SHROUD SCIENCE GROUP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Shroud of Turin: Perspectives on a Multifaceted Enigma
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BLACKWELL HOTEL
August 14 through August 17, 2008 Open to the Public
The Blackwell Hotel
for individuals wishing to stay at the conference site
The conference will be held at the Blackwell Hotel on the grounds of The Ohio State University. For those individuals wishing to stay at the same hotel special room rates are available. When calling for reservations (614-247-4000) please be sure to specify that you are part of the Shroud of Turin Conference (room block code SHRO0808). All reservations should be made by TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 in order to receive the group rate (plus taxes and valet parking).
The Blackwell
2110 Tuttle Park Place
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614-247-4000
Toll Free: 866-247-4003
Fax: 614-247-4040
Room amenities:
- Spacious Executive work areas with leather chairs and Multiple high-speed Ethernet lines
- Cordless phone with two phone lines in each room with voice mail, data port and an additional phone with conference call features
- Mini-bar area with coffee maker, locally roasted Blackwell Blend coffee and teas
- Pillow-top mattresses with High Thread-count sheets and plush bedding
- 27" televisions with remote control 70-channel cable service
- In-room safe, large enough to accommodate a laptop
- Spacious bathroom with Hair dryer and scale
- Windows that open to allow fresh air
- Thick, luxurious bathrobes
- Complimentary newspapers
- Evening turndown service
- AM/FM alarm clock and CD player
- DVD players in suites and lofts
- Full-length mirror
- Fax/copier/printers in many rooms
- Iron & ironing board
Hotel amenities:
- VIP rooms and services including a Conference/Hospitality rooms on each floor
- Executive suites with vaulted ceilings and a Presidential Suite
- Evening turndown service
- Express checkout
- Bistro 2110, a full service, fine dining restaurant with Room Service available from 6am until midnight
- Bar / lounge in hotel Lobby
- Concierge and Bell services
- Laundry/valet services
- 24-hour fitness center
- 24-hour gift shop
- Valet parking
- Ohio State University policy: all rooms are no smoking
- Airport shuttle and local ground transportation
Ethernet Internet Connection: The Blackwell provides free high-speed Internet access to all guests. In order to take advantage of this service, your computer must have a standard RJ45 Ethernet card installed with TCP/IP Protocol configured for DHCP. Note, this is the most common wired high speed connection and most laptop computers with an Ethernet jack will work without any special setup requirements. You should bring an Ethernet cable that can be obtained at any office supply or electronics store. Regrettably, The Blackwell is unable to configure any computers for guests. Note that dial up data ports are also available in the guest rooms, but a charge is applied after the first 30 minutes of dial up use.
Room Rates: 1 King Bed / 2 Double beds: Single Rate $127 Double Rate $127
Pending availability, prices good immediately before and immediately after conference
Reservations: When making reservations, attendees should identify themselves as being with the Shroud of Turin Conference program (room block code SHRO0808). All reservations should be made by TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 in order to receive the group rate (plus taxes and valet parking). After this date, the hotel will release rooms not sold from the group block for general sales and all subsequent hotel reservations will be taken on an availability basis. Every attempt will be made to accommodate special requests for room types. This includes location, however, due to arrival and departure patterns not all requests may be fulfilled.
Reservations are required by the hotel to be guaranteed with a credit card. Reservations should be made by the designated cutoff date in order to take advantage of the special group rate. To receive the negotiated rate, participants should identify themselves as being with the Shroud of Turin Conference program when making reservations. Individuals should cancel reservations prior to 4:00pm the day of the scheduled arrival to avoid one night's room and tax charge to the credit card on file. Reservations will be guaranteed by each individual and the individual will be responsible for all charges upon arrival.
Check-in / Check-out: Check in time is 3:00pm and check out time is 12:00pm. Requests for early check in and late check out are based upon availability. A fee may apply.
Airport/Local Transportation: The Blackwell offers complimentary airport transportation to and from the hotel. They request 48-hour notice of airline information, including flight number and arrival time. This can be arranged at the time of the individual's reservation. The Guest will pick up the shuttle outside baggage claim at the "OFF AIRPORT HOTELS SHUTTLE" area every half hour past the hour. Local transportation is available complimentary up to five (5) miles of the hotel for groups of up to five (5) people. A fee may be applied for larger groups traveling outside the five (5) mile radius.
- The Hotel Van, limited to groups of 7 maximum, will run every hour and a half for both pick-ups and drop-offs with a 5-minute windo of wait time. Operating times will be from 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Airline, Flight number, and arrival time will still be required at least 48 hours in advance for scheduling purposes.
