World Horror Convention 2007 is delighted to announce that our venue is the TORONTO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN EATON CENTRE, located in the Financial District in the heart of downtown Toronto, within easy walking distance of the city's major attractions, including bookstores, The Theatre District, the waterfront, many historical sights and numerous fast-food outlets and fine restaurants. The hotel is also connected by a covered walkway to one of Canada's largest attractions, the EATON CENTRE SHOPPING MALL, a world-class location for those attendees who wish to supplement their weekend of horrors with some heavy-duty gift buying.

The Marriott is the only hotel in the city that does not accept gratuities for bell service and valet, saving money for attendees during their stay. PLEASE NOTE: Tipping in Canada is usually between 15-20% on the total before tax.

THE ROOMS

Each of the Marriott's 459 guestrooms is equipped with remote control TV, voice mail, high-speed Internet access, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, hairdryer and ironing equipment. Rooms also feature a well-lit work desk and large windows allowing for natural sunlight. Comfortable duvets and beds make for a good night's sleep (for those who are not up still partying). You can check out and retrieve account information using your in-room television, which also has Internet access, cable, movies, music and PlayStation games. Despite already conforming to the highest international quality, as you would expect from a Marriott, all the hotel's rooms are currently being upgraded, and this work is due to be completed by the end of 2006.

THE RESTAURANTS

For those who don't have time (or energy) to leave the hotel, the Marriott offers four in-house restaurants and lounges:

With floor to ceiling windows overlooking Bay Street and Trinity Square, CHARACTERS SPORTS BAR is open for dinner and serves traditional American sports bar fare and 8 beers on tap. You can catch the game on one of a series of flat-screen TVs, located on two levels in three distinct sound zones, or you can relax over a game of table hockey or pool.

JW'S STEAKHOUSE is open for both lunch and dinner and serves a signature 16oz bone-in Filet and Toronto's best crab cakes. Serving Certified Angus Beef, this intimate venue is perfect for a business meeting, interview or a quiet solo meal.

Serving as the main convention bar, the LOBBY LOUNGE is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A comfortable place to sit and enjoy a morning Starbucks coffee or an evening cocktail, this coffee house also serves bar snacks and sandwiches. And if you're really desperate, it starts serving alcohol from around 11:30 am onwards.

With huge windows overlooking the historic Church of the Holy Trinity, the PARKSIDE RESTAURANT serves breakfast and lunch in a bright and relaxing setting. The breakfast buffet includes an omelette station, while you can choose from an extensive international menu at lunchtime.

OTHER FACILITIES

You can also shake off that early morning hangover by taking a dip in the indoor pool, sauna or hot tub or working out on the fitness equipment in the 24-hour gym on the 18th floor, overlooking the city. Massage Therapy is also available by appointment for an additional charge.

And for those busy editors and authors who simply have to work over the weekend, you can get down to business (or meet that late deadline) with the help of two-tiered work stations on wheels, with halogen lighting and ergonomic chairs, a full Business Centre (open 6:00 am–11:00 pm), and convenient Concierge level.

There is also an on-site Gift Shop.

ROOM RATES

We have negotiated a significant reduction in the hotel's room rates for those registered members of World Horror Convention 2007. Rooms are Cdn$179.00 (approximately US$150.00 or £85.00), excluding taxes, for single or double occupancy. This special price is available for Tuesday March 27–Tuesday April 3, 2007, inclusive.

To book your accommodation, click on the direct link below to the Marriott's room reservation site for the convention:

http://cwp.marriott.com/yyzec/whctoronto/

or call 1-800-905-0667 in the US and Canada. Please make sure you quote the group code "WHC" when making your reservation.

If you want to book rooms at the special rate outside the dates given above, then follow the instructions on the reservation web page or contact the hotel direct.

CUSTOMS & TAXES

If you meet the minimum age requirements of the province or territory you are entering (18 years old in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec; 19 years old elsewhere), visitors can, for their own use, bring into Canada duty- and tax-free 1.5 litres of wine, or 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor, or 24 x 12-ounce bottles or cans of beer or ale. You are also allowed to bring in a maximum of 200 cigarettes duty- and tax-free. It is against Canadian law to bring firearms or other weapons such as Mace and pepper spray into the country.

Although everyone has to pay an 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and 3% Destination Marketing Fee, the 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) spent on short-term accommodation is refundable to non-Canadian citizens, who can also claim the tax back on goods purchased in Canada and taken back to the buyer's country of origin (except such excisable goods as alcohol, wine and tobacco products) and gasoline. You must spend a minimum of Cdn$200 and each receipt must be for a minimum of Cdn$50.00 and the goods must be removed from Canada within sixty (60) days of delivery to the non-resident visitor.

For more information on this refund, see pamphlet RC4031 "Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada", available on: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/visitors

Claim forms and envelopes for your receipts will also be available from the convention, where we will have a Customs representative on site to deal with your questions. For more information, go to: http://www.canadiantaxrefund.com/

GETTING THERE

The Marriott is approximately 25.0 km from Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The estimated taxi fare is Cdn$40.00 (one way), and this is probably the best way to travel for two or more people. The airport/hotel shuttle bus is currently Cdn$28.35 (round trip), but obviously takes a little longer. You can also take the combined public bus/subway service, which only costs Cdn$2.25 (one way), but this is not recommended as it takes more than an hour.

For those driving from Pearson International, take Highway 427 South to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) East, to the Gardiner Expressway East. Take Gardiner eastbound and exit York/Bay Streets. Take Bay Street north. The hotel is on the right, just north of Queen Street. Self-parking or Valet-parking are available at current rates. If you'd like directions to the hotel, this link will pop up a new window displaying a map provided by MapQuest.com.

The official airline for World Horror Convention 2007 is AIR CANADA. U.S. and Canadian attendees can quote the convention's unique number at the time of booking direct with our preferred carrier on www.aircanada.com, and will be offered a discount rate of 10% depending on the tariff of your ticket. PLEASE NOTE: THAT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THIS CODE NO LONGER WORKS OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA. Unfortunately, Air Canada decided to change the code.

Those US and Canadian members wishing to book a flight with the promotion code, access www.aircanada.com and enter KPZNX4B1 in the search panel. This will offer 10% off applicable fares.

TO REPEAT: World Horror 2007 promotion code: KPZNX4B1

The booking is to be made to the following city: Toronto (ON) – YYZ. The travel period begins Sunday, March 25, 2007 and ends Wednesday, April 04, 2007.

Air Canada flies into Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport from most major cities around the world. It also flies to/from Ottawa only on weekdays into Toronto's Island Airport (http://www.torontoairport.com/airport-info/toronto-island.php). This is the only commercial flight into the City Centre airport.

Air Canada is a Star Alliance Member (www.staralliance.com).

PLEASE NOTE: AS FROM JANUARY 1, 2007, ALL AIR AND SEA TRAVEL BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WILL REQUIRE PASSPORTS FOR US AND CANADIAN CITIZENS. THIS WILL ONLY APPLY TO LAND TRAVEL BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN 2008.

Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre
525 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2L2
Canada
Phone: +416 597 9200
Fax: +416 597 9211
Toll-Free (from the US and Canada only): 1-800 905 0667
http://www.marriotteatoncentre.com

You can take a "Virtual Visit" to the hotel at: http://www.marriotteatoncentre.ca