Housing & Travel

Omni William Penn Hotel
530 William Penn Pl
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone:  1-888-444-6664

Group Rates: Standard from $179; Government from $126.
Please note: While the official deadline (October 15) to book a room at the TMS group rate has passed, the Omni will continue to extend the group rate to MiNES attendees, based on hotel availability. If you are planning on attending the conference and have not already booked a room at the Omni, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. To reserve a hotel room, please call the Omni William Penn Hotel at 1-888-444-6664 and mention you are with TMS.

About the Hotel

Omni William Penn Hotel has played a starring role in Pittsburgh as a host to movie stars, politicians, heads of state, and leaders of business, since opening its doors in 1916. Centrally located in downtown, guests will experience outstanding service, comfortable and spacious accommodations, elegant event venues, and award-winning cuisine. To address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Omni adheres to the health and safety guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has implemented social distancing procedures throughout its facilities. An increased level of cleaning, sanitizing, and limited-contact food-and-beverage services are among the additional processes and procedures to ensure your health, safety, and comfort as part of the new “Omni Safe & Clean” initiative. The hotel also offers an array of amenities to help you maintain professional and personal connections while away from home, which include free and paid Wi-Fi, a 24-hour business center, and spacious meeting facilities.

Dining

Enjoy a drink and appetizers while mingling with fellow MiNES attendees at the welcome reception on Monday, starting at 6 p.m. in Sky.

The all-conference plenary session is Tuesday at 4 p.m. Immediately following the plenary session, enjoy drinks and appetizers at the poster session, exhibit viewing, and reception, starting at 5:30 p.m. in Sky.

Breakfast and lunch are on your own, except for Wednesday when a conference lunch is provided.

A few restaurants are located in the Omni for your convenience.

View a map of nearby restaurants for options within walking distance. Please visit the hotel concierge or the TMS registration desk for more information.

Conference Banquet

A cocktail reception is on Thursday from 6 p.m.—6:30 p.m. in Sky, followed by the conference dinner 6:30 p.m.—8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

• Please note this is a pre-registered, ticketed event. If you did not register to attend the dinner and now would like to, or if you did register and your plans have changed, please let TMS staff know at the registration desk onsite as soon as possible.

Parking

Omni William Penn Hotel is just 18 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport (approximately 30 minutes) and 11 miles from Allegheny County Airport.

Valet parking is available to overnight guests daily for $38 per night including in/out privileges. Please note that valet can park only standard size vehicles. No oversized vehicles can be accommodated.

Self-parking is offered in the Mellon Square parking garage located across from the hotel. There are no in/out privileges for this lot.

• Weekdays, $20 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., $6 after 4 p.m.
• All day Saturdays and Sundays, $6

Obtain a Travel Visa for a Conference Held in the United States

Visa Application Process

Meeting attendees from countries that require a visa to enter the United States are reminded that the process of obtaining a visa takes a minimum of three months. You are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and begin the application process early.

The U.S. State Department website website includes visa information concerning temporary visitors to the United States that may be helpful to you.

Please note that the Department of Homeland Security is implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which is expected to be mandatory for Visa Waiver Program travelers. Complete information is available on the Visa Waiver Program page of the U.S. State Department website.

Generate a Visa Letter

To generate an official visa invitation letter for this conference, please select an option below based upon your attendee status, then use your TMS login information to initiate the request. If you do not have a TMS account, you will be asked to create one before placing a request. To personalize the letter, follow the instructions and type in the information in the appropriate places. Then, print the letter and submit it along with other required documentation to the appropriate Consulate/Embassy. Please note that this letter does not guarantee you will be granted a visa. If you need additional assistance, e-mail Diana Grady, or call at 1–724–776–9000 ext. 211.

Letters for use in visa application packages will only be provided to individuals known to TMS, including:

• TMS members
• Presenters
• Exhibitors and/or sponsors
• Registrants
• Attendees of one or more past TMS events

If you are neither a TMS member, nor a presenter, exhibitor, sponsor, or past attendee, then you must register and agree to attend the event for which the letter is requested.

TMS cannot send the letter to an embassy or consulate for you nor can we contact the embassy or consulate on your behalf. It is the sole responsibility of the attendee to obtain the necessary paperwork for entry to the United States. It is crucial for the success of the application to apply at least three months in advance. TMS may contact program participants (abstract submitters) to follow up on specific visa requirements and may provide customized letters and supporting documentation as needed. If you do not receive a timely response from TMS, please check your spam filter or junk e-mail folder for your letter.

For More Information

For more information about this meeting, please complete the meeting inquiry form or contact: