INFORMATION FOR SPONSORS

Dear business partners

We confirm your participation in the International Postgraduate Course AORTIC ROOT SURGERY which takes place in December 19th – 20th, 2005, in České Budějovice in the Czech Republic.

We ask you to send us your company logo by December 9th, 2005, unless you have already done so. If you do not meet this deadline we will not be able to place your logo on the course’s web pages, in printed materials nor on a banner along with those of the other sponsors, and your company name only will be stated.

For principal sponsors only: if you wish to have your material included in the congress bags, please send the material by Wednesday December 12th 2005 to: Leština s.r.o., Fráni Šrámka 7, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Foreign companies have the opportunity to send their exhibition stand in advance under the following conditions:

Address of the Exhibition Centre: Vystaviste Ceske Budejovice, a.s.
     K rukam Ing. Pavla Tvrdika nebo p. Karla Jiricky
     Husova 523
     370 21 Ceske Budějovice
     Czech Republic

Deadline for delivery of the parcels: December 12th to December 16th, deliveries may be accepted from 7 am to 3 pm. Please do not use FedEx company for delivery your parcels.
This company is completely reconstructed in our Republic and your material will not come in time. It could be late maybe a month.

In the case of material sent in advance the organizing agency may not be held responsible for any damage to the parcel caused in transit.Your parcel will be stored in Hall Z, where, after arrival, you will be able to collect and install it.

In the attachment you will find a scheme of Hall Z, where the ARS course will take place on both days, and where the location of your exhibition stand is marked.
The installation of the exhibition stands will take place on Sunday December 18th from 2 pm to 5 pm. The preparation of stands is to be completed on Sunday as the official opening of the ARS course will take place on Monday at 8 o’clock in the morning. During the course the exhibition hall will be guarded 24 hours a day.
Your exhibition stands will be located in the basement of the Hall Z, it means they will be in the area of the conference. During the program it is not possible to discuss your agenda with the participants. The second floor BAR will be open whole day for such purpose.

If you have booked your accommodation via our agency, or have arranged for it at the Gomel hotel, your accommodation has been taken care of. At the Hotel reception you will be given the details of conditions of payment for accommodation and other services as well as the time by which you should vacate your room.

Check-in for participants and representatives of the sponsor companies will take place on Sunday December 18th from 6 pm to 7 pm in the hall of the Gomel hotel and on Monday December 19th from 7:30 am in Hall Z at the Exhibition Centre.

On Sunday December 18th at 7 pm a Champagne Party will be held in the lounge bar of the Gomel hotel with refreshments prepared for you where you will have a chance to meet other participants of the course.

The official opening of the ARS course will take place on Monday December 12th, 2005, at 8 am in Hall Z.

We hope you would enjoy the Organ Concert in the cathedral of St. Nicholas with us. It will be held on Monday December 19th at 7 pm. After the concert we will move to the Zvon hotel, situated on the city’s main square, where the evening will be closed by a celebratory meal and drinks.You are invited to attend the Evening Party at Zvon hotel as well. ( dress informal)

We expect the ARS course to finish on Tuesday December 20th at 6 pm.

Up-to-date information on the course, namely the course program, travel directions, a map of the Czech Republic, a town plan etc. will gradually be posted on the course’s web pages www.eatb.cz/ars

If you have any question, please, do not hesitate to contact us:
By e-mail: semik@semik.cz
By phone: for English speaking participants: Radka Leštinová +420 602 18 18 11
for Czech or Slovak speaking participants: Lenka Ptáková +420 602 44 33 20

We look forward to meeting you in České Budějovice

Radka Leštinová
Lenka Ptáková

2. International Faculty (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Aleš MOKRÁČEK (České Budějovice)
Dr. Jaroslav ŠPATENKA (Prague)
Dr. Miroslav ŠULDA (České Budějovice)
Dr. Hanneke TAKKENBERG (Rotterdam)
Professor Sir Magdi YACOUB (London)

