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2008 Global Conference and Marketplace

Porto, Portugal October 14-17, 2008

 

2008 Organic Exchange 
Global Conference and Marketplace 
Porto, Portugal
October 14-17 

The 2008 Global Conference was held in Porto, Portugal, October 14-17.  It featured a dynamic line-up of plenary speakers, knowledgeable workshop leaders and representatives from each stage in the value chain - farmers, manufactures, brands, retailers and more.  Please enjoy – and learn from – the presentations, but keep in mind that they are no substitute for attending the conference in person, participating the stimulating discussions, asking questions of the experts and networking with key industry figures.  We hope to see you at the Global Conference next year!
 

Organic Fiber: The Basics Agenda

 

 

Sponsorship Opportunities
 
If you are a company focused on textile and apparel products, this is the one 2009 meeting you’ll want to support. This  comprehensive meeting and forum will cover important aspects of sustainable textiles with topics including organic fibers,  intelligent textiles, recycled fibers, natural fibers (bamboo, cellulose, and many others), sustainable business practices, water and  energy usage, social issues, climate concerns, industry and product integrity (including certification), consumer market trends, key  performance indicators, and traceability and transparency issues.  Through a sponsorship, your company and/or brand will have a  highly visible opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable textiles, introduce new opportunities and product  innovations to a very desirable audience, and be recognized by some of the world’s most prominent retails brands as a go to  resource. Current and alumnus OE retail members include: Wal-Mart, Nike, H&M, Adidas, GAP, Pottery Barn, C&A, Nordstrom, REI, Marks and Spencer, Levi Strauss, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, L.L. Bean, Reebok, Woolworth’s South Africa, Tesco, Target, Patagonia, Timberland, Barneys New York, and many, many more. Also included are many of the world’s key textile and materials producers and suppliers, too numerous to name as well major international development agencies and trade organizations. 
 
We appreciate your consideration of this exciting opportunity and look forward to hearing from you in the near future. For more information, please contact Daren Abney or Heather Hocker.

Sponsorship deadline is August 1.
Sponsorship Level Cost Visibility Exhibit Space Complimentary Conference
Registration(s)		 Companies
per Level
Innovator $50,000
  Conference Meeting Sponsor
10 minute welcome speech
o Company details included in meeting and press materials
o Attendance at press conference
o Company banner in main conference room, company to provide free-standing banner.
o Company logo on conference banners and welcome slides
o Article about company to appear in both online newsletter and website
o One year web banner placement
o Recognized sponsorship and introduction of keynote speaker
Prominent Exhibit Space 7 1
Collaborator $25,000
  Gala Dinner 
5 minute welcome speech
o Company details included in meeting and press materials
o Attendance at press conference
o Company banner at dinner, company to provide free-standing banner.
o Company logo on conference banners and welcome slides
o Article about company to appear in both online newsletter and website
o One year web banner placement
Prominent Exhibit Space 5 2
Cultivator $15,000
  Cocktail Reception
5 minute welcome speech
o Company details included in meeting and press materials
o Company banner at cocktail party, company to provide free-standing banner.
o Company logo on conference banners and welcome slides
o Prominent web logo placement for one year
Prominent Exhibit Space 4 3
Sustainer $10,000
  Lunch Sponsor 
5 minute welcome speech
o Company details included in meeting materials
o Company banner in dining room during lunch, company to provide free-standing banner
o Company Logo on conference banner and welcome slides
o Web logo placement
Exhibit Space 3 3
Educator $5,000
  Exhibit Sponsor
o Company details included in meeting materials
o Company banner at exhibit space, company to provide free-standing banner
o Logo on conference banner
o Conference web page logo placement
Exhibit Space 2 6
Supporter $2,500
o Company details included in meeting materials
o Company name on conference banner
o Company name on conference web page
Exhibit Space 1 10



 
We appreciate your consideration of this exciting opportunity and look forward to hearing from you in the near future. For more information, please contact Daren Abney or Heather Hocker.

 

 

Registration Fees
 		    
Organics in a Day October 20 $950
Free to Farmers
OE Sustainable Textiles Conference October 21 – 22 $1500 - Non Member Fee
$1250 - OE Member/NGO/SMB* Fee
Free to Farmers
Organics in a Day PLUS OE Sustainable Textiles Conference October 20 - 22 $2400 - Non Member Fee
$2150 - OE Member/NGO/SMB* Fee
Free to Farmers
Exhibit Space October 20 – 22 $950
Organic Exchange Dinner October 21 Free to those attending conference
Bring a guest for $125
*SMB (Small/Medium Business)= Less than 2 Million in Sales
Generously Sponsored By:
Collaborator
 
            
Cultivator
 


Sustainer
 
       
Educator
 
            

 

 

Conference Logistics- (Printable PDF of Logistics)
 		  
ABOUT SEATTLE  
Seattle lies in the Puget Sound region of western Washington State. The city is 113 miles south of the US-Canadian border in the far northwestern corner of the continental United States. In the past few decades, Seattle has quietly grown from a port city not registering on too many radar screens, to being nationally recognized as one of the most livable cities in the United States. 

Seattle is also the home to Nordstrom, Boeing, Starbucks, and Microsoft
 		  
Weather: Seattle’s temperatures range in the mid 50s°F to low 60s°F (10°C to 15°C), with a possibility of rain during the month of October. The Seattle Marriott Waterfront kindly provides umbrellas as you exit the hotel. 
 
TRAVELING TO SEATTLE 
Airport: The easiest way to reach Seattle is by flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC). The Seattle Marriott Waterfront. and Bell Harbor International Convention Center are approximately 25 minutes from the airport. 

TRANSPORTATION AND GETTING AROUND WHILE IN SEATTLE
Taxis:
Orange Cab Company 206.522.8800 
STITA Taxi 206. 246.9999
Yellow Cab 206.622.6500 

Shuttle Service: 
Shuttle Express: Reservations can be made online at http://www.shuttleexpress.com/ShareRide.html or by calling 425.981.7000. Transportation can be scheduled roundtrip from the airport to the Seattle Marriott Waterfront.

Public Transportation:
Bus
King County Metro operates an extensive bus system in Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. You can ride free through much of Downtown and in the bus tunnel from 6am-7pm. For schedule and fare information visit:transit.metrokc.gov.

Monorail
Travel back and forth between the Seattle Center and Downtown shopping at Westlake Center (5th and Pine) on the Seattle Center Monorail in less than two minutes each way. www.seattlemonorail.com

Waterfront Streetcar
These 1927 Australian streetcars transport you along the Seattle Waterfront from the edge of Myrtle Edwards Park through Pioneer Square to the International District with nine stops in all. They run approximately every 20 minutes seven days a week. transit.metrokc.gov.

Car:
Once at the conference, auto travel is not needed, but if you feel you need to rent a car, please feel free to reserve through Avis, Hertz, National/Alamo, or Budget. 
 
VISA INFORMATION
Visa: If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you will need a visa to enter the United States. Please research specific requirements for your country. If you need a personalized invitation to apply for a visa, be sure to request a visa letter when registering for the conference online or email us at conference@organicexchange.org.
 
CARBON CREDITS
Carbon Credits: Air travel is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. You can neutralize your carbon emissions by purchasing a carbon offset. Ecobusinesslinks.com (www.ecobusiness.com) has a comprehensive comparison of nonprofit and for profit organizations  providing carbon offsets. 
 
CONFERENCE DETAILS 
The 2009 Organic Exchange Sustainable Textiles Conference will be held on the beautiful Seattle waterfront at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center. The headquarters hotel is the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and located directly across the street from the Bell Harbor International Convention Center.

Seattle is an extremely popular tourist destination and the hotel rooms in the waterfront area usually sell out early in the season.  The Bell Harbor Center and the Marriott Waterfront Hotel are located at the very center of the most popular tourist destination in Seattle. 

You should not need a car while attending the Sustainable Textiles Conference, as the hotel is easily accessible via taxi (approximate fare between the airport and the Seattle Marriott Waterfront is $40) and the conference center is adjacent to the Marriott Waterfront hotel.  The hotel does not operate a shuttle bus. 

There are very many local restaurants of all categories within easy walking distance.  The popular Pike Place Market is within an easy walk as are museums and the vibrant downtown Seattle retail district. 
 

 

CONFERENCE HOTEL
Organic Exchange has reserved a block of rooms at the hotel for conference attendees, but only those who make reservations with the hotel beforeSeptember 18, 2009 will receive the special rate and be assured of having rooms available.

If Organic Exchange attendees wish to spend more time in Seattle, the hotel rooms are available at the special rate of $205 per night for conference attendees from Friday, October 16, 2009 through Saturday, October 24, 2009.

     

Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel
(across the street from the Bell Harbor International Conference Center) 
2100 Alaskan Way, 
Seattle, Washington, 98121
Guaranteed Hotel Room and Lower Rate Availability Deadline: September 18, 2009
 
On-Line Reservations
Link to on-line reservations (group code "oexoexa" will be automatically populated on form) 

Reserving via telephone:
1.800.228.9290  Toll Free in the United States
206.443.5000
Remember to mention: 2009 Organic Exchange Sustainable Textiles Conference

Note:  There are several Marriott Hotels in Seattle, please be sure to make reservations with the Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel.  

Link to hotel photo gallery 

You must make your own hotel reservation.  The special Organic Exchange Conference rate is $205 per night (the normal rate for this hotel in peak tourist season is $329+ per night). Currently, hotel room taxes are 15.6%. Organic Exchange has been able to negotiate free Wi-Fi during your stay at the Marriott.
 
