CAST Hotel - 89 Chestnut

89 Chestnut is this year’s conference center and hotel. 89 Chestnut is a University of Toronto residence in the heart of downtown with Toronto’s visually-famous City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square as our direct neighbors. The conference hotel has rates as low as $114 per person per night. You can see details on this non-smoking facility, along with some maps and pointers to local attractions here.

Note that, as student accommodation, the rooms have private bathroom facilities, but no televisions. TV is available in common areas on each floor, in the unlikely event that people stop talking about testing for long enough to watch the All-Star game (Tuesday night) or the nightly news (which, in Toronto, tends to be reassuringly dull). On the other hand, the hotel has arranged free wireless internet access for all CAST attendees.

89 Chestnut Street
Toronto ON M5G 1R1
Canada

Phone: 416-977-0707
Fax: 416-977-1136

Be sure to mention the Association for Software Testing to qualify for the special discount rate.

Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided as part of the conference program. Dinner will not. Downtown Toronto is blanketed with outstanding restaurants of all kinds of cultures and styles, at all kinds of price points, all within a short walk. Both King Street and Queen Street, west of University Avenue, offer an extensive selection of eateries.

Getting To The Hotel From Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)

For a good balance of convenience and cost, you can get to the hotel from Pearson airport via the Airport Express shuttle bus, which stops at all or near major downtown hotels. Specially discounted tickets are available through 89 Chestnut; click here to make shuttle reservations. More general rate and schedule information is available at www.torontoairportexpress.com.

The most convenient and most expensive way downtown is via an airport taxi or limousine, available for approximately $50.

The least expensive approach is to take the Airport Rocket bus from Pearson to the Kipling subway station. All trains go eastbound from there to Yonge/Bloor station. Then take a southbound train to Dundas, and walk west three blocks to Chestnut Street, and one block south to the hotel. A little involved, but you can't beat the price ($2.75, in exact change, each way).

CAST Airline - Air Canada

We are delighted to announce that Air Canada provides a discount on flights for CAST Attendees. Air Canada's planes fleet is among the most modern and convenient in the world--many of the aircraft, including the regional jets, now feature personal in-flight entertainment systems, and the newly-refurbished Airbus 3xx planes feature 120V power to the seat.

Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance.

Mention promotional code V3HTCWX1.

Canada Customs and Immigration

We expect that many of the attendees at the conference will be from countries other than Canada. You're welcome to Canada, no matter where you're from. The following notes should help you to identify any specific steps that you'll need to follow.

To enter Canada from any country (including the United States) at an airport requires the traveler to be in possession of a valid passport.

If you are a US citizen (or a Canadian living there) and do not posess a valid passport, you can still attend CAST by flying into Buffalo driving just under two hours to downtown Toronto. To enter Canada via a land entry point you only require specific photo ID. As of January 31, 2008, Canadian and U.S. citizens must present government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s licence, together with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a citizenship card, to enter the United States by land or water. Canadian citizens can also use a valid passport, a NEXUS card, a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card, an enhanced driver’s licence or a Certificate of Indian Status card. Canadian and U.S. citizens 18 years of age and under must present only proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

Visitors from the United States and most European countries will not require a visa. Check here for a complete list of countries that do require a visa.

You will not require a letter of invitation nor a work permit to attend CAST, nor to work at the conference as an administrator or organizer. Guest speakers, commercial speakers or seminar leaders can speak or deliver training in Canada without a work permit as long as the event is no longer than five days. Simply tell the immigration officer specifically and honestly that you're attending the Conference for the Association of Software Testing in Toronto, and advise him or her of any other plans that you might have, such as peer conferences or tourism.

You may bring your laptop and other reasonable business needs with you. We rarely hear of any hassle whatsoever for people coming into Canada, although there has been one notable exception of which we're aware. (Read the whole post!) Avoid bringing food, plants, weapons, or contraband and you'll be fine.

Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. Make sure you have health insurance to cover any medical costs before you come to Canada.

For more specific information, check the Immigration Canada Web site here and another site here