3. Local Organizers (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Jaroslav NOVÁK
Dr. Ladislav PEŠL
Dr. Břetislav SHON
Dr. Marek ŠETINA
Dr. František TOUŠEK
Dr. Milan VAMBERA

4. Congress Secretariat:

LEŠTINA Agency Ltd.
Radka LEŠTINOVÁ & Lenka PTÁKOVÁ
Fráni Šrámka 7, 370 01 České Budějovice
Tel.:+420 387 412 955, FAX: +420 387 412 956
e-mail: semik@semik.cz; www.lestina.cz

5. Objectives of the Postgraduate Symposium:

Demonstrate and discuss modern trends in aortic root surgery – aortic valve
and root replacement with xenograft, aortic allograft and pulmonary autograft,
valve conserving techniques.

Noninvasive & invasive preoperative diagnosis as well as the perioperative
echocardiography will be discussed. Operative techniques will be shown in details
through live surgery.

Special attention will be focused on long term results.
Advances in basic science (biology and function of aortic valve)
in xenograft research and tissue engineering will be addressed as well.

6. Preliminary Program of the Postgraduate Course:

Teleconference (live transmission from the theatre under direct contact with the auditorium). Discussion of Basic Science, Surgical Techniques, as well as the Long Term Results.

Type of Operations:
– Aortic Valve and/or Root Replacement with Xenograft
– Aortic Root Replacement with Allograft
– Ross Procedure, Valvesparing Aortic Root Operation

Topics: Anatomy of the aortic root, indications and different techniques of implantation of aortic autografts, allografts and unstented xenografts, remodelation vs. reimplantation in valve sparing operation, short and long term results, problems in echocardiography evaluation.

7. City of České Budějovice:

7.1. History

České Budějovice represents the administrative, economic, educational and cultural centre of South Bohemia. It can credit its origin to the king Přemysl Otakar II, who in 1265 founded the city on the confluence of two rivers Vltava and Malše and strengthened the powerful influence of the crown throughout the entire region. České Budějovice continued to enjoy the favour of kings in the next centuries. The medieval ground plan has been preserved in the historical centre with its rectangular network of streets radiating from the extensive square and bearing the name of the city´s flunder. The mighty Samson´s Fountain in the middle of the square, the long continuous sections of arcades of predominantly Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist burger houses complete the atmosphere inside the former city fortifications. An extensive mountain range can be discerned on the horizon lining the České Budějovice basin. In close proximity to the city lies the romantic chateau of Hluboká nad Vltavou, the Unesco monuments of Český Krumlov or the village of Holašovice with its country baroque style of architecture.

7.2. General Info

– Population of Czech Republic: about 10 000 000 inhabitants

– Prague Ruzyně International Airport: Daily connections to 43 European cities, served by national carrier Czech Airlines and 42 international airlines. The airport serves 4.6 mil passengers per year.

– Currency: 1 Czech Crown, 1 USD = 25 CZK (approx.), 1 EURO= 31 CZK (approx.)

– City transportation system: České Budějovice has a very sophisticated trolley and bus transportation system. Tickets for the public transport are not included in the Congress Fee, but there are many facilities to buy the tickets.

8. Congress Venue:

8.1. Accomodation

Hotel GOMEL

Hotel Gomel **** 2004 completely refurbished, is an elegant high-rise building, located in the very heart of České Budějovice. It is within five minutes walking distance from the Old Town and the city´s main square. You can leave your car or bus at our hotel parking lot. We offer you a pleasant sitting area in the snack bar at the hotel hall, which is opened both day and night. Those who love excitement have the opportunity to visit our casino. At the reception we offer an exchange office, information service, hotel taxi service, gift shop and a hairdresser. American Express, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa, Diners Club a CCS Business credit are accepted.

