UPPER MIDWEST INVASIVE SPECIES CONFERENCE
  • Program
    • Program & Schedule
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    • Workshops
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    • Call for Abstracts
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Celebrating Milestones; Building a Legacy for the Future

Conference Venue

 The Joint 2018 UMISC - NAISMA Conference will be held at the Mayo Civic Center, perched along the Zumbro Riverbanks in the heart of downtown Rochester.  A short walking distance from hotels, shopping, restaurants and the renowned Mayo Clinic via covered skyway or charming city streets, the Mayo Civic Center is easily accessible via major highways and an international airport. 

Read below for Information on Parking, Hotels, Transportation, and Restaurants.
2018 UMISC - NAISMA Joint Conference
October 15 - 18, 2018
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Mayo Civic Center
30 Civic Center Dr SE
​Rochester, MN 55904

Parking
The Mayo Civic Center has several public parking ramps adjacent or within 1-2 blocks of the Center. All Conference Hotels also have parking facilities on-site or within 1 block of the hotel. Below is a map with more detailed information. You can also download the map here.
Free Parking and Parking Validation
Park FREE in city ramps on weekdays after 5:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. and on weekends from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. Ramp parking is also "Free" if you are in and out within an hour when parking in the following parking ramps; Center Street Ramp, Civic Center Ramp, 1st Street Ramp and 2nd Street Ramp. Fees may be charged for certain event parking.
Many downtown businesses will validate your parking in the ramps while you are shopping. Ask for your validation stamp.

ADA-Accessible Parking
All public ramps in Rochester have clearly marked designated handicapped parking spaces available. Vehicles with State issued Disability plates or permits may park at City meters for up to 4 hours with the exception of 30 minute meters.

Parking Lots and Parking Ramps
There are eight city operated parking lots throughout downtown Rochester. Depending on the lot, rates range from $0.70/hour with a 90 minute limit, $3.00/day or event. Several lots are controlled by large yellow pay boxes. Select an empty parking stall, park your car, observe the stall number, place your parking fee in the corresponding slot in the pay box. Please pay in advance at these boxes. Enforced seven days a week.

There are five public parking ramps. Rates are $0.50 to $1.00/hour depending on time increment or a maximum of $13.00 / 24 hours.
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Parking Meters
Meters are enforced 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday except major holidays: New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Free parking is provided at all meters after 5:00 p.m. during the weekday and at all times on weekends. Meters are colored coded to designate time: yellow-30 minutes; gray-90 minutes, 2 hours; blue-3 hours; green-10 hours. On-street parking is prohibited on most streets in the downtown from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Look for the posting.


​Hotels 
Discounted hotel blocks have been reserved at the Kahler Grand Hotel, Kahler Inn and Suites, and Holiday Inn Rochester from Sunday, October 14, 2018 through October 18, 2018. All hotels are conveniently located in walking distance from the conference venue and are connected to the Mayo Civic Center with an indoor skyway system in case of inclement weather.
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 Kahler Grand Hotel
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With over a 90-year legacy of personalized service and world-class comfort, the Kahler Grand Hotel is a historic Rochester, MN hotel built in 1921 by John Kahler at request of the Mayo Brothers. Discounted rooms are available from $109 - $139 plus tax depending on room type and occupancy. Call 1-800-533-1655 to make your reservation and mention the conference UMISC - NAISMA to get the discounted rate. Address:  20  2nd Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902

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Kahler Inn & Suites
The Kahler Inn & Suites is an upscale downtown Rochester, MN hotel affiliated with the iconic Kahler Grand, built in 1921 by John Kahler at the request of the Mayo Brothers. The Kahler Grand was the first of its kind to offer a pedestrian underground concourse system to connect the hotel to the downtown area's attractions.  Discounted rooms are available from $139-$169 plus tax depending on room type and occupancy. Call 1-800-533-1655 to make your reservation and mention the conference UMISC - NAISMA to get the discounted rate.
​Address:  
9  3rd Ave NW, Rochester, Minnesota 55901

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The Centerstone Plaza Hotel
​The Centerstone Plaza Hotel  is located 9 blocks from the Mayo Civic Center and offers a free shuttle. Find comfort and convenience here as well as a caring staff. The Twigs restaurant on site offers a unique menu and cozy atmosphere for relaxing and meeting with colleagues after the conference. Discounted rooms are $109 - $129 plus tax. Call (507) 288-2677 to make your reservation, mentioning UMISC - NAISMA to get the group rate. 
Address: 401 6th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902

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 Hilton Doubletree Rochester
Enjoy a refreshing and comfortable stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Rochester - Mayo Clinic Area. Connected via skywalk to the Mayo Civic Center and by pedestrian subway to the Shops at University Square, offering a choice of shopping and dining opportunities; or dine on-site at the award-winning Pescara restaurant or Starbucks. Click here to go directly to the hotel booking site. Discounted rate is $199 plus tax. Group Code when booking online is: UMI. Or call 507-281-8000 to speak with the hotel directly and and use Group name UMISC - NAISMA to get our discounted rate.
Address: 150 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota 55904

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Hilton Garden Inn Rochester
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Attached to Rochester’s pedestrian Skyway System, the Hilton Garden Inn Rochester is directly connected to the Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota Rochester, Shops at University Square mall, Mayo Civic Center, the Government Center and many restaurants. Click here to go directly to the hotel booking site. Discounted rate is $169 plus tax. Group Code when booking online is: UMI.  Or call the hotel directly at 507-285-1234. Group name when speaking directly with the hotel is UMISC - NAISMA .
Address:  225 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota 55904

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Holiday Inn Rochester

No longer available.

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Getting to Rochester
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Rochester, Minnesota is serviced by the Rochester International Airport (RST), 7 miles from the Mayo Civic Center and Conference hotels, as well as the La Crosse, Wisconsin Regional airport (LSE) 60 miles east of Rochester, and Minneapolis - St. Paul International (MSP) Airport 70 miles north of Rochester.  All major airlines service these airports. Here are some suggested travel search engine links:
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Google Flights
Travelocity
Expedia
Hotwire 

Enjoy Your Stay!
Come early and stay late. Rochester has a lot happening in and around the city. Check out current events here. View a map of downtown Rochester below or download it here. The red line on the map shows where the skyway walkway is. You'll be able to take the skyway from your hotel to the conference venue from any of our discounted hotel blocks except the Centerstone Plaza Hotel.

Eat! Whether you're looking to satisfy an ethnic craving or impress colleagues with a five-star dining experience, the food scene in Rochester has something to satisfy every taste. Within walking distance from the conference hotels and main venue downtown, more than 50 restaurants will provide opportunities to network and relax with new and old colleagues. Check out some recommendations here.

A complete listing of restaurants is on the second page of the Downtown Rochester map below. Click here to download.
Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference - Phone: 630.719.5649 - Email: cryan@umisc.net
  • Program
    • Program & Schedule
    • Plenaries
    • Workshops
    • Speaker FAQs
    • Call for Abstracts
    • On Our Radar
  • Land Acknowledgement
  • Media Portal
  • Contact