The resources in this toolkit have been developed to assist you with demonstrating to your organization’s management that attending the TMS 2020 Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2020) is a prudent investment for your organization, as well as a valuable professional development opportunity for you.
Justification Resources
Justification Letter: This template letter gives you basic information to share with your employer about TMS2020 content, opportunities, and costs, as well as suggestions for highlighting particular benefits that relate to your particular employment situation. You are welcome to customize it further to meet your unique needs.
TMS2020 Registration Brochure: Many employers require a print brochure as part of your attendance process. This PDF brochure will fulfill this requirement by outlining TMS2020 highlights.
Attendees Outside of the United States
Meeting attendees from countries that require a visa to enter the United States are reminded that the process of obtaining a visa can take a minimum of three months. You are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and begin the application process early. The U.S. State Department website includes visa information concerning temporary visitors to the United States that may be helpful to you.
Request a Visa Letter: The first step in acquiring a visa is requesting an official visa invitation letter. Use this resource to acquire your letter for TMS2020. If you do not receive a response from TMS within 48 hours of submitting your request, please check your spam filter or junk e-mail folder for your letter.
Cost-Saving Opportunities
Consider these suggestions to help reduce the cost of your trip and to make the most of the funds your company spends on travel:
Update Your TMS Membership: Current TMS members can save more than $200 on their meeting registration compared to non-members, so join TMS or renew your membership before you register for TMS2020. Please allow two business days for your membership to be processed before registering for the conference. If you need assistance, please contact TMS Customer Service at 1-724-776-9000 and press ‘1’ to speak to customer service.
Register Early: Submit your registration form and payment by January 17 to receive the discounted registration rate (a savings of up to $180).
Book Hotel Rooms Early: TMS has reserved blocks of rooms at discounted rates at hotels representing a variety of price points that are located near the San Diego Convention Center. Book by February 25 to ensure placement in one of these room blocks.
Make the Most of Your Organization’s Investment
Strengthen your case to attend TMS2020 by providing the following resources to your employer.
Share What You Learn: Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation for your non-attending colleagues after the meeting to share what you learned. That way, others in your organization will benefit from your attendance, too.
Download the Collected Proceedings: Every attendee who registers for the full meeting receives electronic access to the complete published proceedings. Be sure to download this valuable reference source shortly before or after the meeting to maximize your registration investment.