer it can get up into temperatures in the 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit range. Often it is warm and sunny during the day and cools off at night. It is good to pack some light warm clothes for the evenings and also during class with the air conditioning. Please be sure to bring one jacket/sweatshirt for the cooler, possibly rainy days. Suggested clothes items to pack:

• Light weight clothes: short sleeve shirts/shorts
• Jeans/casual slacks
• A jacket and/or sweatshirt
• Small umbrella/raincoat
• Comfortable walking shoes/sandals/tennis shoes
• Casual clothes for class
• Business attire and dress shoes—You will NOT need an evening gown or tuxedo

What attire is required for the course?

During class hours casual dress is fine. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for being in class all day. There will be some dinners when you will want to dress in business casual attire. Also plan to dress in business suits in San Francisco for bank tours.

What are some fun things to do in Seattle?

You will have some free time and it is recommended that you take a break from your studies to experience some of the sights of Seattle. You can refer to the below Web sites to familiarize yourself with Seattle and its offerings. Below are some suggestions for the fun tourist sights of our city.

• Visit the Pike Place Market
• Go to the Seattle Center and ride up the Space Needle
• Visit neighborhoods like: Fremont, Bell town, and Green Lake
• Visit the Ballard Locks
• Visit Microsoft’s gift shop and visitor center
• Go to the Seattle Aquarium
• Go shopping downtown
• Eat at one of the many seafood restaurants downtown
• Walk along/bike the Burke Gilman trail, close to campus

Are there some links where I can get more information on Seattle?

• Fun site to see attractions of Seattle with maps and information. You can even see a picture of Bill Gates’ house: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/html/visitor/
• You can get all kinds of information here on restaurants, activities and the weather forecast: http://www.seattle.net/
• Another good site to explore what Seattle has to offer: http://www.beautifulseattle.com/

Are there some links to Seattle maps I can access?

Here is a link to an interactive Seattle area map in which you can see Seattle as a whole or zoom in on each of its neighborhoods.

This is an interactive map of the University of Washington Campus: http://www.washington.edu/home/maps/

Will I be able to work out/play sports on campus?

Executive education can supply you with soccer/basket balls if you would like to play after class. There is one soccer field/basketball court close to the building. There is also an exercise facility available for a daily fee.

What health care arrangements should I make?

Minor or emergency health care is available on campus, at Hall Health Primary Care Center and the University Hospital. Medical care in the United States is expensive – it is highly recommended that you have your own medical insurance or are able to pay a fee for the services. Executive Education/PRBP Does NOT carry insurance coverage for participants

Course Specifics

When and where is orientation?

You need to be present at the University of Washington campus by 4:00 p.m. Saturday August 9th to participate in the registration process and course orientation. You will be provided with a walking map of the area when you check into the hotel so that you can find your way to campus and back.

We highly recommend coming into Seattle a day or two early to acclimatize to the time change and your surroundings.

Saturday is a very busy day and you will have limited time in between orientation to prepare for the welcome dinner. Be sure to wear business attire to the welcome dinner on Saturday, but casual dress is acceptable for the orientation.

The schedule for the Saturday 8/9 is as follows: