Welcome to Bergen, Norway!
EAZA Directors' Days and AGM 2024 will be hosted by Bergen Aquarium, Norway from 25 to 27 April 2023, with an optional aquarium visit on Friday 28 April.
EAZA Directors' Days and AGM meetings are by invitation only and open to Director level employees of EAZA Member institutions of all institutional and organisational categories (inclusive of Full, Temporary and Candidate for Membership institutions (a support letter of the respective mentor is required) and National Associations).
This is the premier forum for EAZA Member Directors to meet and discuss the strategy and direction of EAZA, and we urge all Directors to attend, network and influence.
The invitation for registration has been distributed on 2 February, if you have failed to receive it and you are entitled to attend please send an e-mail to mirko.marseille@eaza.net
Programme theme: Conservation and Operational Leadership : Trends and Challenges
This year’s programme covers a wide and varied range of topics that are both vital to the work of Directors and to the work of EAZA.
Linking to our host, Bergen Aquarium, on the opening day we will have a strong focus on Aquarium topics and what we can learn from the specialty needs of aquariums that apply to all zoological institutions. Over the two days, the complex and relevant conservation topics of ethical animal acquisition/disposition and management culling/euthanasia will be discussed. There will also be a session on the renewed Conservation Education standards and how Directors can expand social engagement and story-telling offerings in their facilities. Speakers on brand management and income generation will encourage creative thinking on these topics. Sustainable operations and conservation fundraising also have their time.
The Annual General Meeting will also be held and is the primary opportunity for all Full Members to vote on key EAZA decisions and make your voices heard.
Conference venue
The event takes place at the Hotel Clarion Admiral in downtown Bergen.
Venue address:
Clarion Hotel Admiral
C. Sundts gate 95004
Bergen, Norway
Sponsorship
This conference has partly been made available by EAZA Corporate Member Immotion.
Immotion is a new kind of entertainment company with a pedigree in content creation and emerging technologies. In bringing together award-winning directors, world-class CGI experts, state-of-the-art motion platform technology, and a proprietary Content Management System, Immotion is able to deliver new level of immersive entertainment that drives valuable ancillary revenue for their partners worldwide.
During the conference Immotion will have two pods on display in the exhibition space.
Registration
If you are entitled to register for EAZA Directors' Days 2023 you have received a personal invitation by e-mail at the beginning of February 2023. For questions regarding attendance or registration please contact mirko.marseille@eaza.net
Cancellation policy
Please take notice of the following EAZA Events cancellation policy:
- If you cancel more than four weeks before the event starts you will be reimbursed the full registration fee minus €50,- handling charges.
- If you cancel less than four weeks before the event starts you will be charged 25% of the fees.
- If you cancel less than two weeks before the event starts you will be charged 50% of the fees.
Cancellations one week prior to the event will not be refunded It is your responsibility to ensure that your cancellation for the Academy course/European Zoo Nutrition Conference is confirmed by the EAZA Academy or the EAZA Office respectively.
Covid and safety
If the entire event has to be cancelled due to local Covid restrictions and/or national increased Covid prevention measures you will receive a full refund minus €30,- If a registered participant has to cancel due to Covid-related disease and/or travel restrictions caused by Covid the regular EAZA cancellation policy, as stated above, will be applied. If the entire event has to be cancelled due to increased safety concerns caused by unforeseen crisis situations (Force majeure) you will receive a full refund minus €30,-
Accommodation
The conference venue is at the Clarion Hotel Admiral, located right in the heart of Bergen near the harbour. The newly renovated Clarion Hotel Admiral, which welcomed its first guests in 1987, is located in charming old warehouse buildings that date back to 1904.
EAZA has arranged a special event rate at the Clarion Hotel Admiral. The room rate is:
- Special single room rate of NOK 1475,- (approx. €137) per night including breakfast
Delegates have to mention this booking code 1037GR021113 to get a discounted rate. For room / lodging reservations please contact the hotel directly: cl.admiral@choice.no or konferanse.admiral@choice.no
Please book early as availability is limited
In the heart of Bergen
The hotel is located in central Bergen and it enjoys fantastic views of the harbour, the famous Bryggen, the mountains and the fish market. The 270 degree sea view provides a true maritime ambiance. Strandkaiterminalen, from where you can catch ferries to Stavanger, Sogn and Fjordane, is situated right next to the hotel and the Bergen train station is just five minutes away by taxi.
Explore Bergen
A stay at the Clarion Hotel Admiral gives you the perfect base from which to explore Bergen. Everything you could wish for is here – shopping, nightlife, restaurants, culture and entertainment. Take the opportunity to visit the Edvard Grieg Museum or go sailing. The Bergen aquarium is also within walking distance of the hotel. Please ask staff of the hotel for information about guided tours of the city and our best tips for your stay in Bergen.
Other hotel options in downtown Bergen:
Programme
The conference programme has been published and shared with the invited delegates. The day-to-day schedule is as follows:
25 April (Tuesday): Membership and Ethics Committee meeting 09:00-13:00 (closed), Executive Committee Meeting 14:00-15:00 (closed), National Associations Committee meeting 15:15–17:30, Technical Assistance Committee meeting 15:15–17:45 (closed), Icebreaker at the Bergen Aquarium 20:00-22:00
26 April (Wednesday): Meeting day 1 09:00-16.30, EAZA Spring Council Meeting 16:30–18:30 (closed)
27 April (Thursday): Meeting day 2 and AGM 09:00–17:45, Gala Dinner 19.30-late
28 April (Friday): Optional visit to Bergen Aquarium 10:00-15:00
Gala Dinner
Gala dinner starts on 27 April at 19:30 in the beautiful Håkon's Hall (Bergen Harbor) across the venue hotel.
Håkon's Hall was built by King Håkon Håkonsson between 1247 and 1261 as a royal residence and feasting hall. The hall has three floors with the large feasting room located on the top floor, with the middle floor used for the King's Council and administration, and the basement as a store room. It is mentioned in the sagas: "The Kings held court in the stone hall". When the king’s son Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøte married the Danish princess Ingeborg in 1261, 2000 guests were hosted in three buildings. The hall lost its role as the king’s seat when the royal family moved out of the country in the late Middle Ages. It later served as an ammunition store for the Bergenhus fortress. Today, Håkon’s Hall is used as a ceremonial hall, concert venue and a cultural heritage museum.
It is free to enter the historic Bergenhus Fortress area for walking and recreation. The premises are open from 07:00 – 23:00. A fortress trail map and historical puzzle to help you explore the area are available at the reception of the Bergenhus Fortress museum.
Dress code: Semi-formal
During dinner a cash bar will be opened for alcoholic beverages, payment can be done either with cash or card.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland / visitBergen.com
Visit Bergen - A World Heritage City
Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, the Bergen region has the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life all year around.
In Bergen you can also enjoy some of the finest seafood restaurants in Norway. If you would like to know more about what to do and what to see in Bergen and in the region, please refer to the suggested activities and attractions by clicking on the link below.
