Pre-Arrival Information

We look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne shortly. To assist with your arrival, please see below further information on key areas of the Conference.

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
25 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
T +61 (0) 3 9653 0000
www.sofiteloncollins.com.au

The Conference will be conducted on Level One of the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins in the Grand Ballroom. When delegates enter through Collins Street on the ground floor, make your way through the eatery on the left-hand side to travel up the escalator to the foyer of the Grand Ballroom. If entering from the side entrance, please make your way up the escalators directly in front of you. Follow the directional signage displayed.

There are taxis and Uber services available from the airport to the city centre as well as the coach service, Skybus, which can be booked in advance or on arrival. Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport is approximately 24 kilometres to the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

The Sofitel Melbourne on Collins is easily accessible by the public transport system with the closest train stations being Parliament Station and Flinders Street Station. The Sofitel Melbourne on Collins offers onsite valet carparking or public car parking at First Parking | Collins Place Car Park, in Flinders Lane which is a short 4-minute walk to the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Please refer to the website for parking rates and early bird savings.

The Registration and Information Desk is located on the Promenade First Floor of the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, in front of the Grand Ballroom, and will be open the following times:

Monday 16 February 2026 from 4.00pm-6.30pm
Tuesday 17 February 2026 from 7.30am-6.00pm
Wednesday 18 February 2026 from 8.00am-5.00pm
Thursday 19 February 2026 from 8.30am-3.00pm

Your name badge will be pre-printed and ready for your collection once you arrive onsite. For security purposes, please wear your name badge at all times, including at social functions.

Every effort will be made to accommodate dietary requirements and/or special requirements, however advance notice is needed. If you did not provide this information at the time of registering, please email the Conference Office.

The Speaker Preparation Room is in Victoria Suite 3 on the First Floor of the Promenade at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, near the Registration and Information Desk and is open the following times:

Tuesday 17 February 2026 from 8.00am-4.30pm
Wednesday 18 February from 8.00am-5.00pm
Thursday 19 February from 8.30am-2.30pm

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins has a cloak room located next to the Victoria Suites and will be staffed 30 minutes before the first session and 30minutes after the last session. They will assist with any cloaking of coats, bags or personal belongings.

A few days prior to the Conference you will receive a further email from us detailing how to access the Conference App, which will provide you with the latest information. We encourage you to download the App before arriving at the Conference.

To assist with networking, a copy of the delegate list, excluding privacy requests, will be available on the Conference App.

The dress code for the Conference is smart casual.

If you have booked accommodation through the Conference Office, any changes to your booking must be managed through the Conference Office by email, not directly with the hotel. You should refer to the cancellation terms and conditions noted on the website should you need to reduce or cancel your booking.

If there is an emergency at the venue, please stay calm. Please follow the instructions given by the venue staff who are fully trained for an emergency situation.

The emergency phone number in Australia is 000. The dispatcher will then put you through to Police, Ambulance or the Fire Brigade.

We encourage you to network with the exhibitors during the Conference. Located on the First Floor in Sofi's Lounge, the Exhibition will be open the following times:

Tuesday 17 February 2026 8.30am-6.00pm
Wednesday 18 February 2026 8.30am-5.00pm
Thursday 19 February 2026 8.30am-1.45pm

Daily catering will be held in the Exhibition.

Please see the sponsors and exhibitors pages of the website for more information.

Delegates are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. Delegate registration fees do not provide any such coverage. The Conference Organisers and the Conference Office accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.

There will be a dedicated wifi network for you to use throughout the Conference. The password to the Conference network will be printed on the reverse side of your name badge.

Please be advised during the Conference photography may take place and may be used to promote the Conference, both within Australia and internationally, across all print and digital platforms. If you do not wish to appear in any images captured, please inform us so we can take the appropriate steps and where possible please move out of camera range.

The Conference opening session will commence at 0900hrs sharp on Tuesday 17 February 2026. This will be in the Grand Ballroom, on the 1st Floor of the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. We encourage you to register early to ensure you are seated and ready for the formalities to begin. Please see the Conference website for the full program.

A special additional to the program will be the presentation of the IEA/H2TCP Task 50 Workshop. Join this session on Wednesday 18 February from 4:00pm in Victoria Suite 2.

A reminder for our international delegates to ensure you have applied and received your visa to enter Australia. If you need more information, please visit here.