CONFERENCE FACILITY 
Bell Harbor International Convention Center: This year's conference will be held at theBell Harbor International Convention Center. As part of your registration for the conference a daily continental breakfast, midmorning and afternoon breaks, and lunch will be included. 

Conference Location:  Seattle’s Downtown Waterfront District
Bell Harbor International Convention Center
2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington, 98121, U.S.A.
206-441-6666
www.bellharbor.com
TEN THINGS YOU CAN SEE AND DO IN SEATTLE.... 
You can't go to Paris without stopping by the Eiffel Tower. And you can't visit Seattle without checking out the view from the world-famous Space Needle. Here's a handy "must do" list for first-time visitors and those who want to be sure they've done everything.

The Space Needle
Seattle Center, 400 Broad St.; 206.905.2100; 
www.spaceneedle.com
A 41-second elevator ride takes you up 520 feet to the observation deck of the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair. Enjoy a meal at SkyCity, the restaurant at the top that revolves 360° while you dine.

Pike Place Market
Between First Ave. and Western, from Pike to Virginia streets www.pikeplacemarket.org
Born in 1907, Seattle's Pike Place Market is the granddaddy of farmers' markets. Today, it's a major tourist attraction with 200 businesses operating year-round, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmer booths - plus street performers and musicians. Flowers by the bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and fruit, handmade cheeses, local honey, wine, an assortment of restaurants, import goods, antiques, collectibles and lots of surprises are around every corner.

Ferries
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Traveling by ferry is a state of mind as much as a means of transportation to some of the Puget Sound's most historic and scenic sites. Views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains, the Seattle cityscape and the green shorelines will draw you out onto the deck to feel the salt breeze on your face. The state ferry system takes passengers and their vehicles from Seattle and nearby departure points to Vashon Island, the Kitsap Peninsula, the San Juan Islands and Canada. For privately operated ferries, see the Sightseeing & Tours (page 35) and Visitors Services/Travel & Transportation (page 120) listings in this guide. 

Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59
206.386.4300
www.seattleaquarium.org
Meet Alki, the sea otter pup born at the Aquarium. Walk under the water in a glass dome as bluntnose sixgill sharks and other Elliott Bay creatures swim all around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about the lives of salmon at the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder. Marvel at the impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And don't forget to wave to the giant Pacific octopus.

The Seattle Waterfront
Piers 52 to 70 on Alaskan Way
www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm
A bustling collection of attractions, restaurants and shopping, as well as starting points for ferries, cruise ships, the Victoria Clipper and Argosy boat tours are located here. Feed the seagulls at the statue of Ivar Haglund in front of Ivar's Acres of Clams, stroll by the fountains on the wooden piers of Waterfront Park, admire the view or shop for souvenirs. 

Woodland Park Zoo
South Gate: 750 N. 50th St
206.684.4800
www.zoo.org
See more than 1,000 animals of 300 different species, from elephants and gorillas to piranhas and penguins, in naturalistic exhibits at the Woodland Park Zoo. Drop by at scheduled feeding times and talk with the people who care for the animals.

Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
608 First Ave.
206.682.4646
www.undergroundtour.com
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city was rebuilt over the top of the ruins. This guided tour takes visitors through the hidden subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and storefronts of old downtown Seattle and tells stories of the frontier people who lived and worked there.

The Seattle Public Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
206.386.4636
www.spl.org
Designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the award-winning glass and steel structure of the new Central Library makes the building seem a little off-kilter and translucent - allowing passersby on the street to look in.

Tillicum Village
Blake Island 
206.933.8600
www.tillicumvillage.com
A short, narrated cruise takes you to an island village, where you'll feast on salmon cooked in the authentic Native American way. A stage show of traditional dances and stories entertains and teaches you about the people who lived in the Northwest first. 

Ride the Ducks of Seattle
516 Broad St, Seattle
206.441.DUCK (3825)
www.ridetheducksofseattle.com
Tour Seattle by land and water on a WWII amphibious landing craft. This 90-minute adventure tour will have you "quacking up" through the streets of Seattle. You'll see the major sights of the Emerald City on land before you head out to the funky Fremont neighborhood where you'll splash into Lake Union.

Explore the online Visitors Guide for more attractions
Credit: Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau 

 

 

Conference Exhibit Logistic  
Held each day of the conference, the 2009 exhibit area is an opportunity to connect with members of the value chain. Whether you want to do business or get a sense of new fabric trends and dyeing technologies, the exhibit area will connect you with the innovators in the organic fiber sector. 

Each exhibitor will be provided 1 – 6 foot table and 2 chairs for their area. Should you have additional needs, please contact Heather Hocker. 
 		  
The exhibit will open prior to the Conference each morning and will remain open throughout the day. A list of exhibitors will be posted online prior to the conference. We recommend booking appointments in advance. 


Generously Sponsored By: 
 
Collaborator
 
            
Cultivator
 


Sustainer
 
       
Educator