Van departs Blackwell at 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm.
Van departs Airport at 7:45 am, 9:15 am, 10:45 am, 12:15 pm, 1:45 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:45 pm, 9:15 pm and 10:45 pm.
Guests who have not scheduled transportation within 48-hours and are not able to be picked up, will be responsible for providing their own transportation. Any special requests that deviate from the schedule will be subject ot availability.
- A Lincoln Town Car (also available) may be used for trips within the hotel’s 3-mile radius. Limited trips of 4
(maximum). The schedule for the Lincoln will be based on availability. Trips outside the 3-mile radius will be subject to availability and a $35 roundtrip fee.
Directions:
- From Port Columbus International Airport: Travel I-670 West, to the State Route 315 North interchange (6 mi.). Follow State Route 315, North, to the Lane Avenue exit. Go east (right), past Olentangy River Road, until you come to Tuttle Park Place. Turn right at the traffic light and follow Tuttle Park Place past Neil Avenue. The Blackwell will be on your left.
- From the East: Travel I-70 West, to the State Route 315 interchange. Follow State Route 315, North, to the Lane Avenue exit. Go east (right), past Olentangy River Road, until you come to Tuttle Park Place. Turn right at the traffic light and follow Tuttle Park Place past Neil Avenue. The Blackwell will be on your left.
- From the North: Travel I-71 South, to the Interstate 270 interchange. Travel I-270, West, to the State Route 315 interchange (1.3 mi.). Follow State Route 315, South, to the Lane Avenue exit. Go east (left), past Olentangy River Road, until you come to Tuttle Park Place. Turn right at the traffic light and follow Tuttle Park Place past Neil Avenue. The Blackwell will be on your left.
- From the South: Travel I-71 North, to the State Route 315 interchange. Follow State Route 315, North, to the Lane Avenue exit. Go east (right), past Olentangy River Road, until you come to Tuttle Park Place. Turn right at the traffic light and follow Tuttle Park Place past Neil Avenue. The Blackwell will be on your left.
- From the West: Travel I-70 East, to the State Route 315 interchange. Take State Route 315, North, to the Lane Avenue exit. Go east (right), past Olentangy River Road, until you come to Tuttle Park Place. Turn right at the traffic light and follow Tuttle Park Place past Neil Avenue. The Blackwell will be on your left.
Valet Parking: The Blackwell offers Valet Parking for all hotel guests and meeting attendees. The overnight rate is $15 per day and is applied to the guest's folio. For meeting attendees the rate is $9 for an all day meeting and $5 for half-day meetings and evening events.
Carry in and Carry-Out Policy: The Blackwell reserves the right to inspect and control all private parties, meetings, receptions, etc. being held on the premises. Due to food safety regulations, no food or beverage of any kind is permitted to be brought into the banquet and/or meeting rooms or to be removed from the property.
Deliveries: All packages sent to the hotel should be pre-paid. The hotel will refuse any package coming C.O.D. In case of large shipments or crates, the hotel's Meeting Planner must be notified two (2) weeks in advance so that preparations can be arranged. The first five (5) boxes will be handled and stored at no charge to the client. A handling and storage fee of $5.00 per box thereafter will be assessed and charged to the client's master bill. Multiple packages within a single shipment should be numbered in sequence (i.e., 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3). Our receiving entrance is open from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. The Blackwell does not accept any liability for equipment, displays or other materials which arrive to the hotel. The client is responsible for insuring it properly for loss or damage. Materials shipped for event should not arrive more than three (3) days prior to the scheduled event.
Shipment of material, literature, etc. that are used in conjunction with a meeting at the Blackwell should be addressed as follows:
HOLD FOR: Mr. Joe Marino
Shroud of Turin Conference
Arrival Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Blackwell
2110 Tuttle Park Place
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Other Information:
- For Catholics wondering about Sunday Mass, there's a Newman Center within a couple of blocks of the hotel. Their Masses in mid-August in recent years has been 5:30 pm Saturday night and 10:00 and Noon on Sunday morning. However, Fr. Stephen Fichter, who will be attending the conference, has agreed to say Mass at the hotel at a convenient time. More information will be given later.
- For those with an interest in athletics, Ohio Stadium, one of the largest college football venues in the country (seats 105.000), where the Ohio State Buckeyes play, can be seen from the front of the hotel. There are no tours at that time as far as we know, but you can walk around the perimeter of the Stadium.
- For activities in the Columbus area, see: http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/play-here.cfm
- For further information, contact Joe Marino at .