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1998 Israel Conference Planning Taking Shape

If you go to the ICA conference in Jerusalem next year, and we hope you will, you will be one of over 2 million travelers to Israel that year, if recent trends continue. Tourism has become big business in Israel for a number of reasons-its exotic blend of East and West, its religious significance, its natural and architectural beauty, its historic value.

Figures from 1994 show that 60% of these 2 million are first-time visitors; 20% come from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. Tourism to Israel is also increasing from the Nordic countries and Eastern Europe, and Israel is increasingly becoming a favored site for international congresses. Hard at work to make this year's conference a memorable experience for ICA participants are your program chair, ICA President-elect Howard Giles, and other members of the Executive Board; Local Arrangements Chair Akiba Cohen and his committee; Division and Interest Group officers and committee chairs; and ICA staff.

"I am very excited about the prospects for Jerusalem," says Giles. "Thanks to the boundless energies of Akiba Cohen and the Local Arrangements Committee in Israel, we have significant sponsorship," which will result in lower conference fees and other bonuses.

Among the things to look forward to are a topnotch hotel at reasonable rates that include a complimentary Israeli breakfast each day; a complimentary buffet reception on opening night on the patio of the Israel Museum overlooking the city; and a closing reception on the lawns of the Jerusalem Film Center.

The Renaissance Jerusalem is the largest hotel in Israel and its premier convention hotel. Located in the western part of the city near Israel's parliament buildings and the famous Israel Museum, the Renaissance is accessible to major attractions across the city. It has 650 guest rooms and convention facilities that will allow all conference events to be housed under one roof. In addition to the usual first-class hotel amenities, the Renaissance has recently gone high tech, offering each guest access to the Internet from his or her hotel room. In addition, each room is equipped with voice mail, telephones with data ports, and electric locks.

As usual, you can expect high-quality presentations, many of which will address the conference theme, "(Mis)Communicating Across Boundaries," as well of other topics that run the gamut of communication research interests. With the November 1 submission deadline right around the corner, program planners will soon be able to get their programs in order for what promises to be one of the best ICA conferences in the association's 48-year history. Future issues of this newsletter and mailings from ICA headquarters and divisions and interest groups will keep you abreast of what's being planned. Remember to check the ICA website at www.icahdq.org for new information as it becomes available.

-Barbara C. Stooksberry

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