Hotel Address:
Hotel GOMEL ****
Pražská 14
370 01 České Budějovice
Czech Republic
(please, see the map below)
Phone: +420 389 102 222, +420 606 619 977
Fax: +420 389 102 333
E-mail: hotel@gomel.cz
www.gomel.cz

8.2. Congress Venue

Exhibition Centre České Budějovice – HALL „Z“

The České Budějovice Exhibition Centre is located close to the city centre. The Výstaviště České Budějovice joint-stock company ranks among the leading organizers of exhibitions and trade fairs in the Czech Republic. The Exhibition Centre is the venue of several exhibitions and other events throughout the year, and the recently renovated Hall Z allows for extending the company’s range of services to include the lease of representative social-cultural spaces. Situated in the very middle of the exhibition premises, the Hall has available convenient parking facilities just outside.

Address:
Exhibition Centre České Budějovice
Husova 523
370 21 České Budějovice
Czech Republic
tel: +420 387 714 911
fax: +420 387 714 263
e-mail: info@vcb.cz
www.vcb.cz

Possible Uses of the Hall:

• Balls, dance events
• Concerts
• Social meetings, parties
• Conferences, training courses, seminars
• Etc.

9. Information for Sponzors and Exhibitors:

9.1. Exhibition Space

An exhibition will be held in the Exhibition Centre České Budějovice, where the whole event will be organized.

Cost per square metre : 200 EUR
Minimum space: 4 sqm

One table, two chairs and a standard connection to the electricity grid will be available for each stand.

1. Category 4 – 12 sqm: 1 Exhibitor´s badge for free
2. Category 12 – 30 sqm: 2 Exhibitor´s badges for free

The exhibitor badge costs 30 EUR and includes:
– Entrance to the exhibition area
– Coffee breaks and Catering Services
– Welcome Reception

Postgraduate Course Organizers are open to discuss any requests regarding the exhibition booth, facilities,…etc.

10. Sponzorship Opportunities:

10.1. Principal Partner – 10 000 EUR

– Company name and logo displayed on the congress website
– Company name and logo displayed in the Final Program & Book of Abstracts
– One full page, 4-color ad in the Final Programme
– 15 sq.m of the exhibition ground – premium category
– First priority in choice of exhibition booth space and location
– Early assistance with hotel reservations
– Two full Course registrations
– Two Exhibitor´s badges

– In case of sponsoring other events, there is guaranteed the first choice of sponsorship of “extras“ ( congress bags, message board, congress badges, coffee breaks etc.)

10.2. Corporate Partner – 5 000 EUR

– Company name and logo displayed on the congress website
– Company name and logo displayed in the Final Program & Book of Abstracts
– One full page, 4-color ad in the Final Program
– Second priority in choice of exhibition booth space and location
– 12 sq.m of the exhibition ground – premium category
– Early assistance with hotel reservations
– One full Course registration
– Two Exhibitor´s badges

– In case of sponsoring other events, there is guaranteed the second choice of sponsorship of “extras“ ( congress bags, message board, congress badges, coffee breaks etc.)

10.3. Partner – 3 000 EUR

– Company name and logo displayed on the congress website
– Company name and logo displayed in the Final Program & Book of Abstracts
– Early assistance with hotel reservations
– Priority selection, after Principal and Corporate Sponsors, in choice of exhibit booth location
– 6 sq.m of the exhibition ground – premium category
– Two Exhibitor´s badges

10.4. Additional Sponsorship Opportunities

In addition to your level of sponsorship, you may support the following activities.

COFFEE BREAK – 800 EUR
(Company name and logo displayed on the banner at coffee break area)

LUNCH – 1500 EUR
(Company name and logo displayed on the banner at lunch area or lunch vouchers)

CONGRESS BAGS – 500 EUR
(With sponsor´s company name and logo)

INSERT IN THE CONGRESS BAG – 250 EUR
INSERTS (3 items in total only)

CONGRESS BADGES – 300 EUR

ADVERTISEMENT – 1000 EUR
(Inside A4 full page color in the Final Program & Book of Abstracts )

MESSAGE BOARD – 300 EUR
(With sponsor´s company name and logo)

For estimating budget purposes, please note that costs are based on projection of 100 participants. Course Organizers are willing to discuss any other sponsorship opportunities.

10.5. Terms of Payment -10% of total sponsorship – with contract
-30% of total sponsorship by – June 30, 2005
-60% of total sponsorship by – September 30, 2005