The 2011 RTCM Annual Assembly Meeting and Conference will be held at the TradeWinds Island Grand, St Pete Beach, Florida, USA, 15-20 May, 2011. The meeting will open with an informal evening reception on Sunday, May 15, 2011. Meeting sessions will begin the morning of Monday, May 16^th and continue through Friday, May 20^th. Some working sessions may continue through May 21^st. Look at our 2010 Conference Program for an idea of the scope and coverage of our annual meetings.

The RTCM Annual Assembly Meeting and Conference is open to both RTCM members and non-members, and is structured to provide attendees with an overall update on the changing world of maritime radiocommunications and radionavigation and associated matters. The program includes a series of formal paper presentations, panel sessions, workshops, and meetings of working committees of the RTCM and other organizations.

Meeting sessions are complemented by displays and demonstrations of the newest technology in maritime radiocommunications and radionavigation equipment and services. These are provided in the exhibit areas through the cooperation of RTCM member organizations.

All RTCM Annual Meeting registrants are invited to visit the exhibit areas and to participate actively in all meeting activities.

Hotel Registration : All functions will be at the TradeWinds Island Grand, 5500 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706, USA. For information and reservations in the U.S. and Canada call: +1-800-808-9833 (toll-free), and from other locations, call +1-727-363-2212. (Please be aware that all online reservations require a valid credit card, and will charge a deposit when making the reservation. The deposit equals first night's room rate, resort fee and tax.)  Our room rate is $184 single or double plus $15.00 per day Resort Amenity Fee (required), applicable for nights of May 12 through May 22, 2011. The Resort Amenity Fee eliminates many incidental a la carte charges such as parking, local phone calls, newspaper, use of the fitness center, and business center services.  Suites and penthouses are also available on a space-available basis.  Guest rooms are subject to applicable taxes, currently 12%, subject to change.  A limited number of government per diem rate rooms are also available - check with the hotel for rates and conditions. The RTCM room rate applies to reservations made until the RTCM room block is filled or until April 12, 2011, whichever is earlier. Reservations will be confirmed with receipt of one night's deposit in the amount of the room rate plus 12% tax.  Early departures or cancellation of reservations within 48 hours of arrival may be subject to billing of one night. Credit cards accepted include American Express, Visa, and Mastercard.  (Diner's Club can be used for payment, but not for a reservation deposit.)

Location: The TradeWinds Island Grand and the TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites are located along a strand of sugar white beach directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Guests of have direct access to the beach at the TradeWinds complex.

Facilities: The TradeWinds Island Grand is a AAA four-diamond resort on a 20 acre complex with 585 deluxe guest rooms, including 378 hotel and parlor rooms, 200 suites and 7 penthouse and hospitality suites. The TradeWinds Action Zone (also known as T.A.Z.) provides scheduled daily activites from A to Z - including aerobics, swimming lessons, tennis clinics, and a variety of programs for children through the KONK Club (Kids Only, No Kidding!) activities center at Island Grand. Many programs are complimentary. Programming varies seasonally, and includes activities for the entire family.

Airport: Both Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport are about 30 minutes away from the TradeWinds, via Interstate 275 and the St. Pete Beach/Pinellas Bayway. Orlando International Airport is about 90 minutes away via I-4 and I-275.

What To See In The St. Pete Beach Area

The TradeWinds complex is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and offers a full range of recreational activities with tennis, racquetball, miniature golf, a fitness center, and sailing, swimming and beachfront activities on site. Golf, deep sea fishing and all the attractions of the Tampa - St. Petersburg area are nearby. The average daytime  temperature in May is 79° F (26° C) by day and 63° F (17° C) by night.  Concierge staff members are available to all leisure and group guests, to arrange a wide variety of day trips from shopping to scuba diving, making dinner reservations, arranging theater and attractions tickets, scheduling golf tee times and more.  There is an Avis car rental facility on site.  Possible tours range from short half day trips in the immediate area to full day and multiple day trips to nearby regions of Florida.  Possible tours include:

• Busch Gardens
• Sea World
• Universal Studios
• MGM Studios
• Epcot Center
• Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
• Cypress Gardens
• Kennedy Space Center
• The Everglades.