The ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST) is an international forum for the exchange of experience and knowledge among researchers and developers concerned with virtual reality software and technology. VRST will provide an opportunity for VR researchers to interact, share new results, show live demonstrations of their work, and discuss emerging directions for the field. The event is sponsored by ACM SIGCHI and SIGGRAPH.

Venue info:

VRST 2012 will be held downtown in Toronto, Canada. Toronto is an international business hub, a commercial capital, one of the top financial centres in the world, and is a major player in almost every economic sector. It features a very diverse and multicultural population of more than 6 million in the metropolitan area. As a result, Toronto has great shopping and offers a wide variety of food choices as well as cultural experiences. The conference will be hosted by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. VRST 2012 aims at bringing together VR researchers from around the world to present the state-of-the-art advances in this ever-growing dynamic area

VSRT 2012 will take place at the following venue:

Chestnut Conference Centre

89 Chestnut Street

Toronto, Ontario

Click here for a map

HOTEL INFORMATION:

The conference hotel for ACM VRST’2012 is the Metropolitan Hotel Toronto located at 108 Chestnut Street in Toronto.  The hotel is across the road from the conference centre and is the closest hotel to the conference location.  The hotel has a block of rooms on hold for conference attendees at the rate of $139/night plus 13% HST.  This block is on hold until November 9.

Reservations can be made by directly contacting the hotel at:

Phone: 1-800-668-6600

Fax: 1-416-597-6351

Email: reservation@tor.metropolitan.com

At the time of booking the reservation must be guaranteed by credit card for the first night plus tax.

TRAVEL AND LOCAL INFORMATION

The conference centre and hotel are located in downtown Toronto on Chestnut Street.  Chestnut is a small street that runs off of Dundas Street between University and Bay Streets.  There are many attractions within easy walking distance of the conference hotel and Toronto is a safe city to explore on foot.

GETTING TO TORONTO

The best way to get to Toronto is by air.  The city is served by two airports; Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) is located outside of the city and handles most of the international flights and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is located downtown on an island.  Billy Bishop serves smaller airlines and connects to a limited number of destinations.

From Pearson International Airport there are several ways to get to the conference hotel. The Toronto Airport Express (http://www.torontoairportexpress.com/) is a bus service that runs from the airport to a number of downtown hotels including the conference hotel.  A taxi from the airport to the hotel will cost around $55.  There is public transit available at the airport, for information see http://www3.ttc.ca/.  The closest subway stop to the hotel is St. Patrick on the University line, the Dundas stop on the Yonge line is also a short walk from the hotel.  It is possible to rent a car at the airport, but downtown Toronto can be quite congested and parking can be expensive.  Plus, there will be limited opportunity to use a car once you arrive at the hotel.  You should budget about an hour to get from the airport to the hotel, depending upon your day and time of arrival.

The conference hotel is a 5 to 10 minute taxi ride from the Billy Bishop airport and this is probably your best choice.  There is a shuttle bus service from the airport to the Fairmont hotel.  This is across the road from Union station where you can catch a subway to the hotel.

DINING IN TORONTO

Toronto is a great city for eating.  There are many places to eat within an easy walk of the conference centre and hotel.  Along Dundas Street there are a number of reasonably priced Asian restaurants.  If you are into food courts the Atrium at Bay, a few blocks from the conference centre has a good one.  Two blocks north of the conference centre is Elm Street that has a good concentration of high end restaurants.  More reasonably priced restaurants can be found on Baldwin Street about a 10 minute walk north west of the hotel.  Several blocks southwest of the hotel is Queen Street and the entertainment district.  About a 10 minute walk west of the hotel is Spadina Ave and Toronto’s old China Town with a variety of interesting restaurants.  The conference hotel itself has two very good restaurants.

SIGHTSEEING

Both the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum are within an easy walk of the conference hotel.  You should budget at least half a day to visit either of these attractions.  The Eaton Centre, a large shopping centre is a short walk from the conference hotel.  The Yorkville area is a 15 minute walk north of the conference hotel and this area is famous for high end shopping, expensive restaurants and the occasional movie star sighting.