Frequently Asked Questions About ICA 2014
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Q. When and where is ICA 2014?
A. ICA 2014 is scheduled for 30 March to 4 April 2014 in Washington, D.C. ICA 2014 will be held at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel.
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Q. Will there be other hotel options besides the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel?
A. ICA 2014 is offered at a reasonable registration fee because a block of hotel rooms is reserved at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel for ICA 2014 meeting attendees. In exchange for filling a required number of sleeping rooms, ICA 2014 is permitted to use the hotel's meeting space at no cost, thus keeping registration fees low. In addition, meeting attendees receive a negotiated rate for their sleeping rooms that is lower than the regular rate paid by other hotel guests. ICA 2014 kindly requests that all attendees take advantage of the group rate and stay at the official ICA 2014 hotel, the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel.
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Q. Are the 2014 IAA Committee meetings being coordinated with ICA 2014?
A. Yes, the IAA Committee meetings will be at the Omni Shoreham, immediately across the street, 26-29 March 2014.
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Q. Why are there pink flowers in the ICA 2014 logo?
A. The flowers are cherry blossoms. The dates for ICA 2014 were chosen to coincide with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival celebrates springtime in Washington, D.C. as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry trees from Japan.
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Q. Who is hosting ICA 2014?
A. The actuarial profession in the United States is hosting ICA 2014. There are five actuarial organizations in the U.S. that are serving as hosts: American Academy of Actuaries, American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, Casualty Actuarial Society, Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and Society of Actuaries.
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Q. What will the Scientific Program consist of at ICA 2014?
A. The Scientific Program will be sessions designed to appeal to all actuaries from every practice area. Parallel sessions will be offered that address topics within life insurance, general insurance, pensions, health insurance, enterprise risk management, and professionalism. Sessions will include invited speakers, organized panels, authors of new papers, and opportunities for discussion.
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Q. Can I attend ICA 2014 for half of the week?
A. Yes, the program will be organized to concentrate related topics in the first or second half of the week, and the fee and registration package will include full-week and half-week options.
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Q. What is the Social Program for ICA 2014?
A. ICA 2014 promises an enjoyable Social Program for delegates and their accompanying guests. In addition to the Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner, the Congress week will include open afternoons to allow delegates to enjoy all that the Washington, D.C. region has to offer.
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Q. What is there to do in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area?
A. Many free and family-friendly attractions can be easily reached from the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel. Delegates can walk to the neighboring National Zoo or to the Woodley Park Metro station for access to an extensive subway system. On the National Mall you will find the free Smithsonian museums and classic landmarks such as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial, as well as amazing views of the cherry blossoms.
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Q. What is the schedule for the Congress?
A. A tentative schedule is available on the ICA 2014 web site. More details will be posted as the event draws closer.
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Q. How easy it is to get to Washington, D.C.? How close are the airports to the hotel?
A. There are three airports that service Washington, D.C.:
- Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), located three miles from downtown D.C.
- Dulles International Airport (IAD), located 25 miles from downtown D.C.
- Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), located 30 miles from downtown D.C.
Shuttle buses, trains, and subways are available to travel from the airports to the hotels, as are taxicabs (a more expensive option).
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Q. How close is Washington, D.C. to other major U.S. cities?
A. Washington, D.C. offers easy access to major northeastern cities. For example, by train Washington, D.C. is only 30 minutes to Baltimore, two hours to Philadelphia, and four hours to New York City. Other sites of interest are short automobile rides away from Washington, D.C, including historical sites, such as Colonial Williamsburg and Gettysburg, and outdoor recreation areas, such as the Chesapeake Bay and the mountains of Virginia.
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Q. What are the registration fees for ICA 2014 and when will I be able to register?
A. Registration is open for ICA 2014. A fee chart is available online along with a comprehensive registration fee chart. Accompanying persons can be registered at the same time as delegates.
