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Travel & Lodging

Travel and Lodging on Orlando, Florida

This Travel and Lodging document provides more details about the 2010 OSC Readiness Training Program, including contact information, tips for what to pack, dining and entertainment options, and details for arranging ground transportation.

The Wyndham Orlando Resort is a large property. This attached property map provides an overview of the Wyndham.

Wyndham Orlando Resort

The Wyndham Orlando Resort is located at:
8001 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819 (Orange County)
Phone:  (407) 351-2420 and Fax:  (407) 345-5661

The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO), approximately 16 miles away.  For further information about the Wyndham, visit their Web site at www.wyndhamorlandoresort.com.  If you are not already a member, sign-up for a Wyndham By Request membership at www.wyndham.com/servlet/rewards_benefits.wnt.

Sleeping Room Reservations

A limited size block of rooms has been reserved at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida (Orange County).

The lodging rate is the prevailing government rate of $117 per night plus 12.5 percent sales tax.  Reservations need to be made before Tuesday, January 26, 2010, to receive the training program’s room rate.  For EPA and other federal agency attendees not on EPA’s master account for lodging at the Wyndham, a tax exempt form will be available at the front desk of the Wyndham when you check-in.  The form is very short to complete and you will need to show your federal agency identification badge.

To make your sleeping room reservation at the Wyndham, call 1 (800) 421-8001.  An automated recording will answer; select the option for group and convention rates.  Then request the “EPA OSC Training” room block.

To make your sleeping reservation online, visit www.wyndham.com/groupeventsnew/mcowd_epaosc/main.wnt

Reservations at the Wyndham must be confirmed with a credit card.  If your lodging is paid for by EPA’s master account, you still are responsible for covering incidental charges and guaranteeing your arrival with a credit card.  If you have questions about payment for your lodging when you check-in, contact Mr. Gary Turner, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation on site or by e-mail at turner.gary@epa.gov.

You are responsible for cancelling your hotel reservation if you cannot attend.  The Wyndham requires a notice of cancellation of 24 hours by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time prior to your scheduled arrival.  If you fail to provide notice, one night’s lodging will be charged to your credit card.  Upon check-in you will be asked to verify your departure date; if you check-out earlier from your verified departure date, an early departure fee of $117 plus sales tax will be charged to your credit card.

Hotel check-in begins after 4:00 p.m., and check-out time is 11:00 a.m.

For up-to-date information on lodging, visit the Travel and Lodging page on the Readiness Training Web site at www.oscreadiness.org/2010.

Sleeping Room Amenities

The Wyndham offers the following guest room amenities:

• Complimentary high speed Internet access.  Please note you need to bring with you an Ethernet cable; wireless access is not available in guest rooms and front desk has a limited supply of cables
• Two-line speaker phones and voice mail
• In-room coffee makers, hair dryers, and full-size ironing boards with iron
• Laptop size in room safe with recharging outlet

Stipend for Lodging and Federal Per Diem Rates

Lodging for pre-approved EPA OSCs, pre-approved regional invited guests, and pre-approved designated instructors staying at the host hotel will be paid by EPA Headquarters (HQ). All pre-approved attendees on EPA's master account must have approved travel authorizations.

The Federal lodging per diem rate for Orlando is $117 per night and the meal and incidentals expenses (M&IE) allowance is $56 per day. For further information about Federal per diem rates for Orlando, Florida, visit http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?queryYear=2010&contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=17943&queryState=Florida&noc=T.

For EPA employees, when completing your travel information in gov.trip, make sure you select Orlando, Florida in Orange County to receive the correct M&IE and lodging rates in gov.trip.

Request for Friday night stay

The available nights that EPA HQ will pay for EPA OSCs' and regional invited guests' lodging are Sunday, January 31, 2010 through Thursday, February 4, 2010; and by EPA HQ approval, for the night of Friday, February 5.

Friday, February 5, should be considered the travel day to return home for all attendees; EPA HQ will pay the lodging cost for the night of Thursday, February 4, for attendees to stay through courses ending at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Requests for Friday night coverage must be sent by e-mail to Gary Turner at turner.gary@epa.gov before Friday, January 22, 2010. E-mail requests should include a brief explanation why your Friday night should be included on the master account and type "Friday" in the subject line. You will be notified by Gary Turner if your request for EPA to pay lodging costs for Friday night has been approved.

If you require special assistance or have questions about lodging, please contact Jen Grund, Tetra Tech, by e-mail at jen.grund@tetratech.com or by telephone at (703) 390-0667.

Getting To Orlando, Florida

The Orlando area is served by the Orlando International Airport (MCO).  MCO is located 16 miles from the Wyndham.  Additional information about the MCO is available at www.orlandoairports.net.

Orlando, Florida is located in the Eastern Time Zone.

Ground Transportation

The Mears Motor Shuttle runs from MCO to the Wyndham every 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours every day and no reservations are needed.  The approximate travel time to the Wyndham using Mears Motor Shuttle is about 45 minutes to one hour.  One way fares are $18.00 and round trip fares are $29.00.  For further information about Mears, call (407) 423-5566 or visit www.mearstransportation.com.

Taxi fare between the Wyndham and MCO is approximately $35 one-way, not including gratuity.  Travel time from MCO to the Wyndham is approximately 20 minutes.

To access transportation at MCO follow signs to the baggage claim area, located on the second floor of the airport.  Continue outside where you will see white booths for the Mears Shuttle and signs for taxi cabs.

The Wyndham offers complimentary self-parking; valet parking is not available at the Wyndham.

Driving Directions to the Wyndham

From Orlando International Airport:

• When leaving the airport, you will see signs for the “Bee Line Expressway” exit on the right hand side
• Take the Expressway (also known as State Road 528) going west
• Once on the Expressway, you will go through two tollbooths, approximately $.75 each
• Take the Universal Boulevard Exit 2
• Turn right onto Universal Boulevard
• Turn left onto Sand Lake Road
• The entrance to the Wyndham is on the left-hand side of Sand Lake Road

From the Florida Turnpike and from I-4 West:

• Exit from the Florida Turnpike at I-4
• Take I-4 west to exit 74A - Sand Lake Road
• Turn left at Sand Lake Road
• Pass through the International Drive intersection and the Wyndham has three entrances on the right-hand side of the Sand Lake Road

From I-4 East:

• Exit from the Florida Turnpike at I-4
• Take I-4 west to exit 74A - Sand Lake Road
• Turn right at Sand Lake Road
• Pass through the International Drive intersection and the Wyndham has three entrances on the right-hand side of the Sand Lake Road